Solar quotes

[Letsgokate]

We are in the process of getting some solar quotes for a 5kw system. If anyone has any good recommendation for solar installers on the north side of Brisbane, please feel free to share them. Same applies with any bad experiences.

Thanks in advance,
Kate

 

[Mark]

Brett from Green and Gold solar did my 5 kw installation. He's a tennis mate (we play at the same club but he has skipped the past two seasons - he's very busy). Brett has installed systems for our friends (in Ashgrove) and they were also happy with his work and prices.

Green & Gold solar have three stores in QLD.

If you decide to check them out and get a quote ask for Brett (he's actually the qld manager) tell him I recommended him to you. They used to offer a referral fee although I've never been paid one yet lol but if you do go with them and they give me a referral fee I'll send you half you can have it all as a discount.

Be sure to get several quotes from different companies and get a proper site assessment done so you can get the right price, position, projected bill savings, and company you feel you can trust to do the job. There are many good installers out there but there are also some shonks so take your time.

Good luck!

 

[stevo]

any progress here?

 

[Letsgokate]

Hi Stevo, we have about 9 different quotes. Once you start talking nitty gritty things can change so we are still working through them. For a 6kw of solar and a 5kw inverter we have had quotes from $4000 - $12000. No one has exactly the same panel or inverters so hard to compare apples to apples. Not a case of us going for the best but the best of what we can afford. Hubby has an electrician background which is handy.

 

[stevo]

just me being a sticky beak,....

30 panels for 6kw? They'd have to be $4000 - $7000 just in panels? Then the 5kw inverter would be around $2000 ? then all the cables and fittings and installation.

I'd be concerned with the $4000 quote

 

[Letsgokate]

24 panels for 6kw, 20 panels for 5kw @250w. Some of the quotes are for 5kw system. Panels have come down in price from several years ago, $5000 to $6000 for a 5wk is not uncommon. Lots of choices for inverters these days. Some are certainly dodgy that is why we are not rushing in and doing lots of research. Some are giving discounts to do it during the quiet time in Dec to keep their installers busy. There certainly is beware with too cheap.

We do know a bit about solar, batteries, inverters etc with doing a lot of travelling and being independently setup. And a very handy hubby, so that all helps.

Some of the salesmen are pretty pushy and you want to tell them to get lost but we don't want to burn any britches just yet until we have decided what we want and what is best for us. Some are driving us nuts though

 

[stevo]

yeah that's one thing that'd put me off, the pushy sales, they'd be saying that you have to sign up otherwise the prices are magically going to double next month. They've probably got room to move so if they push you could say you want it cheaper, a bit of give and take hey?

I'd hate to be a salesman, performance reports, getting pushed by the boss to sell more, trying to convince people something is good value when you know it's not.

 

[Steve]

Hi all,

I'm at the stage where I need to decide if I'm going to get solar PV as part of my house build so I thought I'd check out what SSC can tell me.
From the moderate amount of research I've done it seems there are a million companies that will install a system for you but like letsgo said there is a range of price, quality and brands which makes it hard to compare. Not to mention how do I know if brand xxx is good, great or neither??

And now to complicate things I was told the other day that a new rule is coming in 30 Sep 15 that says any new installs need to have mandatory Reactive Power Control (https://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=69932807d57ffb9c816b93a84&id=4f6ed3a56f&e=7f38a8e3cf)
My understanding of this is that it will effectively cut your output by around 10% so that the power grid doesn't get fried by over-voltage. Just another way to burn the end user whose trying to do the right thing perhaps. It also means that even though my house wont be completed for several months I now need to jump to it and pick an installer and get it approved before 30 Sep 15. I hate being rushed to make a big decision!

I'm also hearing conflicting advice that ranges from don't install until the battery system come down in price as it will take too long to recoup the cost with FIT being pathetic, only go for a 3KW as it's cheaper and a 5KW is overkill, through to go 5KW to get the most from it.

I know the shift has happened from 'feed as much power back into the grid' to 'use as much as you can during the day' so we plan to follow this advice. We will have a pool pump and waste treatment both of which will be running all through the day so we will definitely save by having solar. Perhaps my question is what size and who are the best companies to talk to??

So does anyone have any advice to help me?

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Mark]

Feeding power back to the grid at a measly 8c has definitely changed the goal posts but I would go a 5kw system from the beginning because when battery storage becomes mainstream you'll retro fit a storage unit and be happy you have the extra power.

Also, a 5kw system doesn't necessarily generate 5kws of power every hour anyway so having those extra panels with an inverter that can receive/process up to 5kw will at least generate more power on those gloomy days than a smaller system obviously.

I got Green and Gold Solar to install my system because I knew the Queensland Manager (Brett) through my tennis club although he stopped playing 12 months ago cause he got too busy with work.

They have a referral program $300 for referring a friend but you or anyone else could have my referral bonus as a further discount if that's ok with them (I won't accept it).

I'm happy with my system and they also installed another system for a mate in Brisbane who is happy with his as well. However, I can't say that G&G are any better than other well known solar installers.
Edit: Forgot I mentioned most of this earlier

 

[Ash]

Do they come out to Toowoomba, Mark? I'm keen on a 5kW system also at my property, battery can come later. I'll happily accept the referral bonus.

 

[Ash]

Sorry for my ignorance but do we currently have the flexibility to choose a 6kW system and are there inverters that can handle that? If so, does the govt only allow for 5kW to be fed back at this stage?

 

[Mark]

I believe G&G solar service most areas around qld.

When I got my system installed I was told 5kw was the maximum size inverter allowed by law for a residential property - you can install more panels than the standard 26 or so though...

 

[Ash]

Made the enquiry. Getting quotes now. Waiting for G&G to get back to me also.
Thanks Mark.

 

[Ash]

Brad got back to me. Personable fellow. Putting all the quotes together now along with his advice on most cost -effective methods. Thanks again for the contact Mark.

 

[Mark]

Brad got back to me. Personable fellow. Putting all the quotes together now along with his advice on most cost -effective methods. Thanks again for the contact Mark.

No worries Ash and I hope it all goes well leading up to your decision.

When you do decide on what type and who will install your system perhaps start a new thread detailing your own solar install experience etc (if you like and have the time to spare - no pressure though) it would be really interesting!

 

[Ash]

Okay. I'll go through the process and touch base. My review won't be as comprehensive as yours, Mark!

 

[Steve]

Hmmm, I sent these guys an email enquiry a few days ago and haven't heard back from them.
This happens so often to me, why have an email address if you're not going to monitor it! Rant over.
I guess I'm gonna have to get on the phone to get some action happening.

 

[Mark]

Hmmm, I sent these guys an email enquiry a few days ago and haven't heard back from them.
This happens so often to me, why have an email address if you're not going to monitor it! Rant over.
I guess I'm gonna have to get on the phone to get some action happening.

I hate that also - in fact, I see poor email monitoring by a company as a bad sign TBH...

 

[Ash]

Those guys are quite busy to be checking emails themselves. If they don't have receptionists or assistant staff they may not get to emails for days. I would just get on the blower and discuss your needs directly with them and once you can get them on the phone (again, they're busy folk) they spend the time with you to talk about what you need in a solar system.

 

[Ash]

G'day all. I have decided on a solar power setup to beat the dreaded 30th September deadline Steve kindly filled us in with. Sadly, I didn't go with G&G as his quote was considerably more than that I received from Superior Solar based on the Gold Coast, and I didn't want to push the friendship and contact influence in Mark (who he was pleased to have refer me to him). So I thanked Brad at G&G and committed to Superior Solar on a 6kW system with hybrid inverter.