Addicted to music Posted September 1, 2019 Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) I’m pulled the pin and currently in the process of getting a 6kW system that consist of a 20 panels and a single inverter.... for those with the experience and knowledge please feel free to comment, I won’t bite..... can be off topic and must strictly stick to SNA guide lines....Doesnt matter if your post isn’t favourable, when I start a thread it’s all about brainstorming. ive been told I’m limited to 5kw anymore than I need to have it approved because that’s the threshold for Powercor. I got several quotes, initially a really cheap system that will only be a few years to break even, got some more quotes and it got me wondering. So this is what I settled with: a 6.6kw system that consists of 20 Trina Honey 1/2 panels at 330W per panel and a Fronius 5kw inverter that’s wifi and battery compatible. No optimises, just basic strings for the north side and west facing, the existing 3 hot solar hot water panels are getting romoved for this system on the west facing... All up the system will set me back $6600 and that’s including the vic government rebate... The aim here is to see how long this system last....vs cost and when it will break even. The costs and predictive analyses are already done, but at $0.29kw. Applying for the Victorian rebate is a pain in the behind, you need to agree on a system, place 10% on a deposit, then the supplier initiates the order with Solar Victoria, they generate a code and lock in the amount. You then wait till the start of the month, in this case it’s tomorrrow, 2nd Sept at 9:00. You wait for a link that gets sent to you from the Victorian rebate site around the 9:00am once you get that link, it’s a race against time to apply, according to there estimates takes 22mins to complete but what you need to do is confirmed the quote and the application, the rest according to the supplier and Solar Victoria, you have 14 days to complete the application. What I’ve been told it’s 1st in 1st serve, there are only approx 3000 spots and this takes just around an hour to fill, once filled you miss out and have to wait for next month. What I want to know is if someone has successfully gained the rebate of $2225 how did they apply? Did you need time to complete the application or did you do it straight away. what would you do differently from the system I settled for and why? Does anyone have Trina Panels on there roof, if so are you happy with them? Edited September 1, 2019 by Addicted to music
Addicted to music Posted September 3, 2019 Author Posted September 3, 2019 On Monday 2nd sept, I received the link from Solar Victoria at 9.00am... Got onto the website with the link provided to accept the application. What a nightmare, you get onto it and you are suppose to enter the Suppliers registered details, the order number they provided and the total amount, you couldn’t enter the suppliers details because it wouldn’t accept anything even if you tried what was on the link! After several calls to the supplier, I get a call back to say that’s its crashed. 2 hours later the they closed the portal so no one can use it. On there Facebook pages not a lot of info was given, however some have taken the day off to do this, others like myself have spent hours trying and finally given up! Some were still waiting for the portal to be open, at least make it official that you will be shut the site down for the day till further notice... they didn’t do that!
evil c Posted September 3, 2019 Posted September 3, 2019 32 minutes ago, Addicted to music said: On Monday 2nd sept, I received the link from Solar Victoria at 9.00am... Got onto the website with the link provided to accept the application. What a nightmare, you get onto it and you are suppose to enter the Suppliers registered details, the order number they provided and the total amount, you couldn’t enter the suppliers details because it wouldn’t accept anything even if you tried what was on the link! After several calls to the supplier, I get a call back to say that’s its crashed. 2 hours later the they closed the portal so no one can use it. On there Facebook pages not a lot of info was given, however some have taken the day off to do this, others like myself have spent hours trying and finally given up! Some were still waiting for the portal to be open, at least make it official that you will be shut the site down for the day till further notice... they didn’t do that! It's very difficult to access, I got panels installed last October and was slow applying for the rebate . I balked then with all the requirements involved. Now looks like I'm locked out and ineligible! My MIL was keen to get panels and has just had her arm twisted by a pushy salesman to sign up, she doesn't understand the system at all - so good luck successfully applying! Might be easier to get tickets to see the Beatles ! 1
LogicprObe Posted September 3, 2019 Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) I got a 6.5kw system because they really only output the max 5kw. In NSW the company I bought them off just gets you to sign over any rebates etc to them and they lop it off the price. I only ended up with 6.2kw because they could only fit 22 panels on the roof instead of 24 and I kept my 8 old panels up there for a garage battery charger! Edited September 3, 2019 by LogicprObe 1
Addicted to music Posted September 3, 2019 Author Posted September 3, 2019 11 minutes ago, LogicprObe said: I got a 6.5kw system because they really only output the max 5kw. In NSW the company I bought them off just gets you to sign over any rebates etc to them and they lop it off the price. I only ended up with 6.2kw because they could only fit 20 panels on the roof and I kept my 8 old panels up there for a garage battery charger! Here are the conditions: Total net income of property owner must be less than $180,000 Property must not exceed valuation of $1.5M Any previous Solar rebate has never been claimed. Must provide photo ID via a smart phone and your Passport or Drivers licence etc Medicare card etc You have 2 chances to get the phone photos acceptable otherwise they send you a declaration form for paper processing. Must provide rates notice to prove you are the owner(s) and display the property valuation. Must provide tax assessment notice to prove gross income for all owners involved. All this you must do on the link they provided......starting from 9:00am and pray that you are lucky to complete they whole lot! Even after all this, you may not get it! All this should take 22mins according to the website. All this before the allocations of 6000 for Sept runs out, and they tell me you have to be quick to reserve a spot, because it runs out in under an hour! Now you can see why @evil c bulked!
mwhouston Posted September 3, 2019 Posted September 3, 2019 Site crashed. Just about every government site is poorly setup. The education site setup for schools and teachers crashed so often (cost millions to setup) they gave up. You have just just put me off solar. 1
Assisi Posted September 3, 2019 Posted September 3, 2019 @Addicted to music Peter My partner applied for the earlier rebate late last year. She eventually received the rebate after many months of anguish. The process was 10x worse than pulling teeth. Total disgrace. The ignorance of the people with not even a basic ability to comprehend the documents that were submitted was unbelievable. Every time there was contact their story changed. Hopefully things have improved but I won't be at all surprised if there is no change. Our experience was not unique and it only got better when the Office of the local MP became involved. The MPs office staff were fantastic. John 2
proftournesol Posted September 3, 2019 Posted September 3, 2019 You are limited to an export (to the grid) limit of 5kW, however, you can size your system larger than 5kW. You'll possibly cover all or most of your summer power during the daytime, however you won't generate enough in winter unless you install more panels. If, in the future, you may want to install a battery, you are better spending more on a hybrid inverter now, otherwise you need to buy a complete new inverter when you add the battery
mwhouston Posted September 3, 2019 Posted September 3, 2019 10 hours ago, Assisi said: @Addicted to music Peter My partner applied for the earlier rebate late last year. She eventually received the rebate after many months of anguish. The process was 10x worse than pulling teeth. Total disgrace. The ignorance of the people with not even a basic ability to comprehend the documents that were submitted was unbelievable. Every time there was contact their story changed. Hopefully things have improved but I won't be at all surprised if there is no change. Our experience was not unique and it only got better when the Office of the local MP became involved. The MPs office staff were fantastic. John That’s just wrong. When every state has power issues and carbon foot print and reusable energy, you’d think solar would be free. “No”, they say, “let’s make it hard for everyone”.
Addicted to music Posted September 4, 2019 Author Posted September 4, 2019 5 hours ago, proftournesol said: You are limited to an export (to the grid) limit of 5kW, however, you can size your system larger than 5kW. You'll possibly cover all or most of your summer power during the daytime, however you won't generate enough in winter unless you install more panels. If, in the future, you may want to install a battery, you are better spending more on a hybrid inverter now, otherwise you need to buy a complete new inverter when you add the battery Here’s the thing to, nearly all say there system they are selling are battery compatible, but none will say that you need a hybrid inverter that’s level 3 if you need seemless power if the grid goes on the blink. Fronius hybrid for single phase will be released in 2020, they are around but you need to look at the other brands, however they are not cheap, they are around double the price of a current inverter... the other is to use micro inverters such as Enphase, but they are only made compatible with their battery.
proftournesol Posted September 4, 2019 Posted September 4, 2019 The other thing in Victoria is, if you move the inverter to another wall to make space for a battery, it counts as a completely new installation. That isn't necessarily a problem, however when we moved our panels and inverter from our old house to our rebuilt house, the inverter , despite working perfectly, was no longer sold in Australia (KACO) and so longer came with a compliance certificate and so our 'new installation' suddenly no longer met the requirements for a feed-in tariff (no compliance certificate)! We could connect it and use it, but we wouldn't get paid for the power we were giving away. As you mentioned, you also need to think about whether you'd wanton inverter/battery to function as a UPS in the event of a power failure Just make sure then that you think and plan ahead for future evolution of your system 2
Tony M Posted September 4, 2019 Posted September 4, 2019 5 hours ago, proftournesol said: You are limited to an export (to the grid) limit of 5kW In SA at least, this applies to single phase. If you have a 3 phase installation, you can export 15 kW. 1
Addicted to music Posted September 4, 2019 Author Posted September 4, 2019 2 hours ago, proftournesol said: The other thing in Victoria is, if you move the inverter to another wall to make space for a battery, it counts as a completely new installation. That isn't necessarily a problem, however when we moved our panels and inverter from our old house to our rebuilt house, the inverter , despite working perfectly, was no longer sold in Australia (KACO) and so longer came with a compliance certificate and so our 'new installation' suddenly no longer met the requirements for a feed-in tariff (no compliance certificate)! We could connect it and use it, but we wouldn't get paid for the power we were giving away. As you mentioned, you also need to think about whether you'd wanton inverter/battery to function as a UPS in the event of a power failure Just make sure then that you think and plan ahead for future evolution of your system I’ve been watching the Solar Industry for over a decade.... If there’s one thing I’ve learnt for ALL technology is that you buy them now while the product is certified and working, you never buy to future proof. The industry has changed significantly in all areas.... PV that was once 220W max are now obtainable at 400W panels, now you can get them 1/2 panels where the cells are laser sliced in 1/2 so if shade was to fall over any particular 1/2 of either side of the 1/2 panel it will still produce. We have microinverters, optimises to monitor every panel, the inverters now have active cooling, wifi monitoring and control etc etc and the list goes on. Certification even on hybrid inverters that are battery backed up to level 3 maybe certified today, however not tomorrow when in 5-7yrs you decide to get a battery.... your panels you get today that has a manufacturers warranty of 25yrs that’s 330W.... if it fails in 12 years, are the manufacturer for that model going to keep enough of these 330W in stock to cover for failures, because you just can’t put a future panel in 12 years where they are now min 500W, it doesn’t work like that and if you do will it be certificated to feed to the grid? This mentality just about applies to every technology and I should know as all product life cycle are no more that 5yrs from drawing board till marketing. Even the suppliers/installers, those who operated a decade ago most are gone as different rebates were applied. 1
Addicted to music Posted September 4, 2019 Author Posted September 4, 2019 On 03/09/2019 at 10:14 PM, mwhouston said: Site crashed. Just about every government site is poorly setup. The education site setup for schools and teachers crashed so often (cost millions to setup) they gave up. You have just just put me off solar. To get last year tax assessment because I can’t find ours we had to log into MyGov. My details were already linked to the ATO but the boss wasn’t. So I had to set her up! All you need is the full name, DOB and Tax file number. Do you think I can link her details to ATO? It kept erroring with codes and eventually locks you out for 3 attempts and makes you try in an hour. So in the morning I phoned up, the other way to do it was to use a generated code given to you from the ATO, the operator did just that so we entered this code, nope, still will not not link even after all the details was given, so she asked for any letters they have sent that provided any details and luckily we had a 2011 assessment, the details on that corresponded correct for 2011 according to her but she was stunned that the generated code fail to link, then see discovered something odd, somewhere after 2015 her first name was entered incorrectly, when she corrected that the generated code was successful in linking the MyGov account to the ATO. Hair tearing experience!
Steam Posted September 4, 2019 Posted September 4, 2019 I got a system installed in February. I did use the solar rebate but it took ages for the final check to arrive. So if you need the cash to get it done be very careful. I also kind of did it the wrong way around. I bought the system then got approval for the rebate. Then I went through all the paperwork as I got it. So I could have been locked out but it all worked out ok just slow for the cash. i used cola solar and got a top shelf 6.3kw system and it’s all going well. It’s great using the fronius app to see what power is going in and out in real time. 1
LogicprObe Posted September 4, 2019 Posted September 4, 2019 14 hours ago, Tony M said: In SA at least, this applies to single phase. If you have a 3 phase installation, you can export 15 kW. Same in NSW...............except we can export up to 10kw per phase for a total of 30kw. Doesn't make sense, right? 1
Steam Posted September 4, 2019 Posted September 4, 2019 15 hours ago, Tony M said: In SA at least, this applies to single phase. If you have a 3 phase installation, you can export 15 kW. I was told the same for vic 1
Addicted to music Posted September 6, 2019 Author Posted September 6, 2019 Was able to accept the application and finally made it through to completion but not without hassles, at one point the page wasn’t progressing and it kept refreshing with the same page.... lots of people making comments on the Facebook pages that they too were having the same issues. The photo ID was a pain, I failed the 1st time but passed the 2nd. The 1st scan of other forms of ID also failed initially. Now if your form of 2 ID differs like mind does, somehow my parents decided to use my foreign name as my middle name and it will show up in full on my Passport, however my drivers licence shows only the 2 initials.... it then tells you that your application requires reviewing. So yesterday they send me an email with a Identity Verfication Form and would you believe it, the form is secured and won’t print on Fiery CWS!!! Had to use a different print means to get it on paper.
Guest rmpfyf Posted September 6, 2019 Posted September 6, 2019 No one is having a seamless experience with Solar Victoria unfortunately. I hope you succeed. Fronius does make a hybrid inverter today but damn they're expensive. If you want a solid hybrid today, try Goodwe or SolaX. The latter is cheaper, the former extremely underrated. Trina panels are fine. @proftournesol is right about export limiting. Go your hardest. Be sure your Fronius has the data card installed and the installers are running Ethernet back to your router. Are you getting an export meter to monitor everything fully? Do you have any switched loads you want to drive off PV - it's one thing Fronius does well. What's your hot water setup? This comes first before any battery talk. I might have a spare Reposit Power system for that sort of work if you're interested.
Addicted to music Posted September 7, 2019 Author Posted September 7, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, rmpfyf said: No one is having a seamless experience with Solar Victoria unfortunately. I hope you succeed. . Thanks, I’m gonna need it.. 3 hours ago, rmpfyf said: Fronius does make a hybrid inverter today but damn they're expensive. If you want a solid hybrid today, try Goodwe or SolaX. The latter is cheaper, the former extremely underrated. Fronius are very well committed, there here in Tullamarine, I’ve emailed them with some enquires but haven’t seen a reply.......that may say something! They do have a 3phase hybrid, but that’s way toooooo expensive, the single phase isn’t due to 2020. I might enquire about the SolaX but I’m sure the retailer I’m dealing with isn’t marketing it. 3 hours ago, rmpfyf said: . Trina panels are fine. The quote is for HoneyM 1/2 panels at 330W. Considering the certificates it has are there a real advantage to go with the range with the double glass? The double glass panels are supposed to be more robust in all conditions.... I don’t live along the coast, I’m at least 5-7km in but it’s a double story house with limited roof space. 3 hours ago, rmpfyf said: . Be sure your Fronius has the data card installed and the installers are running Ethernet back to your router. Thanks for that, there’s nowhere in the specs to say it needs a data card installed.... it can’t be wired Ethernet, if it is I’ll need at least 30 plus metres of cable!!! We have a Netgear Orbi and the Satellite it’s far away with wifi, the wifi with the Orbi is extremely decent and will cover this area. 3 hours ago, rmpfyf said: What's your hot water setup? This comes first before any battery talk. Gas, pure inline gas...... im pulling all $7k of 3 solar water panels off the west facing roof to accomodate the PV... I’m done with gas boasted solar, it’s been so unreliable and it never saved me money... I’m running a Aquamax 135 lt with a stainless steel tank.... when this goes or maybe in the future we look at heat pumps but they are just as expensive, this is the way In heating water; with PV.... We in Melb in this region is not suited for any solar water heating, Ive noted also that James Hardie has withdrawn there gas boasted solar water from the outlets like Bunnings for Victoria .... now that saids a lot that this solution isn’t suited for the climate in the region we are in. Edited September 7, 2019 by Addicted to music
Guest rmpfyf Posted September 7, 2019 Posted September 7, 2019 @Addicted to music both Goodwe and SolaX are distributed from Victoria. I've installed both. SolaX is very inexpensive with battery, GoodWe allows a god oversize and will work with LG Chem etc. I run Fronius at home though if hybrid was required I'd go one of the options above. Panels are fine. Are they bifacial? If you have solar hot water I'd nix that in future for something electric that ties your panels. A Solahart Powerstore is a great example.
Megawolf Posted September 7, 2019 Posted September 7, 2019 Hi guy`s. My plan when I left Sydney was to have solar and batteries. So buying the new house had to have a few things going for it. North facing roof, hopefully unshaded of course a big garage. I found a great house, good aspect, now for the fun to begin. I had a quote done from a company in Sydney I trust, they had to include travel and accomadation in it. A few quotes from local companies, one of which gave me a price and wouldn`t give me a breakdown of cost`s. They said there system was not setup to do that, Bollocks. I said to write it out by hand. No can do they tell me, well you don`t need my money then. By chance I was walking passed a company doing an install near my mechanic, had a yak with them. A couple of weeks later they came out and quoted, 5k less than the other. I pulled the trigger on the system a week later. Had to wait a while until the batteries came in, then wait for a slot for the install. 4 wks suddenly I get a call that some things gone wrong with another install would I like my done in 2 day`s. The system is, 25 LG neon2 panels with enphase microinverters. 2 Tesla batteries, 27kw storage. A bucket load of wiring in the box and under the house. After much pissing about with Origin I finally got the meter changed, 15 bisness days yer right. 7 weeks later it`s done and I`m now being paid for my feedin. 21c /kw. On my first bill they oh me money, next one will be much worst for them. I know a lot of people talk about and base they decisions on the ROI. I don`t, I want to have no power bills and not worry about blackouts, which is what I got. It`s been up and running for a while now, the batteries are pretty much charged by 10am, I`m very happy with it. The cost, well it did hurt but I`m glad I did it. $38k. Sorry for prattling on. Cheers. Ian. 2
Addicted to music Posted September 7, 2019 Author Posted September 7, 2019 41 minutes ago, Megawolf said: Hi guy`s. My plan when I left Sydney was to have solar and batteries. So buying the new house had to have a few things going for it. North facing roof, hopefully unshaded of course a big garage. I found a great house, good aspect, now for the fun to begin. I had a quote done from a company in Sydney I trust, they had to include travel and accomadation in it. A few quotes from local companies, one of which gave me a price and wouldn`t give me a breakdown of cost`s. They said there system was not setup to do that, Bollocks. I said to write it out by hand. No can do they tell me, well you don`t need my money then. By chance I was walking passed a company doing an install near my mechanic, had a yak with them. A couple of weeks later they came out and quoted, 5k less than the other. I pulled the trigger on the system a week later. Had to wait a while until the batteries came in, then wait for a slot for the install. 4 wks suddenly I get a call that some things gone wrong with another install would I like my done in 2 day`s. The system is, 25 LG neon2 panels with enphase microinverters. 2 Tesla batteries, 27kw storage. A bucket load of wiring in the box and under the house. After much pissing about with Origin I finally got the meter changed, 15 bisness days yer right. 7 weeks later it`s done and I`m now being paid for my feedin. 21c /kw. On my first bill they oh me money, next one will be much worst for them. I know a lot of people talk about and base they decisions on the ROI. I don`t, I want to have no power bills and not worry about blackouts, which is what I got. It`s been up and running for a while now, the batteries are pretty much charged by 10am, I`m very happy with it. The cost, well it did hurt but I`m glad I did it. $38k. Sorry for prattling on. Cheers. Ian. I’m only going by websites but you can’t better LG panels or a Tesla battery. When you include LG panels they literally x2 the quote, So I need to decided what was best on my budget, If I had the money and the roof space and area for all the electronic including the battery under the roof I’d be doing the same.... if you don’t mind me asking what was the inverter you are using and what electronics is used to charge the battery and to go of grid. This is what you want when you go battery is to have it to go of grid.
Addicted to music Posted September 7, 2019 Author Posted September 7, 2019 3 hours ago, rmpfyf said: Panels are fine. Are they bifacial? No there not, its the 330W version of these: https://static.trinasolar.com/sites/default/files/AU_Datasheet_Honey_DD06M.08II_EN.pdf
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