FAQ

Why Choose Us?

Solar Power: frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at your home or business is a great way to slash your power bill and get back control of your electricity usage.

There are many reasons why you should install a solar system on your home or business. Over the past few years, the cost of installing a solar system has reduced and become more affordable. Solar energy used during the day and/or with batteries supplying electricity at night can generate savings in your electricity bill. This being one of the main reasons for installing solar, the rising electricity costs. You can substantially reduce or even eliminate your electricity bills by generating free electricity from the sun. Electricity generated via your own solar system means that you will draw less electricity from the grid.

No, not all solar panels are the same. There are cheap lower quality panels on the market. Goodhew use only “Tier 1” quality solar panels that meet Australian Standards for use in the design and installation of Solar PV systems.

No, not all inverters are the same. There is a significant quality difference between inverters currently available on the market. Goodhew use only quality inverters that have been tried, tested and proven to work at a high efficiency. Goodhew only install inverters from trusted companies who can offer meaningful warranties and that meet Australian Standards for use in the design and installation of Solar PV systems.

Of Course! All inverters installed by Goodhew are on the Clean Energy Council’s list of compliant inverters and power conversion equipment (PCE) suitable for installation under the Renewable Energy Certificate Scheme, which can be found here.

All photovoltaic (PV) modules (solar panels) supplied and installed by Goodhew are rated Fire Safety Class C, and can be used in both building applications and ground mounted applications, these are on the Clean Energy Council database listing, which can be found here.

Yes. Goodhew use a cyclone certified mounting system on all of our solar power systems. All systems are installed following the correct manufacturers installation procedure. The solar panels themselves are designed to withstand harsh weather climates including hail storms.

STCs are government incentives that help reduce the upfront cost of installing your solar PV system. The value of STCs your system receives differs, depending on its size and location. To be eligible for STCs, your solar system must be installed by a Clean Energy Council accredited installer.

A FIT is a payment that you receive via your electricity retailer as a credit on your bill for the excess electricity that your solar system produces and that is fed back to the grid. The FIT is a rate that is set per kilowatt hour (kWh), and the eligibility criteria for FITs vary depending on the state you live in.

That entirely depends on your energy usage. At Goodhew, we work with you to design the ideal system & teach you how to make the most of and educate you how to get the best results from your new solar power system.

In the event of a power blackout, your solar power system will switch off and remain inactive until power returns. This is a mandatory safety feature of your system. Once the power is back on, you must ensure that all of the switches on your solar power system are set to ‘on’. If your switches are turned off, you will not generate solar electricity.

Solar PV servicing is an easy, affordable and important way to ensure that your solar power system remains safe and effective. At Goodhew, we recommend having a service and maintenance done once a year. Our service technicians will perform a comprehensive System Health Check and conduct a detailed clean on your system. To find out more or to book a service, click here.

Are you concerned that your inverter or solar system is not working properly? Maybe you have a faulty inverter or some other issue with your system.
Like everything inverters have a limited lifespan and if yours has failed or is failing and is out of warranty you have two options

1. Repair your inverter
2. Purchase a new one (rarely the cheapest option)

If you are not sure if you have a problem, see our guide below on how to check for yourself.

Goodhew Electrical & Solar not only check and repair inverters and solar panels but we also check your DC isolators.

  • Check your inverter LED light colour and inverter screen display.
  • Inverter Working if – Blue LED is on + screen displays“output = W” or “working mode”
  • SPH inverter Maybe Faulty if –  Red LED is on + screen displays an error message
  • Take note of the KWH reading on your screen at the same time of day over a couple of days.
  • How does this compare to the table below? If your readings are over 80% your inverter is working well to generate energy.

Warranty: frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Absolutely. The solar PV panels hold a 25-year performance warranty & the inverters either a 5 or 10-year warranty, depending on the inverter you choose. We also have a workmanship warranty, own a full repair and maintenance warehouse in Cleveland where we can service and repair the inverters ourselves.

 

Unfortunately the warranty of the system is with the owner, not the house.  That means, when the property is sold, the warranty is not transferrable. 

We will aim to come out and test the system within 5-7 days.  If the inverter is found to be faulty, we are required to submit the claim with the manufacturer to have it replaced. The whole process can take up to 21 days to complete in some circumstances.

If we are called out to your home and find no faults, there is a call out fee payable of $150.

If the system is over 5 years old you will be charged $150 as the workmanship warranty has now expired.

There is no fee charged if the inverter is faulty and you are within the 5 year workmanship warranty period. 

No. Hailstones and physical damage is not covered under the manufacturer’s product or performance warranties.

If your system is affected by storms or adverse weather, you can book a solar inspection and report. If we find an issue relating to hail, we can write a letter to your insurer detailing the damage. 

No. lightening and electrical damage is not covered under the manufacturer’s product or performance warranties.

If your system is affected by storms or adverse weather, you can book a solar inspection and report. If we find an issue relating to lightning we can write a letter to your insurer detailing the damage.