Solar Upgrade - Feel Ripped off, What Should I Do

dontgooffline on 01/10/2023 - 21:35

Had an 8kw solar system installed last year. No issues, worked fine. Last month, asked to add 5kw of panels via the same company and paid 10% deposit upfront. The installers came to our house a total of 5 times. 2 times for the installation of the new panels, but the new panels (and some of last year’s panels) didn’t work. Then had to come back another time but no luck and then another. Even today, 2 panels still don’t work. It’s one excuse after another.

Each time they’ve been on my roof, they’ve been banging, drilling etc and that can’t be good for my house. The installers are subcontractors.

Because of the sheer number of times it’s taking them (impact on our roof, time for installation), I don’t feel like I should pay what we agreed to. Do I have grounds to push to reduce the quote? What would you guys do?

Home & Garden Solar Energy System

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 01/10/2023 - 21:38

    What kind of excuses?

  • dontgooffline on 01/10/2023 - 21:43

    “I’ve had to try a few different things”,
    “we had to create a new string for specific panels and that string was down”
    “two optimizers were down and we’ve now swapped them out”
    … and so on

    • Logical on 02/10/2023 - 20:10

      What type of a roof you got? colourbond or tiles? Lowset or highset? is is a simple roof profile or you have many hips, gables etc?

      Nothing wrong with those escuses given how many panels there are and I think probably a complex roof requiring many strings to avoid the some panels being partly shaded ad bringing the string down.

      Avoid optimisers, they are crap. I invested heavily into them and have removed them all myself. Most new panels have dual zones and perform poorly with optimisers.

      I have a semi compelx roof and have enjoyed many attempts to make it work properly.

  • JIMB0 on 01/10/2023 - 21:46

    Sounds like a SolarEdge system. They're a pain in the ass if not designed correctly. If I could go back I'd save money and get a Goodwe with 3 MPPT inputs.

  • Muzeeb on 01/10/2023 - 21:56
    +11

    they’ve been banging, drilling etc and that can’t be good for my house

    Mrs Muzeeb would suggest otherwise.

    • dontgooffline on 01/10/2023 - 23:51
      +8

      Two EVs, can’t be paying 220c for petrol

      • solidussnake on 02/10/2023 - 07:19

        $2.35 for E10 in Brisbane so it's going up and up, good on you 👍

        • bloom on 02/10/2023 - 13:18
          +1

          Clearly not using 7-11 choppers, should be $1.86, hand in your OzB licence

      • Protractor on 02/10/2023 - 09:32
        -1

        Here's me thinking it was all about lifestyle

  • miwahni on 01/10/2023 - 22:23
    +1

    If they're going to leave it with two panels not working then yes, you have grounds to reduce your contract. But I question if there's a clause in your contract that specifies a time frame? Because if not, you might get short shrift if you try to reduce the payment based on the time it takes.

  • Worf on 01/10/2023 - 22:31
    +1

    What kind of panels and inverter did you get installed last year?

    Do you think it’s been a complicated job and they are genuinely trying to fix it / deliver what you want? Or do you think they are stringing you along / taking you for a ride?

    Also… out of curiosity, how do you add 5kw… was your existing inverter under clocked, or did you add panels and change to a larger capacity inverter, or did you add an inverter?

    • JIMB0 on 01/10/2023 - 22:39

      If they're qualified electricians it wouldn't be worth the time to string someone along. There's just that much work out there. Unless they are doing a dodgy and employing unqualified people to do the work and signing off on it with their licence.

    • dontgooffline on 01/10/2023 - 23:56

      Solaredge 10kw and 8kw of panels last year. 5kw more panels this year on the same inverter. I think they’re probably genuinely trying but electrician maybe out of his depths, who knows. On the third visit (post install), they were on the roof for 7 hours banging and drilling. No idea what was going on for that long and he doesn’t elaborate when I ask.

      • Worf on 02/10/2023 - 08:18
        +5

        If they’re genuinely trying, i’d be inclined to give them some slack. They’re probably equally frustrated that the job is taking longer than they anticipated and consequently getting paid less per hour due to the additional time required.

        There’s not much in it for them to be messing around on your roof excessively. Asking them for a discount is going to annoy them further.

        Sometimes small things can make a difference to their experience (and cost you nothing or next to nothing), e.g., show some empathy, offer them drinks (coffee in the morning, something cold around lunchtime), show appreciation for their efforts… all on the assumption that their decent tradies (i.e., trying to do the right thing).

        • dontgooffline on 02/10/2023 - 08:44
          +1

          Yup thanks, did that each time. Bought them Uber Eats lunch on day of install, have always supplied cold beverages as working on roof in the heat. I agree no one’s the winner in a delayed extended install but I certainly feel like I’m coming out short here. If things aren’t working this many times right at the outset, imagine how it’s going to go over a 10 year period …

          • Worf on 02/10/2023 - 09:19
            +1

            @dontgooffline: Ok, sounds complicated and unpleasant for all. Maybe call the owner and see if there’s anyone on their team that can help with the complicated install, or if someone on their team has dealt with similar problems in the past and can help with your install.

            Out of curiosity, what was the reason for the staged install (I.e., 8kw panels before and now an additional 5kw… as opposed to doing all 13kw originally).

            I just looked up Solar edge inverters, they sound like good inverters! What panels did you get? A bit concerning that two panels from last year were dead. Good of them to let you know, you could have been none the wiser if they didn’t tell you.

            • dontgooffline on 02/10/2023 - 09:26

              @Worf: Only went with 8kw of panels last year because a large tree in neighbour’s yard cast shade on a sizeable part of our roof. However, late last year this tree was removed by council (large branch fell during a storm and was deemed dangerous after neighbour applied to remove). I nevertheless bought a 10kw inverter for future proofing upgrades since the price diff was hardly anything between 6kw and 10kw.

              That’s why I’m adding 5kw of panels now as shade is no longer an issue. That’s also why I went with Solaredge and micro inverters. Otherwise would have just stuck to a good old string system.

              And they didn’t tell me 2 panels are currently dead. I could see it on the Solaredge monitoring portal and am raising with them.

              • JIMB0 on 02/10/2023 - 11:00

                @dontgooffline: The support from solaredge can be woeful. My installer won't deal with them again after the trouble and lack of support with my system. I'd cut them some slack if they're still trying to resolve it.

              • DoctorCalculon on 02/10/2023 - 20:47

                @dontgooffline: micro inverters

                Panel Optimisers (namely SolarEdge & Tigo make them).

                Completely two different things. A panel optimiser doesn't convert panel output from DC to 240V AC.

              • Worf on 03/10/2023 - 14:09

                @dontgooffline: Oh I see, complicated. Good luck with it all.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 01/10/2023 - 22:34

    No of course not

  • valuer on 01/10/2023 - 22:43

    8 + 5 = 13

    13!

    The other two panels know it. :-)

    • Worf on 02/10/2023 - 08:20

      Standard practice to overclock an inverter… unsure why OP didn’t overclock in the first instance… maybe budget, maybe renos/additional roof space?

      • dontgooffline on 02/10/2023 - 08:58
        +1

        Only went with 8kw of panels last year because a large tree in neighbour’s yard cast shade on a sizeable part of our roof. However, late last year this tree was removed by council (large branch fell during a storm and was deemed dangerous after neighbour applied to remove). I nevertheless bought a 10kw inverter for future proofing upgrades since the price diff was hardly anything between 6kw and 10kw.

        That’s why I’m adding 5kw of panels now as shade is no longer an issue. That’s also why I went with Solaredge and micro inverters. Otherwise would have just stuck to a good old string system.

        • apple2016 on 02/10/2023 - 11:23

          That’s also why I went with Solaredge and micro inverters
          I nevertheless bought a 10kw inverter for future proofing

          Are you trying to combine micro inverters with an existing 10kw string ?

          • lgacb08 on 02/10/2023 - 11:35
            +1

            @apple2016: He got confused by the salesman tactics, solaredge is just a glorified string system and introduce extra complexity into the mix that's why he's having issues now. Should've gone string or micro inverter route, solaredge is a dud by principle.

        • DoctorCalculon on 02/10/2023 - 20:52

          Solaredge and micro inverters

          Repeat after me: Power Optimisers

          SolarEdge is a DC coupled system.

  • garetz on 02/10/2023 - 00:28
    +1

    Either this guy installing it is a total idiot, or they are stringing you along.

    I wouldn't pay a cent until it works as its supposed to, ie the work is completed.

    You shouldn't feel ripped off, you are ripped off.

  • JimmyF on 02/10/2023 - 09:06
    +5

    Because of the sheer number of times it’s taking them (impact on our roof, time for installation), I don’t feel like I should pay what we agreed to. Do I have grounds to push to reduce the quote? What would you guys do?

    LOL not at all…. It would be like them turning around and saying, based on the number of times we have visited to do this job, we now require 20% extra. Just because its taking them more trips/longer doesn't mean a discount.

    You paid them to do a job, they are doing the job. No payment until said job is done correctly.

  • pharkurnell on 02/10/2023 - 09:48
    +1

    Solar Edge reviews…
    https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/solar-edge

  • dixy on 02/10/2023 - 10:26

    Who is the solar company you are dealing with?

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