Posts By Anthony Bennett On SolarQuotes

About Anthony Bennett

Anthony joined the SolarQuotes team in 2022. He’s a licensed electrician, builder, roofer and solar installer who for 14 years did jobs all over SA - residential, commercial, on-grid and off-grid. A true enthusiast with a skillset the typical solar installer might not have, his blogs are typically deep dives that draw on his decades of experience in the industry to educate and entertain. Read Anthony's full bio.

Solar Ecosystems; What’s Available Today?

Tesla, Enphase, Sungrow & SolarEdge Apps. Some apps are better than others – so try before you buy.

While new solar, battery and EV charging products are always arriving, some have become running jokes in the solar industry because promises of ‘here by Xmas’ often lead to questions about ‘which Xmas?’ If you’re tired of waiting for a unicorn to arrive in Q5, then read on as we outline what’s already available to Australian installers to generate, store and manage energy, plus charge an EV or two. [Read more…]

Inverter, Battery, EV Charger: Why Sticking To One Brand Makes Sense

solaredge ecosystem

SolarEdge have one of the most complete solar ecosystems available in Australia.

As more homes become all-electric, you must consider how your solar, battery, and EV charger will work together.

This is especially true for EV chargers, one of the most power-hungry appliances. [Read more…]

How To Overcome The Challenges Of Strata EV Charging

iMiev EV charging in a public garage

Are you considering getting an EV but are overwhelmed by the challenges of strata charging? Fear not! Here’s how to overcome each challenge…
[Read more…]

The Secret To Breaking Australia’s 6.6kW Solar Barrier: Add A Battery

rule 4.2 of SAA solar install guidelines

Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) has just dropped version 1.3 of their solar installation guidelines, and the good news is that they’ve tweaked the rules in Section 4, making it easier to oversize your solar setup without having to tell porky pies. [Read more…]

Need More Solar? How To Upgrade Modern Systems (Under ~12 Years Old)

solar inverters

If you’ve had solar power for a few years and found your bills are getting uncomfortably high, you could probably use more solar yield. However, as we’ll explain, it’s not as simple as plonking more panels on the roof. [Read more…]

Cold Months, High Bills? The Case for Expanding Your Solar

three GE solar inverters
So you’ve just enjoyed your first solar summer with a basic 6.6kW system, but you’re finding the bills in winter still give you the chills, don’t worry; you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon for new solar installations to undergo expansion after the first winter. Read on as I explain how.

[Read more…]

Want An All-Electric Solar Home? Get A Bigger Switchboard.

New enlarged main switchboard

An excellent 50-pole switchboard upgrade. An absolute credit to Deionno Electrical & Solar

Despite modern electrical standards calling for spare space in switchboards, even brand-new places can struggle with switchboard space when adding solar, battery or EV charging equipment. [Read more…]

Upgrading Vintage Solar? You May Need To Start Again

Old cottage with old solar power system

Like the rest of Burra, this solar system should be heritage listed.

Are you an early adopter of solar power? Are you wondering how to install a new solar system alongside your existing one? Or if you need to replace it entirely? And what about the solar rebate if you’ve already received it? Plus, how does the Premium Feed-in Tariff (FiT) factor into your decision?
[Read more…]

Upgrade Your Solar To Be Bigger & Better (And Immune To Export-Charges)

Solar panels all over a roof

image credit: Kelvin Graves – Crap Solar Facebook group

I’ve recently noticed an uptick in questions from previously satisfied solar owners. With rising prices eroding their savings, they’re looking to boost their solar yield. If you’d like more solar, read on and we’ll explain how to go about it.
[Read more…]

Is Your Home A Solar Installer’s Worst Nightmare?

solar installer having a mare

Trawling an album recently, I was traumatized to recall one particular solar installation. I took nearly 20 photos at the time to prove why, in this case, it was such a nightmare. [Read more…]

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