Image: SMA (modified)
Got an old red SMA solar inverter that’s still kicking? These tough-as-nails units are a testament to when SMA ruled the roost in grid-connected solar tech in Australia. [Read more…]
Why Solar Installers Hate Tiled Roofs
You can see from the dirt, this isn’t a fresh break, it’s just a typical tile failure.
You’d be silly to build a house with a tiled roof.
I can’t make it any simpler, but as we explore more subjects in the series of how to talk to builders, hopefully I can explain the many reasons why tiles make a poor choice for solar roofing. [Read more…]
How To Stop Your EV Draining Your Home Battery
I think AI is going to design my next house.
Don’t want to waste the energy in your home battery charging your electric car? You’re not alone. Discover a straightforward wiring tweak that fixes this—no fancy gear needed. [Read more…]
Is Your Roof Strong Enough for Solar Panels?
Some roofs are more suited to solar panels than others. Recently, we fielded an inquiry from a customer who’d amassed a heap of solar power system quotes. One company made a noteworthy assertion. [Read more…]
Why Your EV Charger Matters More Than You Think
I recently answered a query from an excited soon-to-be EV driver looking to set themselves up with the necessary gear for electric car charging. [Read more…]
Why Builders Get Solar Wrong And How You Can Get It Right
Stink pipes, clear sheets, aerials, low pitch, small planes, a new roof, redeploy old solar panels …and add more capacity. This one had all the complexities.
In this series, I’m pitching a case for better buildings that can make housing more comfortable and more affordable to live in. [Read more…]
There’s No Such Thing As A Badly Oriented Roof For Solar
1.85kW left vs 10.85kW right
In Australia, the ideal solar panel orientation to maximise annual energy yield is north. If you’ve been holding back on solar power because your roof’s orientation is east, west or even south, it’s time to reconsider. [Read more…]
Decoding Tesla Powerwall 3’s Electrical Specs: Implications for Australia
There she be… Powerwall 3
Photos are doing the rounds of a Tesla Powerwall 3 installed in the wilds of Burgeristan (the USA) , so I thought I’d add a few words to the stream of excited comments. [Read more…]
Backup Your Blackout Plans. Why Hybrid Solar Needs A Bypass Switch
The green parts are thanks to SolarQuotes. In normal operation, grid energy goes in the hybrid inverter through the red line, out along the brown line, and into the home’s essential circuits via the green line. If the inverter fails, it can simply be bypassed with the green switch.
Home batteries used to be a niche market for tech enthusiasts and those needing emergency power. But as battery-backed hybrid solar systems proliferate, the solar industry is learning that even the best plans can go awry. [Read more…]
Should You Install An Industrial Socket For Home EV Charging?
Standard Australian socket and plug for 32 amps 400 volts 3 phase power.
TL;DR: Hell, yes.
In Australia, the wall socket pictured above is your go-to option for a 3-phase electricity supply, while this one is for single-phase: [Read more…]
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