Posts By Anthony Bennett On SolarQuotes

Tesla Powerwall Alternatives Part 2: Hybrid Inverter Systems

sungrow hybrid inverter and battery installed in an Australian garage

A Sungrow Hybrid Inverter connected to 6.6 kW of solar and 12.8 kWh of Sungrow batteries. And a dishcloth.

As a solar installer in Australia, I’ve looked at many Powerwall alternatives for residential battery storage systems. In this guide, I want to share my knowledge about using hybrid inverters for grid-connected solar battery systems. [Read more…]

Are Growatt Inverters Any Good? Here’s An Installer’s Opinion

Growatt Are Growing Up. About Time.

Here’s my review of Growatt inverters: I’ve always thought they were rubbish. Aside from the one in the cover image that has clocked up 11 years and is still plugging away to this day.

Want to know why I have this opinion? Pull up a chair, and I’ll start at the beginning. [Read more…]

Beyond Tesla: An Australian Installer’s Take On EV Chargers

It’s early days for most Australian electricians when it comes to deciding which EV chargers they will offer going forward.

Several strong contenders emerge based on discussions with fellow electricians, but surprisingly, despite its reasonable price and quality construction, Tesla’s wall charger isn’t at the forefront. Lacking smart features, the Tesla charger misses the opportunity to be an obvious choice in the market. [Read more…]

South Australia Wields The Solar Shutdown Compliance Stick

Are you *sure* you selected “Australia A” for Volt/Var response?

I recently received an invite from SA Power Networks to join them for a “free and informative webinar on the new automated feature for DER compliance management”.

You are probably thinking two things right now:

  1. “DER Compliance”? That sounds boring at batshit.
  2. Who cares about the inner workings of South Australia’s grid except for South Australian energy nerds?

[Read more…]

The Pleasures & Sorrows Of Tesla’s Powerwall: An Installer’s Perspective

Tesla Powerwall 2 - installer perspective

SolarQuotes has sometimes faced accusations of lacking independence, with critics suggesting Tesla must be footing the bill for our positive coverage of the Powerwall. We’ve also been accused of rigging Tesla’s gold medal in our 2023 Installers’ Choice Awards. [Read more…]

Sungrow Wins ‘Best Budget Battery’: An Installer’s Reaction

Sungrow solar battery - installer's opinion

The words ‘budget battery’ strike fear into many installers’ hearts. The thought of a too-cheap battery going wrong is the stuff of nightmares. [Read more…]

An Installer’s Take On Sungrow Inverters & Batteries

Sungrow inverters and home batteries

Sungrow inverters and batteries are a popular choice for Australian solar systems thanks to their proven performance and accessible pricing. I thought I’d take a closer look at what makes Sungrow inverters such great value, along with some of their limitations. [Read more…]

When Switchboard Upgrades Are Crucial To Getting Solar (A Pictorial Guide)

Solar power systems and switchboard upgrades

My eternal shame is that I couldn’t save this piece of hand-painted switchboard craftsmanship from a demolition crew.

At SolarQuotes, we’re often asked about peripherals that aren’t as cool as the glass on your roof or the monitoring app you can show off at someone else’s barbecue. [Read more…]

An Australian Installer’s Take On Home Battery Brands

Home battery brands - a solar installer's view

We recently polled installers in the SolarQuotes network to discover their favourite home batteries. Tesla, Sungrow and BYD batteries took the podium.

This post looks a little deeper into the winning brands from an experienced battery installer’s perspective. [Read more…]

Home EV Charging For Tightarses (Like Me)

Tips for charging an EV from a standard power outlet.

Tricks and traps when charging from a standard powerpoint.Β 

Spent all your spare cash on an electric car and don’t want to incur the expense of a hard-wired home EV charger? Then this is the post for you.

For five years, my two EVs have only ever been plugged into a powerpoint. [Read more…]

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