As we enter 2024, Australia’s solar capacity is so high that curtailment is sometimes necessary. [Read more…]
Electrical Nightmares: The Terrifying Realities of Household Wiring
Hard to believe, but this shiny, stripped copper cable inside a house roof is the handiwork of birds!
Electricity is crucial in modern society, powering almost everything we use daily. In Australia, working with anything over 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC (ripple-free) requires a licensed electrician. [Read more…]
The Solar Inverter Dilemma: Struggling to Match Modern Panel Output
Solar panel technology has made incredible strides in recent years, significantly boosting rooftop energy production. Solar panel manufacturers have achieved this mostly by optimising their panels to push out more current than ever before. [Read more…]
What The Hell Is GivEnergy?
Grey clouds. Even the monitoring has a distinctly British flavour.
Recently, I had the pleasure of walking the halls at the All Energy Solar Conference in Melbourne. For those in the industry, we affectionately call it “Solar Xmess” because it’s the one time of year when we can all get together and passionately debate the finer points over a beer. Some might argue that our drinking industry has a solar problem, but that’s a topic for another day. [Read more…]
VIC New Builds: Gas Boosted Solar Hot Water Requirement GONE
Word is on the street that new builds in Victoria no longer have to use a gas-boosted solar hot water service. [Read more…]
MC4 Plugs, The Hardest Working Things In Solar.
While they look different, the new model MC4 evo plug on the left is legal to mate with the old MC4 on the right.
If you’re not involved in the solar industry but wonder how millions of solar panels worldwide are connected to deliver clean energy, you might have too much spare time on your hands. Nonetheless, I’m glad you’re interested because, as I’m about to explain, this topic can be quite electrifying – particularly when an electrical fire or short circuit causes a catastrophic inverter failure. [Read more…]
Why You Can’t Have Enphase Sunlight Backup
You may have seen inverter companies promoting “battery-less backup” – a feature that lets you power lights and appliances with your solar panels during grid outages and without the need for batteries.
[Read more…]
Improving Australian House Construction: The Case for Service Ducts
Spot the difference.
The sound of Dad’s drill bit, as long as my arm, boring through the thick stone walls of our 1875 home, was a childhood constant. The sound of regular home improvements. [Read more…]
“THEY’RE STEALING MY ELECTRICITY!” The Truth About Feed-in Tariffs
For some time, I’ve been both amused and increasingly disappointed by how people perceive solar feed-in tariffs. [Read more…]
George And His Terrible Solar Install
There are dents in the roof and solar panels right behind the air conditioner.
Some weeks ago, I was cruising the wilds of social media and found a solar thread causing a stir. The victim of a shoddy solar installation was seeking help, and of course, a few comedians were making light of the misfortune. [Read more…]
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