Banana Solar Reviews
About
Welcome to our SolarQuotes review page. Banana Solar exists to deliver high quality solar solutions that maximise your savings. This is how we make our customers happy:
- We choose the products we offer carefully after considering product quality and warranty strength so that you have a long lasting system
- We use the best solar software available so that you know what generation to expect from your system
- We conduct an on-site technical inspection for every customer so that there are no surprises when it comes to the installation day
- We train our sales team on the technical side of products and system design so that you get the right system for your needs
- We analyse your electricity bills using our industry leading solar calculator so that you know what savings to expect from your investment
- We recommend the best electricity plan unique to your situation so that you get the quickest payback time possible
- We use dedicated installation teams trained in house so that you get high quality workmanship
- We have dedicated support staff so that your questions and support queries are answered quickly for the lifetime of your system
We work each day according to our company values: Honesty, Commitment and Excellence. Experience the Banana Solar ‘No BS’ approach and request a free quote today
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Banana Solar Reviews (224)
Show Most Recent reviews from All time across Australia
Average Scores
4.7/5
Value for money
4.8/5
Quality of System
4.8/5
Installation
4.8/5
Customer Service
- 5 star 157
- 4 star 60
- 3 star 4
- 2 star 1
- 1 star 2
View Timeline
08 August 2024
08 July 2024
A very easy to deal with accommodating installation company.
Happy with all aspects of my interaction with this company. The price seems very reasonable and the work was done quickly and efficiently. They accommodated several delays to the installation as I needed some house repairs to be completed before the installation could happen.29 January 2024
Professional Installation
A very good installation from quote to install. Installation team was punctual and professional. Very happy with product.Panel rating: 5/5
24 December 2023
Great Solar Installer in Sydeny
Allan, Victor and the team did a great job with the install. The communication was great during the quotation process, and worked with us to design the best system for out needs. Install went well, they were on time, had no issues during the install, and spent time with me to explain the system, and how it all worked. The panels are getting the full expected voltage, and even during cloudy periods, we are getting more than enough to power the house. I would fully recommended the Banana Solar for your Sydney solar needs!Panel rating: 4/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
12 October 2023
Banana Solar team explain what they do at every step and do what they say.
Today marks 12 months since Banana Solar had installed my 10 KW solar system. I had waited this period to give a more comprehensive review of my experience of the process from initial consultation to installation, ongoing support, and final evaluation. In short, I cannot be any happier with my decision to have gone with Banana Solar. With the help of my monitoring software, I can independently confirm that I am looking at a payback period of 5 years and possibly faster if electricity costs keep going up as they did 3 months ago. This beats the projections made in Banana Solar proposal; this is a case of under-promising and over-delivering.At the start, Nicolas from Banana Solar took the time to patiently explain to me the various design and cost options. I was presented with facts without the hard sell. Allan supervised the installation process in a timely manner and exceptional attention to detail. His installation team was courteous, neat, and careful in execution. I appreciate the post-installation follow-up. My queries about the software were answered promptly. They quickly responded and attended to solve a shading problem I faced in May and June.
The solar system now powers my heating and cooling, my pool heat pump during 5 months of the year, all electric house appliances, and lighting. The monitoring software is showing me that I still have enough capacity to ditch my gas storage water heater for an electric one, using a solar diverter which will save me an additional $550 a year. An EV car is another possibility.
Finally, I can say that I have no hesitation in recommending Banana Solar. They explain what they do at every step and do what they say.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
06 September 2023
Excellent installation and service
We have only compliments for the team. From first contact through to post installation, the team has been amazingly supportive, courteous and diligent. The account manager, Nicolas, is very knowledgeable, patient and took time to go through all our queries regarding their products options and installation process. The team led by Allan, was also very patient and followed through with our seemingly endless queries and requests, even after installation; one of the most obliging teams we have ever come across. The installation went smoothly and hassle-free; all the on-site team members were very efficient and they took care to ensure all debris cleaned up properly prior to leaving our yard. Their professionalism has made our first solar purchase and installation such a positive and unforgettable experience! A big thank you to the team at Banana Solar!Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
24 July 2023
Original Review on 06-09-2022:
Solar System
The sales person arrived at my home. Was punctual, polite and well presented . Helpful and knowledgeable.Installation went ahead as planned.
The post installation process of commissioning was carried out a few days later.
However this process and set up of the app was not effectively communicated.
First time it rained after a roof leak in the area of the installation was evident. By dark damp patches on the ceiling.
A number of phone calls and messages to Banana saw their installers return a week later.
2 cracked tiles found. 1 was replaced 1 was siliconed.
Water leak marks remain on the ceiling.
No follow up from Banana.
The system seems to work well and function as it should.
The customer service could be better.
Supplier Reply:
Hi Tim,Thanks for your review, we are always looking to improve our process internally and we took your feedback seriously.
Our team has responded promptly to your call regarding the roof issue, due to the weather conditions we couldn't service you as soon as we would've liked. You can be assured that our admin team will be in touch with you to ensure that all points addressed can be correctly rectified.
The Banana Solar team is here to support you over the lifetime of your system and should you need our assistance in any regards, please don't hesitate to contact us.
11 months later we asked Timothy: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
The system installation was rubbish.The Job was given to a subcontractor
They damaged my roof
It cost me $8,000.00 in repairs
Their insurance covered $4,000.00
I remain $4,000.09 out of pocket
I will probably never, after extended pay back period, ever realise the benefits claimed
This has been a very bad experience
This reflects poorly on Solar Quotes
And very poorly on Banana Solar
13 June 2023
Professional quoting, however installation a little less great
We had a few meetings with Boris to work out the details of the system. Everything was planned out and diagrams to show where things went. He had a drone to take photos and map out where the panels fit. In general it was well planned. There was a little shadowing from the neighbours' roof, but it would be minimal by the diagrams.When the installers came, unfortunately they decided to move the whole install a foot closer to the neighbour, meaning more shadowing in the morning. They also lifted the panels to the roof by dragging it up on a makeshift rail made of pvc piping. This meant several of the panels had marks on the surface. I was old these marks aren't going to affect performance.
They ran the lines out the front of the house to the inverter, which now talking to neighbours the wires should be better hidden and the inverter should be placed back a little out of the sun. However it works and the electricity company accepts the solar feed in.
The next issue is the solar analytics addon which they convinced us was worthwhile at $600 for a lifetime subscription, showing us how our power was being used. The inverter itself would already show the solar generated, but this added consumption data.
It was late 2019, and Telstra & Vodafone had shut down half of its 3G bands, and 5G was being introduced. Boris told me they would be installing a 4G dongle so I didn't have to worry about that.
But in Feb 2023, I got a message from solar analytics that my dongle was in fact 3G, and they would shut down support in May, due to the telcos shutting off 3G in 2024.
As a result, I needed to buy a new 4G dongle and get it installed at my cost, adding another $500. Not only that they cancelled the lifetime subscription, but offered 5 year from now.
Boris has left Banana Solar, and the new owners do not care about the situation.
So in the end we have a system that hasn't paid for itself yet, where we have to add costs, and a subscription where we'll be lucky to get 8 years after paying for lifetime subscription (which for panels is around 20 years).
Panel rating: 4/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Supplier Reply:
Hi Mr Lau, Thank you for your feedback after 2 years.First of all, we didn’t aware the marks your mentioned, if you have photos could you please forward to us and we will see if we can clean/fix it. As of the location and the surface conduit I believe the best design on paper would still needs to be tweaked to fit to the reality, sometimes roof liner or the cavity not on our side. But I can assure you we wouldn’t compromise on performance and compliance.
I assumed the installer would have better experience than your neighbour, and discuss the setup with you before the installation. if not, please let us known this is important to us to continue improve our services.
For the Solar Analytics, I don’t know if you remember, Boris should have told you it is a third party service, not provided by us. What you have paid was the cost of the device and their subscription. We installed the device while we were onsite installing solar.
I understand you upset about they upgrading their device. We were not aware they have 4G/5G device at the time of installation back 2/3 years ago, not sure why you agreed on installing the 3G device while Boris mentioned 4G at the time. And in my opinion they should honor their subscription at least. We are on your side! I reckon you go it all wrong, and complain to the wrong side. If SA didn’t want to honor their lifetime subscription they are at wrong we should talk to SA and together we defend your rights. We can also help on installing the new device like we did for other customers.
13 March 2023
Efficient installation
The sales and quoting process was fast and factual.The installation occurred on the day that was organised.
It was carried out efficiently. The solar app works well. All communication with Banana has been courteous and punctual.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
07 March 2023
I don't ever write reviews but this team is exceptional.
Courteous and polite staff, every question patiently answered and everything thoroughly explained. Several installation scenario considered but wasn't pushed into buying anything. Competitive pricing with generous pensioner discount and the installation team worked in a dedicated, clean and professional manner. And yes, they are organising the grid connection and also offering post-installation consultation if needed.18 February 2023
Passion for solar
From go to woe, the Banana solar team exceeded my expectations. They show a passion for getting people into solar without breaking the bank. They understand who the customer is and listen to what you want and steer you in the right direction. They came to the house to met with me and had a good look at the roof line to ensure what they where suggesting would work. The installation ran smoothly with no issues and the owner came to the house that evening to check everything was working. He explained how the inverter works and created an account so I could monitor the solar production, usage and what is sent back to the grid via an App. Great customer service.27 December 2022
Great solar installer
Great service from start to finishGood advice at a great price
Very happy with the whole process
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
26 November 2022
Fantastic Solar System Installer
Banna Solar just installed an 8.3 KW system to my 2-story house. Their customer service was very professional and friendly. Their expertise extremely efficient; their installation impeccably clean and their product of top quality. But perhaps most importantly their assistance was done with a human touch. I cannot recommend them enough.Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
22 November 2022
Sungrow/Risen system
The process was smooth.Nicolas from Banana Solar recommended a good system that fits my requirements and budget.
01 November 2022
Original Review on 01-03-2022:
Professional and Timely Service
Sales process was professional and informativeInstallation completed quickly after quote accepted. Installer was professional and discussed process prior to commencement of the work. All agreed timeframes met by sales and installations teams.
Replaced older Solar System. All work completed and as far as I know the grid connection was completed same day. I guess the first power bill from AGL will confirm this. Details of the existing grid connection were provided prior to the installation so that the arrangements could be made with AGL. However, from monitoring via iCloudSolaron my Windows P/C there does not appear to be a flow to the grid. I received an email from Banana Solar post-installation advising that AGL would need to install another meter within 3 weeks so will wait and see (not a big deal with feed-in tariff of only $0.05.
During investigations prior to accepting the quote, AGL advised that 'EWS' was OK and no additional work required.
8 months later we asked Chris: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
After 8 months running with the new Solar System, it is performing to expectations. Timing of the upgrade from a 1.5kW system to 6.6 kW of panels was good also in the light of rising grid supply costs.Whilst the weather has not been favorable for Solar, on bright sunny days the system generates just over 5kW.
I have not had a need to contact Banana Solar since the time of the installation.
27 October 2022
Great customer service, brilliant install team
This is our second time dealing with Banana Solar as we decided to expand the system installed by them last year. Whilst the whole process was wonderful, I must really add a special mention to Allan and his install team - they took the time to explain everything clearly, showed an exceptional attention to detail and pride in their work, and were generally amazingly great to deal with.20 September 2022
A Very Satisfying Outcome!
Sales and quoting done efficiently and pleasantly - good follow up service.Installers were punctual, polite and tidy.
Customer service excellent - also very prompt. Banana Solar did all the liaising with grid and provider.
Just one complication which was nothing to do with Banana Solar and that was the need for our entire board to be upgraded as it was over 50 years old and needed new fuses, trip switch etc as well as the smart meter so we had to wait three weeks for that to be done.
Otherwise, I'm extremely pleased with the whole process which had appeared quite intimidating when I first began my 'solar journey'. Many thanks also to Solar Quotes which helped by narrowing down the possible options for firms to ask for quotes.
16 September 2022
So happy I installed solar!
I deal with Nicolas from Banana Solar who came out to our house to inspect the property, he then sat down with me and took the time to explain different systems and products that were available. I was provided a variety of different options which detailed the benefits of each installation. The service provided by Nicolas and Banana Solar was great, they were in constant communication with me throughout and were easy to get hold of. The installation was quick, efficient and very tidy. I am happy with the experience and can highly recommend Nicolas and Banana Solar!Panel rating: 4/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
07 September 2022
Original Review on 04-09-2021:
Great system, great service, great transaction!
I decided to go with Banana Solar simply because they ticked all the boxes:High quality products (with very good reviews)
Helpful, engaging and friendly customer service
Informed, easy to understand, transparent and relevant technical advice
There were a couple of technical challenges during the day of the installation due to the layout of my roof. The Banana Solar team who installed the system arrived on time and proceeded with the installation with efficiency and professionalism. I was consulted on important decisions and was kept up to date with the progress.
I went up to the roof and saw that they did a fantastic job!
The post installation follow-up answered all my remaining questions regarding the green loan I took out, monitoring the system via the app, and selecting the electricity retailer that offered the best deal on feed-in tariffs!
Overall, it was a smooth, hassle-free transaction with a company that is easy to deal with with. I have no hesitation in recommending Banana Solar!
12 months later we asked James: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Yes!
31 August 2022
Outstanding Service. Great Product.
Possibly one of the best purchasing experiences I have had. Not knowing much about solar and PV generation, Banana Solar explained the options and helped us select a system best suited to our house and electricity usage. They connected the system to existing batteries and provided brilliant after sales service. An absolute pleasure to deal with.Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Battery rating: 5/5
29 August 2022
Good knowledge and advice
The quotation process was simple to follow, after answering some questions I was provided with 2 solutions for consideration. After making a selection based on the initial information provided a site visit was arranged to confirm the proposed solution would be suitable. Straight forward and simple advice was provided by the slaesperson.Inverter rating: 4/5
25 August 2022
Original Review on 23-12-2021:
Good with the not so good
The sales advise was efficient and polite,, responding quickly to my calls. Prior to the decision to go we had a number of discussions on system mix before finalising on a plan. The site visit was useful and we did some changes to the layout. There was some weather interruption to installation but the team was polite, effective and efficient.There was a problem that the changes to the layout did not get to the installation team, which I discovered after a work inspection after the racks were installed - for expediency we didn't change the plan (it was nearly Christmas). The system worked well but it took a while to get the wrap-up email from the company and when I checked with my retail provider they claim they had not been informed of the addition of solar (contrary to the wrap-up email). This was easily fixed by me, but it was just as well I called.
In short a good system and installation, and their lapses was most likely due to it being a very busy time near Christmas. I would be happy to recommend them with a caveat of the need to follow-up on the details.
8 months later we asked Braddon: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Now my expectations have been trained by data - yes.30 July 2022
Work in progress
The sales and quoting process were great.The installation has been hampered by the wet weather, and has meant several delays, and half dones. The installation is just being finished today.
11 July 2022
Highly recommended - a very professional service.
Nicolas was excellent in helping me select a lay out for my solar project and made this easy to understand especially when there are so many providers who are happy to quote without understanding your needs! The sales and post implementation service from Nicolas and Christine has been top notch.Also a shout out to Duan who installed the system. The quality of installation has been brilliant and Duan took me through everything I needed.
Highly recommended and we are super happy with our project and installation.
04 July 2022
great service
Very professional with contact and quote. Installation went really well and fast from accepting the quote to installation was approximately 2 weeks arrived on time which I value highly and cleaned up after they were finished. All people I dealt with were extremely helpful and courteous even when I asked silly questions. Explained the process from start to finish. I would gladly recommend Banana Solar to anyone wanting solar.22 June 2022
Original Review on 20-10-2021:
Quality Service and Great Installation
Smooth and easy sales and quoting process. Good installation and now issues so far!8 months later we asked Greg: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Great. works well with no issues after 12 months.23 April 2022
Listened to my needs
Banana Solar came back with a good initial proposal and then listened to my needs to refine it further to include EV charger installation.They answered my questions and didn’t seem to oversupply.
Installation occurred seamlessly and communications were good.
So far very happy with the result. Thank you Banana Solar!
Inverter rating: 4/5
This 3.25 star review was removed at the request of the reviewer
Learn More12 March 2022
The best by far
We did not know much about solar so we did a lot of research and contacted 8 suppliers as many do not come to your house to quote. We found this strange that some companies think that dealing with a voice over the phone on such a huge investment was ok. Banana Solar were the only company that came out and spent over an hour with us, took photos, answered all our questions and sent the quote quickly. When we got the quote we had more questions so I called Nicholas (who came out) and he set up a video conference call on the spot and walked me through the entire quote. We had multiple interactions with Nicolas who was a standout. No pushy tactics just straight answers and really easy to deal with. The installation was also professionally done. The installation team was efficient and no issues at all. After the install there are still some tasks to be done with the meter. By this stage we had paid in full and many vendors would not be responsive but not Nicholas, he was brilliant and helped us right to the very end. That was in 2020. We recently had to change the wifi password for our Enphase system and couldn't work out how to do it. We called Banana Solar and Nicholas called back and helped us re-establish the connection. There was nothing in it for him so the fact that he called back and provided assistance was unbelievable. It is rare to find a supplier that delivers excellent service and stands behind what they say. If we ever move house and need to get solar I wouldn't bother to shop around. The clarity of information provided, the service, the ability to call Nicholas and ask as many questions as I need to, the fast turnaround, great installation experience and no pushy tactics is where Banana Solar stands out.Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
04 March 2022
Great experience
Banana Solar were very easy to deal with from start to finish. Installation was timely and swift, with detailed explanations of the process and products used. I’d recommend them highly.Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
30 January 2022
Happy with Banana Solar through an extremely challenging experience with a faulty batch of micro inverters through end phase. They’ve had to come back to the property multiple times and They have clearly lost a massive amount of money on this installation. Enphase refusing to provide any warranty or backup support. If I had my time again I will definitely use Banana Solar but use different inverters
Inverter rating: 1/5
Show Details
Inverter rating: 1/5
11 January 2022
Great Service, Competitive Pricing and Support
As many people know, the quality of the installation, service and support is just as important as the quality of the panels and invertors. I recently installed an extension to my residential solar system through Banana Solar. This enabled me to obtain a total of 14kw and the use of individual monitoring through Enphase. The sales process was innovative, friendly, informative and courteous. Nicholas was well prepared for the meeting outlining design options, orientations, panel, invertor and battery storage options. In addition to this, he visited my residence (which many companies do not do) to assess the location and took a drone up to take pictures of my roof to compliment the design options.Banana solar came on time and finished the job to perfection. The installer was very careful with my roof tiles, safety and always ensured that I was informed of progress. The installation team met all my design requests and also completed a safety check on my previous installation as a matter of courtesy. I am quite a picky person on quality and cost, and all my expectations were met. The installer stayed back after the physical installation and ensured that everything worked, trained me using the app and ensured all 35+ panels were operating correctly.
I genuinely believe, in this case, dealing with a small/ medium company has it advantages as all my calls (re enquiries, support, confirmations) were returned promptly. I highly recommend Banana Solar as the energy produced today has gone far beyond my expectations and the follow up calls to ensure that things were going well added to the superior service. Well done team at Banana Solar.
Inverter rating: 5/5
03 January 2022
Beat my expectations
The whole process was excellent. Professional, informative and accurate. The savings we've achieved have been better than estimated. Strongly recommend these guys.Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
This 2.00 star review was removed at the request of the reviewer
Learn More08 December 2021
Good Price and Service
- Good info from the sales guy- Good Price
- Good Service
Inverter rating: 4/5
03 December 2021
Great installation excellent service.
A quality installation very professional and communicative.Great service from a knowledgeable professional and good follow up advice and explanation.
Replaced an old system so simple process with the grid connection.
Inverter rating: 1/5
01 December 2021
Original Review on 01-04-2021:
Installation by Banana Solar
The salesperson was not only polite, personable and competent but not at all aggressive in his sales manner. The quote was done at my home and was compiled using technology including a drone to determine where to place panels etc.the price was competitive and the ongoing follow up good.
The other companies were using out of date google earth photos of the property to base their quotes. They had no idea whether the landscaping had placed mature trees on the property for example. They were reluctant to come out in person.
8 months later we asked Mary: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
The system has been performing well but I had to change my provider. Energy Australia were charging peak rates but not buying power at a reasonable rate. It was not until I changed supplier to AGL that I actually gained any advantage of using solar power.01 December 2021
A great upfront consultation
The initial consultation was excellent in outlining the various trade-offs and designing a system that meet our current and potential trial future needsPanel rating: 5/5
10 November 2021
Great Result!
Very happy with the team from Banana Solar. Oscar managed my many questions and changes as I went from initial concept of a string system to micro inverters. The install team were very efficient and cleaned up thoroughly after themselves.Allan the director came onsite to finalise the install and talk me through the system and what to expect. Highly recommend Banana
Shout out too for Solar Quotes very handy service!
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
07 November 2021
Original Review on 08-03-2021:
Great service, installation, system quality
Got three quotes, one of which was outside SolarQuotes (one of the SolarQuotes referred installers didn't respond initially, then visited, but never quoted). Banana Solar was not the cheapest, but I didn't expect them to be. Boris from Banana Solar spoke to me on the phone several times, sent me a quote, and then refined it as we had discussions. He was most helpful and open to my requirements. Nico from Banana Solar visited and used a drone to survey our roof segments and cabling positions. We ended up with a design that had more panels on the roof (on multiple roof segments, East and North) than where we began from, with panels and microinverters. Once I agreed to proceed, they quickly set up an installation date. On the day, they turned up and started work. I was able to discuss things with Boris even as work was happening. Finished installation over two days (neat and tidy work), and they set up the wifi/app so we could monitor consumption and solar generation. Boris sent off the application to our electricity retailer so we could be connected to the grid and export unused solar energy. All worked very smoothly and quickly. Now exporting solar to the grid (at the moment, we're in credit).8 months later we asked Tarun: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Absolutely, yes!19 October 2021
Good pre-sales, fantastic installation and good customer service
Sales/quoting process:Nicolas, our Banana Solar rep, was fantastic.
* He listened carefully to our needs
* Provided plenty of info
* Willing to do site visit to validate everything
* Nicolas' recommendation was different to others and he explained the rationale well and supported it with examples
* Took into account current and future needs
* Fair price
Things that could be improved
* Occasionally needed a follow up email when an enquiry went unanswered
* Monitoring concepts needed deeper research by both vendor and customer to ensure full understanding - but I think that's because the feature is still fairly new and our installation was not quite standard
Installation
* Booked as soon as COVID construction ban lifted
* Done in 1 day
* Cleaned up all rubbish
* Installation work very neat
Things that could be improved
* Would be good if more comprehensive written instructions could be provided for operation / maintenance (note this was eventually rectified)
Post installation
* So far, good support provided
* Electricity retailer promptly notified for change of metre
16 October 2021
My Favourite Fruit AND SOLAR INSTALLER
I went with Banana Solar, because a friend used them to install their system and had an excellent experience. They were not an initial company forwarded by solar quotes, but they visited the site (which not all the installers did) had a knowledgeable friendly sales rep (who did not feel like a pushy sales rep.)They provided a fairly different design than the other companies I approached and by far had the best price. Also they had an interesting metric that I hadn't seen in other companies, ethical investment.
AS for the installation, nothing to write home about. A three person team knocked it out in 6 hours on the slightly complicated second floor of an inner west terrace. Very happy.
Customer service was great, but there was a little delay to installation because of solar panel arrival in the country. This just gave me time to get a smart meter installed before the solar installation (10/10 would recommend if you can do it.)
27 September 2021
Good but let down by the little details and post install follow-up
Update 11/10/21: Adam has advised the system is now fully complete, functional and that he is happy with the end result and service.I chose Banana Solar on the strength of the reviews here and by the sense of competence I got during the quotation and design process.
Quote / Design Process:
I wanted a high end system that was ready to accept an AC coupled battery like a Tesla down the track and that deleted the risk of a high voltage DC isolator on the roof. I went with Enphase microinverters and on the recommendation from from Banana Solar went with the newer Trina Vertex-S 390kw panels for a 7.5kw system overall on a brand new home.
I made sure during the design and quote process that there was plenty of consultation with the install supervisor as I didn't want any surprises or confusion on the day of the installation. So we went through and confirmed the panel locations on the roof and the electrical installation inside our internal garage.
Installation:
On the day of the installation, things started shaky with the original install supervisor not there and very little of the pre-design discussion conveyed to the site manager whom attended. So the first part of the morning was taken up going over the same details of where to install the control box and allowance for a future battery. From that point my confidence dropped and I was probably asking a lot of questions and double checking everything that was being done.
The next problem came when the installers realised that the Trina panels were larger than allowed for in their original design software and they couldn't fit all 19 panels on the same north facing roof. They proposed to install 3 panels on a smaller roof with one panel installed in landscape to fit the rhombus roof profile. At this point I was getting cranky as the aesthetics of the installation and performance was now compromised and the options were limited on the day to resolve. In the end we agreed to install 2 panels on the smaller north facing roof and I've held on to the remaining panel and invertor until I could a roof vent relocated to the southern roof.
Overall the installation was fine and everything (other than the final panel locations) was installed as expected and operating by the end of the day. Unfortunately some lack of attention to minor details marred the overall experience and quality of the installation. Apart from the mix up on panel locations, the installers did little to protect the colorbond roof on the garage or the guttering on the main roof. This left minor damage and scuffing on both - not the end of the world but completely avoidable with a bit of extra care. The panels were unloaded from the vans and left to sit unprotected on the concrete driveway resulting in visible scuffing to the anodized extruded aluminum frames - again not the end of the world but something that will likely create accelerated corrosion in the years to come.
I had to insist on getting matching roof fixings where they had to lift the colorbond roofing to route the electrical cable and conduits - again a small detail that ensured no introduced leaks from broken or missing seals, that should have been a standard practice for anyone who works on a roof everyday. Lastly, same of the panels were left with a smearing of silicane sealant that the installers tried to wipe off with water and rags but which made it look worse. When I asked if they had or could recommend and appropriate cleaner to remove the stains, I basically got fobbed off and told not to worry about it.
Follow-up post installation:
Not withstanding the impacts of the COVID restrictions that greater Sydney has had to endure, I've had no follow-up from Banana Solar what so ever post installation. I sent an email to the sales agent and install supervisor conveying much the same information here and confirmed that I had withheld a small amount from the final bill that would be remitted as soon as the installation was completed. I've sent several emails and phone calls over the last couple of months to arrange the installation of the extra panel but I'm yet to get confirmation of their return to complete the job and the sales manager has passed me off to the install supervisor to arrange despite both being included on all the email requests.
Conclusion:
I guess if Banana Solar make good and come back to install the missing panel then I would still recommend them as they clearly know there stuff and are overall competent installers that use there own staff and not subcontractors. I think they have genuinely taken on my feedback on small improvements to their installation experience, however if in the end I have to get someone else to finish the job this would be a disappointing outcome for what is otherwise a good system.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
04 September 2021
Original Review on 07-08-2020:
Comprehensive design and smooth installation
Banana Solar were very clear and comprehensive with their estimate and design. After their initial email quote, they arrived with a drone to get more data regarding shading and roof quality and provided a revised estimate and design to include DC optimisers. The week of the installation, the solar engineer again reviewed the design and gave me a couple of options to choose from and explained all the next steps. The multiple design reviews gave me confidence that we had the right design and on the day of installation it was very smooth, on time and the team were extremely professional and tidy with their work. The customer service communications were very clear with the actions I needed to take and what Banana Solar were going to do and particularly in relation to my energy supplier and the change of the meter. I would highly recommend Banana Solar.13 months later we asked Wayland: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Yes21 July 2021
Original Review on 19-11-2020:
Satisfied Customer
There is a large range of solar equipment and solar companies selling/installing that equipment. If you are like me you are looking for reliable factual information from an honest company. We were very happy with the result of responfing to an advertisement from Solar Qotes. We chose 3 companies and all three responded with an initial quote. We were very satisfied with the one selected - Banana Solar - and found Solar Quotes to do much more than arrange competetive quotes. Their website was a goldmine of information.8 months later we asked Andrew: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Yes it has. I have not had any follow-up from the supplier which would be useful and reassuring after say a year of operation.I have found that you need to get used to living with solar power to make most use of its benefits. Excess power goes back into the grid for far less than you pay to receive power from the grid. Therefore it makes sense to use power during the sunniest times of the day when solar power output is maximum. Rather than turn on the dishwasher immediately after breakfast or dinner put it on middle of the day when solar output is highest. Same goes for washers and dryers, vacuuming the carpet, etc.
18 July 2021
Go Bananas
I found Banana solar on solarquotes.com.au as one of the highest rated installers in Sydney and I felt like getting in touch.I had to follow up couple of times to get a call from Banana solar, but all the interaction since the first call from them was amazing.
Nicolas is a nice fellow. He talks more about technology and less about quick selling of products. He takes efforts to make the customer understand why certain product is better and lets customer decide further. I liked the way he explained everything to me.
Banana solar were the only installers who wanted to visit the premises before the installation. This boosts the confidence of the customer like me.
Installation was done professionally and not a single tile from our roof was damaged. Job was completed swiftly. I was excited to see the system functional on the very day of the installation (of course the export to the grid is not done yet due to meter upgrade pending with the electricity provider).
I shall highly recommend Banana Solar for solar system installation.
Inverter rating: 5/5
13 July 2021
A great experience
These were the only company to come out to my house and do a full inspection in order to get the quote right.We worked together to get the number of panels I wanted and the estimated yield has proven to be quite accurate.
Looking at the panel placement on one of the quotes I received, there is no way that would have worked on the day of installation, but the diagrams on this one were very accurate.
On the day of the install, the team were polite and professional. They spent time explaining what they were doing and were very proud of what they’d done at the end of the day, showing me photos of the roof.
Not the cheapest quote I received, but I believe you get what you pay for.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
05 July 2021
Efficient, Friendly & Good Value for Money
I found Solar Quotes web site to be most useful in answering my questions about installing solar panels. I used the 3 quotes process plus I added another installer recommended by a friend.Banana Solar presented the best solution at a very competitive price. Their friendly and efficient installers arrived on time completed the work in one day despite a rain interruption. It has been 2 months since the 10 kw of Trina panels and an 8 kw Sungrow inverter were installed and so far the results have been almost exactly as predicted.
I have found the usage monitoring to be extremely useful, particularly in timing activities during the day to take advantage of the power generated. Overall very happy with the advise given and the end product, and whenever asked I have referred friends to the web site, thank you SolarQuotes and Banana Solar.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
01 July 2021
Original Review on 30-10-2020:
Thorough.
The sales and quoting process carried out by Oscar was very thorough and very prompt.The installation was carried out 10 days after our acceptance of the quote and the installers worked hard and long to finish our slightly complicated job in one day and the installers were polite and punctual and cleaned up well.
The customer service after the install was initially very good but about a week after the install we had a problem with some banging on the roof in high winds and it took a couple of emails to have that sorted. All in all a very good experience.
8 months later we asked Rosemary: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
We're very happy with our system.We haven't had any problems and had an electricity credit each month for the first six months (the warmer months).
We're very glad we invested in solar panels and Finn at Solar Quotes was very knowledgeable and helpful in our decision making process.
22 June 2021
Original Review on 21-10-2020:
Going solar made easy
I couldn’t be happier with the team from Banana Solar, from the sales guy, to the installers and the follow up from the manager. I wasn’t looking forward to installing solar but the Banana Solar guys made it easy, from helping to chose the most appropriate system to the expert and professional installers. I never felt like I was being sold something more than I needed.Everything happened as promised. I couldn’t be happier.
8 months later we asked Richard: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Absolutely. As expected, performance has deteriorated slightly during the cooler months with fewer hours of sunlight and the sun at a lower angle. But this was totally expected and as advised by our provider, Banana Solar. Apart from that, the system continues to work flawlessly. We have already made considerable savings on our energy bill. Our first two bills (Summer and Autumn) were barely a third of our bills for the same period last year. We are now considering whether it’s worth expanding the size of the array and installing a battery.We’re very happy campers. If you haven’t yet gone down the solar path, you should definitely be thinking about it.
Thanks Finn
Fantastic service and great price !
I am so glad I went with Banana Solar for my 16kW solar system! From the initial design stage to tailoring the best system for our energy needs and roof structure, it was pleasure to deal with Allan. He was very patient in answering all my queries from all my readings on the Solarquotes website. Not only was the design great but also future proof for battery and EV charger installation. On the installation day, Duan and his team were very punctual and did a great job and cleaned up everything. We had some issues with the Sungrow consumption monitoring but Allan was very responsive to solving the issue. The post sales aftercare was excellent, a marker of a company that really cares about customer satisfaction. Looking forward to working with Allan and his team again for future projects.Inverter rating: 5/5