Solargain Questions & Answers

Thats what children are for, remotes & Apps

David, like you we installed six panels and a 1.2 kW inverter along with a solar hot water system with a gas booster. The solar panels was via solargain and after ten years our inverter failed. Our hot water tank started leaking so we had Solargain install 9 panels, a 2 kW inverter and an i store hot water system. So far we are very happy but it has only been installed for about five weeks. We are producing a lot more energy and lots of hot water.
Regards
Golly

Sounds like an installation more suited to commercial sized properties rather than residential, unless you live in a rural area. There may be power limits imposed by your local electricity grid operator but in WA the upper limit seems to be about 7Kw. Hope this helps, regards the merrieminer

Hi, Unfortunately its standard practice across all sorts of industries that when parts are replaced its only covered for the balance of the warranty from the original supply or install date. Solar gain can only extend what the manufacturer offers so you have to be very careful when purchasing. It can be so hard to figure out what your entitled to.

Yes, it is right. We had exactly the same issue with 2 inverters not lasting out the warranty period.

Hi Oscar,
In answer to your question, yes, Solargain have the Fronius 5kw inverter ready for battery storage, my 5 kw system was put in yesterday, $6, 690-00 with 24 panels, but there are other systems by solargain, you will have to check their website.

J. C

Thanks JC it is helpful to know that once the unit is installed it will fit in with battery storage. I am aware that the technology is still moving forward on battery's but at least once a good one is available it will be compatible
Cheers

Good day! Solar gain put an allocation of around AU$900 for a new main board. Ours was fine and up to code, so no dramas. Cost avoided. Now with respect to a smart meter, that's more an issue with the electricity generation monopoly in your area. Ours is Powercorp. In Victoria, there is a state law that requires all home to have a smart meter and that cost should be borne by the distribution company...ergo..no cost to you. Don't know about the other states so suggest you contact your power company.

hi Carl,
changing over to the digital meter only costed approx $150. I'm in W.A, not sure if that makes any difference.

cheers, mikey

Thanks guys.
Got a quote for $1500, theyre moving it from the back, required to be near the front of house now.

In the document Electrical and Whitegoods - An industry guide to the Australian Consumer Law on the Australian Consumer Law website (www.consumerlaw.gov.au) the following example is given to explain callout fees:

Charging for repairs
You (the supplier) must not tell a consumer that they are required to pay for any rights equivalent to a consumer guarantee – this includes repairs. This means you cannot charge a consumer for repairs that are to remedy a failure to meet a consumer guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law. Example: A consumer bought a new washing machine. After a short period of normal usage, the door broke and fell off. The retailer offered to install a new door, but they charged the consumer a callout fee of $120. In this case, the retailer should not have charged the consumer a fee, as the repairs were to fix a problem covered by a consumer guarantee (the guarantee of acceptable quality).

So, it would seem clear that your faulty inverter, which is an electrical item, has failed the consumer guarantee of acceptable quality during the warranty period, and it must be repaired free of charge (including any callout fee).

If your supplier attempts to charge a callout fee you should contact your local consumer protection agency.

Thanks for the info Mike - still waiting on a response form the ever reliable Solargain.

The SMA Sunny Boy inverter is made in Germany. The Renesola Virtus 250W panels are made in China.

I too have the MacSolar 2kw inverter initially installed and commissioned by Solar Gain in October 2012. Inverter was replaced no cost to me mid 2013 -I was not informed that the replacement would be a reconditioned unit. As the unit was not alarming we did not know about it being faulty until we received a power bill which was some $270 more than expected - a cost we were expected to wear. Now the inverter has gone into fault yet again and I am advised that they will replace the inverter again (presumably with a reconditioned unit although I expect they don't plan to tell me that), however this will be at a cost of $165 to me because it is more than 2 years since initial install - even though the inverter that will be replaced this time was installed less than two years ago. I find it interesting that the Macsolar website warrants their inverters for a full 60 months, but lcally Solar Gain don't honour this and that Solar Gain's website is now devoid of any mention of the MacSolar

No. We had a smart meter installed during the initial roll out. The power company did come out and reprogram it to enable it to record the output.