ServiceSolar optimisation & upgrades
GET TO
THE CAUSE.
We use system data, inspection and electrical testing to work out why an existing system is underperforming, then explain the available repair, upgrade or replacement options.
What we help with
- Investigation of an underperforming solar system
- Review of system and monitoring data
- Visual inspection and electrical testing
- Equipment-condition, configuration and shading assessment
- Inverter replacement
- Battery retrofit, EV charger integration and system expansion where suitable
- Controlled use of excess solar for hot water, heating or vehicle charging
- Advice on repair, upgrade or replacement
Common reasons we’re brought in
- Generation has reduced and the reason is unclear
- The inverter is faulty or approaching replacement
- Monitoring data does not match expected performance
- Shading or site conditions have changed
- A battery or charger needs to work with the existing system
- More solar is being exported than used
- The customer needs to decide between repair, expansion and replacement
- An older system no longer suits the property’s electricity use
How we approach the work
Measure what is happening
We review whatever monitoring data is available, inspect the panels, inverter and associated equipment, and test the electrical system. That tells us how the system is actually operating before we start looking for a cause.
Find the constraint
We look at the condition of the equipment, how the system is configured, any shading or changes on the site and the existing electrical infrastructure. Sometimes one issue explains the drop in performance, sometimes several smaller ones add up, and sometimes the system is operating as expected for its age and size.
Choose the next move
We explain what we found and the repair, upgrade or replacement options that are available. We only recommend replacing the system or major equipment where the findings support it.
Relevant capabilities
Solar system testing, monitoring-data review, electrical testing, inverter replacement, battery retrofit assessment, solar expansion assessment, controlled loads, EV charging integration, and repair and upgrade recommendations.
Related work
All projects ↗︎
From findings to the next step
- How the system is operating now
- Equipment or configuration issues we can identify
- Changes in shading or site conditions
- Whether proposed additions can work with the existing system
- Repair options
- Upgrade options
- When replacement is the more practical choice
- Ways to use more of the solar at the property
Worth knowing
We recommend changes after reviewing the existing system. The aim is to fix the actual problem or improve how the system is being used, rather than adding equipment without a clear reason.
Questions people ask
Is an older solar system worth investigating?
It can be. Reduced generation can come from a faulty inverter, a configuration problem, damaged equipment or shading that has increased over time, and some of those can be repaired. If testing shows the equipment is worn out or damaged, we tell you that too, so you can weigh up repair, upgrade or replacement.
What information should I provide before the visit?
It helps to know the age and size of the system, the inverter make if you know it, when you noticed generation change and whether you can access monitoring data or an app. If you are thinking about a battery, EV charger or more panels, tell us at the start so we can look at that during the same visit.
Can monitoring data help identify the problem?
It can. Monitoring data shows how generation has changed over time and can point to when a problem started, or whether it only happens at certain times of day. It doesn’t always show the cause, so we still inspect the equipment and test the system before drawing conclusions.
Can a battery be added to an existing solar system?
It depends on the existing inverter, the switchboard and the battery being considered. Some systems can take a battery with the inverter already installed, while others need additional or different equipment. We check what is there and explain what would be involved before recommending a battery.
Can more panels be added to the existing inverter?
Only if the inverter has spare capacity and the new panels can be configured to suit it. Every inverter has a limit on the panel capacity it can take, and adding new panels alongside older ones needs to be planned. If the existing inverter can’t take more panels, we explain the other options, which may include a second inverter or a replacement.
When is replacement more practical than repair?
Replacement tends to make more sense when several components are damaged or worn out, when parts for the existing equipment are no longer available, or when the system no longer suits how the property uses electricity. We base that recommendation on what the inspection and testing show, not on the age of the system alone.
Can excess solar be used for hot water or EV charging?
It can. A hot water system, heating or an EV charger can be set up to run while the solar is generating, so more of that energy is used at the property instead of being exported. How much difference it makes depends on the equipment, how it is controlled and when the property uses power, so we look at what is installed and explain what is practical.
Related services
Other services in Solar & energy systems.
Solar installation
Residential and commercial solar, sized around how the property uses power and installed as part of the whole electrical system.
02Battery storage
Backup for the loads that matter, more use of your own solar and the option to charge when power is cheaper.
03EV chargers
Charger selection and installation to suit the vehicle, the property and the daily routine.
Tell us what you need.
Whether it’s a fault, planned work or a new project, give us a little information and we’ll work out the next step.
Prefer to talk? 1300 886 613