Brisbane Solar system prices have dropped dramatically over the years. Because of this, you may be considering if a solar panel or system upgrade is suitable for your existing solar system. This might be because a panel or inverter has failed, or it might be to increase system size as early systems were usually quite small due to the higher cost per watt back then. With technologies always improving, upgrading existing solar systems with new panels or an inverter may be all you need to enhance the performance of your system.

Solar Panel removal for roof repair

Another reason may be if your roof needs repairing. Removing the panels off your roof and then reinstating them is governed by state electricity regulator upgrade rules.

However, older systems might not meet current standards for solar system installations, meaning that your system may have panels, an inverter, earthing, isolators or cabling that don’t meet current standards. This would make an upgrade not possible and you would be better off considering a whole new system. From the time you originally had your system installed, prices may have dropped dramatically. Our experts will be able to offer you honest, reliable advice on what your best options are to get the most of your solar investment.

Repair a panel or inverter

If you have a faulty panel or inverter, your first step should be to see if it can be repaired by an accredited solar electrician. While quality solar panels have a long life of 20 to 25 years, panels can fail early if not looked after properly. The inverter is warranted for a shorter life, often only five years. It is possible that you’ll need to replace your solar system’s inverter at some point in the life of the system.

Repairs on panels and inverters can be fairly straigt forward, unless the system is older and does not meet with the current standard AS/NZS 5033:2014. Additional work may be required to comply with the current standard and as you might expect, these changes can get expensive! Contact our accredited solar electricians to provide you with expert advice on what’s best for your solar system.

Upgrading existing solar system

It may be possible to add new panels to an existing system, but they will need to be compatible with the existing panels or installed with optimisers on them.

There are several requirements that need to be met. These include: the new panels must have a fire rating; the existing and new panels must be earthed; a correctly rated isolator must be installed; any existing isolator(s) must be checked/rated correctly; and new cables must meet the new standard.

You may also wish to upgrade the inverter at the same time as adding new solar panels. This might be because you want a larger inverter, or one with more string inputs, or one with the enhanced functionality available in modern inverters (e.g. diverting excess energy to a hot water system). This will have additional requirements to meet with the Australian Standards.

Another option is to add a completely new system that sits alongside your existing system. This may be the best option to avoid any issues with the existing system.

Moving your system

If you have older panels that are not fire-rated or not CEC approved, you are not allowed to move them to another house.
If you are renovating or your solar panels are removed for roof repair, you can remove and reinstall your existing system. However, there are several Australian Standard requirements that need to be met regarding removing and reinstating a system in exactly the same place. Speak to one of our helpful experts today.

Reduce your carbon footprint
Going solar not only helps you save more on your energy bills but, it also helps you to play your part to save the environment, which is deteriorating at an unprecedented rate. A 6.6KW solar system allows you to reduce a whopping 10.6 tonnes of CO2 Every Year!

Huge savings on energy bills
It is no secret that installing a solar system on your roof extensively reduces your energy bills. However, the reality is astonishing. Some households reported that they haven’t paid more than $10 in their annual electricity cost.