Frequently Asked Questions

Solar Panels

Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells, which capture sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. This means that the panels only generate electricity during the day.

An inverter converts the DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity which is then used to power your home. Click here to view our range of inverters.

If the solar panels produce more electricity than your household consumes, you can feed this excess energy back into the power grid (reducing your power bill), or store it in batteries. Click here to view our range of batteries.

On the other hand, if you consume more power than the panels produce, you can always draw more from the grid.

The first step towards a successful and efficient solar system is an accurate energy assessment. We will need some information about your household including current and previous energy usage. Once this is done, we can give more detailed predictions on energy yields, financial savings and more.

SunPeople can also help you reduce your energy usage, in order to maximise the benefits of solar power. We can review your:

  • Hot water system
  • Heating and cooling
  • General appliances
  • Lighting
  • Other technology such as batteries

Contact SunPeople to book a consultation.

SunPeople are here to help, while on site reviewing your solar options we are happy to offer other advice and simple tips to reduce your power bill and energy demands on your home. We can review your:

  • Hot water system
  • Heating and cooling in your home
  • General appliances
  • Lighting
  • Other technology options such as batteries

At SunPeople we won’t try to talk you into installing as many panels as you can fit on the roof. We will work with you to design a customised system, depending on how much power you need, and when you need that power.

For a basic guide, please view our Solar Packages here.

The ‘Tier’ ranking system was designed to help large-scale projects and investors select products from the world’s most ‘bankable’ manufacturers.

A company that has achieved Tier 1 status does not necessarily have the best panels, but they have passed the test for financial institutions to lend money against their products.

The Tier ranking system can be a good way to filter through lesser-known Chinese manufactured panels, but should not be substituted for understanding a panel’s performance, efficiency and warranty program.

This will depend on:

  • the quality of your panels – SunPeople have only selected Solar Panels that are the best quality, most efficient and durable.

  • the location of your panels – SunPeople will visit your property to ensure the panels are in the best position to capture the sun’s rays.

  • the way the panels are designed on your roof – SunPeople will design and install your panels to fit effectively and neatly on your rooftop.

Most standard solar panel systems are connected to the electrical grid and, without a battery backup system, do not work during a grid outage for safety and technical reasons:

  1. Grid-Tied Systems: Most solar systems are grid-tied, meaning they are connected to the public electricity grid. These systems typically shut down during a power outage to prevent back feeding electricity into the grid, which could endanger utility workers who might be repairing the power lines.
  2. Inverter Operation: The inverter, which converts the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power used by your home, is designed to shut down during a grid outage. This is a built-in safety feature called “anti-islanding,” which ensures that the inverter does not continue to supply power when the grid is down.
  3. No Storage: Many solar systems do not have battery storage. Without batteries, there is no way to store the electricity generated by the solar panels, meaning that during a grid outage, the system cannot supply power independently.

We recommend that panels be cleaned and inspected annually by a professional.

You are able to clean the panels yourself, using warm water and a soft cloth to remove any dirt/residue. It is important to use a soft cloth to ensure you don’t scratch the panels and avoid using chemicals as it could damage the panel.

If your panels are damaged, we can organize an inspection to find out what caused the damage/fault and find a solution. Any error codes that appear on the inverter will speed up the process.

It is best to get in contact with the SunPeople team, we are able to organise for one of our solar experts to take a look at your roof, and determine the best option for you.

Contact SunPeople if you require further information.

Shading can be caused by trees overhanging the roof or location where the panels will be installed, Aerials, chimneys or stink pipes. Shading will affect the amount of power that a panel/system can produce.

At SunPeople we won’t try to talk you into installing as many panels as you can fit on the roof. We will work with you to design a customised system, depending on how much power you need, and when you need that power.

For a basic guide, please view our Solar Packages here.

Inverters

An inverter is essential in a solar power system. It converts the Direct current (DC) electricity from the solar panels to an alternating current (AC) so it can be used to power your home.

It depends on what the error code is. As there are a large variety of different error codes some being significant and some will just fix themselves. If the customer can tell us what the error code is, we can investigate further to find the cause and solution.

  1. We have videos available for this. See the relevant links below.

    SolarEdge Screenless inverter

    SolarEdge Screened inverter

    Fronius

    If you have any issues with this, please contact the SunPeople team.

Batteries

Solar batteries work by converting the alternating current (AC) electricity into direct current (DC) and storing it for later use. When the panels are producing more power than your household consumes, it is stored in these batteries. This excess power can then be used later when the solar panels aren’t producing electricity (such as at night).

With a battery, you will only send power back to the grid when the battery is full, and you will only draw down from the grid when the battery is empty.

Contact us for a quote.

Yes, there is a battery option to suit every situation. However, adding batteries may require further upgrades to your system. Call us today and we can advise you on what is needed. If you are installing a new system, we can allow for specific items required for future batteries.

Contact us for a quote.

EV Charging

Charging your EV at home will increase your electricity bill, but the impact depends on several factors:

  • Electricity Rates: Your local electricity rates will determine the cost of charging. Off-peak rates (often at night) can reduce costs.
  • Driving Habits: The more you drive, the more frequently you’ll need to charge, which increases electricity usage.
  • Charger Efficiency: More efficient chargers can reduce overall electricity consumption.
  • Usage Monitoring: Some Solar systems, EV chargers and electricity retailers offer tools to monitor and optimize energy use, helping to manage costs.

For example, if you drive 1000 km a month and your EV consumes 50 kWh per 100 km, you would use about 500 kWh. If your electricity rate is $0.30 per kWh, charging your EV would add approximately $150 to your monthly bill.

Yes, you can use a regular 240-volt wall outlet to charge your EV, but it has limitations:

  • Slow Charging: It provides about 10-20km of range per hour of charging, which may be sufficient for overnight charging if your daily commute is short.
  • Longer Charging Time: For larger battery capacities or if you drive a lot each day, it might not be practical due to the longer charging time required.

Consider the following factors when choosing a home EV charger:

  • Charging Speed: Look for a charger that matches your EV’s maximum charging rate.
  • Connectivity: Some chargers offer Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity for remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app.
  • Installation Requirements: Ensure the charger is compatible with your home’s electrical system and that installation requirements are feasible.
  • Features: Consider additional features like cable length, weatherproofing (for outdoor installations), and smart charging capabilities.
  • Brand and Warranty: Choose reputable brands with good customer reviews and a solid warranty.

Yes, you can charge your EV with solar panels at home. This involves:

  • Solar Panel Installation: Installing solar panels on your roof or property with inverter that converts the DC power generated by the solar panels into AC power that your home and EV charger can use.
  • Home EV Charger: The appropriate EV charger installed by a licensed electrical tradesman to charge your EV efficiently.
  • Energy Management System: Optionally, to monitor and optimise energy use, ensuring that your EV is charged with solar energy as much as possible.
Maintenance

If your panels are damaged, we can organise an inspection to find out what caused the damage/fault and find a solution. Any error codes that appear on the inverter will speed up the process.

Contact SunPeople for an inspection.

We recommend that panels be cleaned and inspected annually by a professional.

You are able to clean the panels yourself, using warm water and a soft cloth to remove any dirt/residue. It is important to use a soft cloth to ensure you don’t scratch the panels and avoid using chemicals as it could damage the panel. Never use a high-presher washer.

Click here to request a clean or system inspection.

Yes we offer a maintenance service. We can clean your solar panels, or provide a System Safety Inspection service that includes cleaning your panels and an all parts check ensuring everything is up to scratch.

We also offer a repair service, if your system stops working. We’ll check out what’s gone wrong, either fix it on the spot or come back ASAP and fix the broken parts.

Other

Yes, all the products we offer are sourced from the largest, leading solar manufacturers in the world, through official Australian distribution channels. Our products are proudly detailed on our site, with trusted brands such as SMA, LG Chem and Winaico, which all have Australian based offices. Many solar companies come and go, leaving the consumer with problems if warranty issues arise. SunPeople are here to stay and will provide our customers with any after sales support required.

SunPeople will not sacrifice quality over quantity. This is proven by our commitment to quality products and advice after point of sale. Our installers are our own people, assuring our labour guarantee.

We are a face to face business, we won’t be selling you a system over the phone. We believe in visiting the site, understanding your needs and tailoring the best package to suit your household or business.

Contact SunPeople for a quote.

 

This answer varies site to site, further information can be sourced on websites that offer carbon saving calculators. A local site we have installed with a 5KW solar system estimates a saving of 4.56 Tons of C02 per year, that’s 114 Tons of C02 savings over the lifetime of the system! That’s the equivalent to taking 24 cars off the road for a year!

Once your new system is installed our qualified technicians will walk you through your new or existing system, to help you understand your product.

We advise following all manufacturers’ instructions to ensure your panels are cleaned once a year from any debris or bird droppings, this will ensure your system works efficiently and safely for many years. SunPeople recommend an annual service, as per Australian Standards for solar installations, to test and maintain the electrical parts of your system.

All our inverters offer products to review your systems’ performance on a phone or tablet.

Click here to request a system inspection or service.

Yes we offer a maintenance service. We can clean your solar panels, or provide a System Safety Inspection service that includes cleaning your panels and an all parts check ensuring everything is up to scratch.

We also offer a repair service, if your system stops working. We’ll check out what’s gone wrong, either fix it on the spot or come back ASAP and fix the broken parts.

This will depend on:

  • the quality of your panels – SunPeople have only selected Solar Panels that are the best quality, most efficient and durable.

  • the location of your panels – SunPeople will visit your property to ensure the panels are in the best position to capture the sun’s rays.

  • the way the panels are designed on your roof – SunPeople will design and install your panels to fit effectively and neatly on your rooftop.

Unit 1/5 Sunset Ave
Barrack Heights NSW 2528

STC stands for Small-scale Technology Certificate.

It is a scheme developed by the Federal Government to encourage more people to install renewable energy systems and to make it more affordable for everyone. You might find some people refer to them as a “rebate”.

They are calculated based on the generation capability of the solar system and are applied as a point of sale discount on the cost of the system.

This varies depending on the size of the system. Our most common install is a 10kW system which generally takes 2 days to install.

The expected time frame from the quote acceptance to a completed install is 6-8 weeks. If a date becomes available, earlier than what has been scheduled, we will contact you to see if we can make the change.

The day after the install has been completed or as soon as possible, please let the admin team know if there will be a delay.

We may have organised for one of our install partners to complete your solar install so you won’t have to wait as long to have the solar installed. Our install partners have all been working with us for over 3 years, are Clean Energy Council Accredited and a local, professional trades people.

Shading can be caused by trees overhanging the roof or location where the panels will be installed, Aerials, chimneys or stink pipes. Shading will affect the amount of power that a panel/system can produce.