Just wanted to warn anyone who is interested against VicSolar. They provide misleading information (surprise, surprise - wish I read these forums beforehand), and once they receive your money, they are basically unreachable. We have a hideous 18 panel 5KW product on tilt brackets at the FRONT of our house, (after they told us it could go north facing on our garage), OVER our chimney (so we can't use our fireplace), and only pulling in a fraction of the energy they said it would. I've finally come to terms with the fact that we've been scammed!
SOLAR newbies.
(42 posts) (19 voices)-
Jenni Bourekas
MemberPosted Sunday 2 Aug 2015 @ 9:05:55 am from IP # -
Annette
MemberHi Jenni
The best thing to do is address the issues directly with the company and try to resolve it.
If that fails ( which it seems like it has) contact Consumer Affairs Victoria. They will advise about next steps and the best way to proceed re VCAT or mediation etc.
How long ago was the system installed?
Posted Sunday 2 Aug 2015 @ 12:03:38 pm from IP # -
Jenni Bourekas
MemberHi Annette and Cava
Yes, I think VCAT is our next option. Unfortunately Consumer Affairs have said they can't hep us as we have nothing in writing - we just went on what the salesperson told us. Live and learn I guess. They too directed us to VCAT.
Posted Sunday 2 Aug 2015 @ 2:19:14 pm from IP # -
Jenni Bourekas
MemberWe're getting about 8kw a day on a 5kw system. Sales guy said we'd get between 40-60kw, and the brochure says 25kw a day.
Posted Monday 3 Aug 2015 @ 3:51:27 am from IP # -
termite
MemberDoes anyone have a recommendation for a Sydney install on a hip roof with a fair amount of NW and NE oriented sides? Power usage averages 14.3 kWh/day. It is two storeyed - how much do they add for having to lug the equipment up another storey? (There is a big balcony on the upper level, so it shouldn't be too hard.)i
What's the go for panel type these days? Monocrystalline/polycrystalline, or doesn't it matter? Preferred country of origin?Posted Monday 3 Aug 2015 @ 4:50:08 am from IP # -
Lance
Key MasterJenni,
how long has the system been installed? The stated 8kWh a day, when was that? Output of course varies massively depending on time of year and weather conditions, as an example, see our 3kW system here in Tassie at http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?sid=18308
At this time of year a good day is around 8kWh, a bad day is under 1kWh. But since it went in in December last year we have averaged around 10.5kWh/day.
If the 8kWh a day figure is an average over a reasonable period of time then the system is seriously underperforming. Could be that there are two strings but only one is connected, not an unheard-of situation. That would make sense then for the 8kWh/day figure as well, if you are only operating at half power and there isn't that much summer input in the figure.
More info would help...
Posted Monday 3 Aug 2015 @ 6:24:26 am from IP # -
Benny
MemberYou should be getting about 15kWh/day in winter and 45kWh/day in summer - on fine sunny days anyway. As Lance says more info' on your location, install details (N facing ? slope?) would help.
The inverter often has many types of information displayed - do you have a manual to help you go through this ? Particularly if it can display individual string voltages/currents.Posted Monday 3 Aug 2015 @ 9:14:21 am from IP # -
Chippa2014
MemberHi Benny
I live in SE QLD with a north facing 5kW PV system with an ideally pitched roof and do not get the numbers you mentioned in summer, even direct sunlight on the panels from sunrise til sunset.
"You should be getting about 15kWh/day in winter and 45kWh/day in summer - on fine sunny days anyway. As Lance says more info' on your location, install details (N facing ? slope?) would help."
In fact Oct last year being our most productive month for 2014 we produced 880 kWh for the month which is an average of approx. 28kWh. As we now own the PV solution, I wish I was getting 45kWh per day that's an extra $6.50 in profit per day
June 2014 was approx. 500kWh which is an average of 16kWh per day.
The only advice I have is ask someone in your street with a similar design or roof space and aspect as you who has solar would they mind sharing their results....
Don't listen to these self claimed so called experts because you will only get taken for a ride. Sadly there are so many stories out there where you hear how many of these companies exist only for a profit them selves and don't care about you after the install is done.
I will happily, and have done so many times, recommend our PV installer as they are a recognised industry leader and have the runs on the board to prove it. And we have never had a single problem since the solution went up in 2010.
Cheers
Posted Tuesday 4 Aug 2015 @ 4:19:19 am from IP #
