+ Why is my online monitoring app offline or not showing data?

Usually no data being recorded from your solar system is caused by an issue with your internet connection. Your solar system is most likely continuing to work away producing power, but your online monitoring is not showing this because the wifi connection has dropped out. This could be caused by upgrading to the NBN, a change in router or password, a low wi-fi signal strength from your router, or perhaps a loose data cable connection.

Check your internet connection is operating normally. If connection is hardwired, check all cables are plugged in correctly. If you have a Wifi connection, you may have to reconfigure your inverter or reset any passwords. Please watch the below helpful videos specific to your inverter if a password needs to be updated.

FRONIUS INVERTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKdXLEbyNRI

GOODWE INVERTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ8Xt7Zoi0w

SOLAREDGE INVERTER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZGCZW4Ydxs

ENPHASE ENVOY https://go.enphase.com/mitch-reconfigure-envoy-for-new-router

Another problem could be that your WiFi signal strength may be too weak and keeps dropping out from your inverter. There are a number of useful tools you can purchase to boost your WiFi signal, these include WiFi boosters, repeaters, and extenders and can be purchased from most electronics stores such as Officeworks, JB HiFi, Good Guys, etc and telecommunications stores.

If you are still continuing to experience problems, please call our office so we can assist with further troubleshooting. We may have to arrange to come on site to assess the problem further if we are unable to fix the problem remotely.

+ Why does my inverter keep turning on and off?

This is due to there being high voltage (or over voltage) in the local grid power supply. Your inverter is designed to turn itself off (or ramp down production) to protect itself, your property, and the local grid from potential damage caused by high voltages.

This usually happens when the sun is shining bright and lots of solar systems in your neighbourhood are feeding power back into the grid, causing the collective voltage to rise. However, it can happen anytime of day or year.

This is a problem that will come and go as part of normal procedure, but if your inverter is turning off very often due to voltage problems and restricting your power production significantly we can help liaise with your electricity distributor to see if an adjustment to the closest transformer can reduce voltage on the line. However because grid voltages are outside of our control, the resolution will be up to them. Timeframe will depend on their workload and then It also depends on whether an adjustment can be made. In the meantime, you can continue to leave your system on, your system is working normally and is not disfunctional. It will reboot when the grid voltage is low enough that it is fine to do so.

+ Why is my inverter displaying an error code?

Some error codes displayed by your inverter will resolve themselves, others may need you to follow some basic instructions to resolve (please consult the user manual found at our Download Centre), and still others may require us to have a look and repair something.

Below are links to a number of common error codes for individual inverter brands. Please see what is advised. If the problem persists or you need further advice, please contact us for assistance on 1300 733 332.

Fronius inverter error codes https://review.solar/fronius-inverter-fault-codes/

Fronius user manual https://www.fronius.com/en-au/australia/photovoltaics/infocentre/tech-support/operating-manuals

Goodwe inverter error codes https://gold-coast-solar-power-solutions.com.au/solar-inverters/solar-inverter-fault-error-messages/goodwe-ns-dns-fault-codes-and-error-messages/

SolarEdge inverter error codes (PDF) https://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/se-inverter-installation-guide-error-codes.pdf

+ Why is my electricity bill still quite high?

There are a number of reasons why you may not be seeing your bills reduce as much as you may have expected. Below we have listed a number of the most common:

• Your electricity retailer may have increased your electricity rates after you signed a new contract with them following your solar connection. There is no good reason for them to have done this, as you should not have to pay more for power now that you have solar. If you find this is the case then we recommend shopping around to see what deals other retailers are offering. It pays to negotiate with power companies as if you don’t they tend to put you on their highest rate by default!

• Your billing period may not include the solar power yet - check the dates of your billing period, they could be backdated to a time before your solar was installed and so don’t yet reflect your savings.

• You may still be using a lot of power at night for such things as washing machine, dishwasher, dryers etc. We suggest you try to use these appliances as much as possible during the day when you can draw from the electricity your solar system creates, rather than from the grid.

• Dirt or soiling on your panels can reduce their effectiveness and ability to produce power. They may need a clean, if they have already been installed for over a year or two.

• Check your monitoring system and check how much solar you have produced. We provided you with an estimate graph of how much you can expect to produce on average each month of the year in our original quote. Production is naturally higher during summer and does decrease over the winter months. If you have only had winter bills since installing solar, you can expect to see more savings during summer. If you think your solar production is lower than what we predicted it should be, please give us a call to investigate further.

• Hot water is usually the main culprit behind unexplained high power bills. Check your power usage with your distributor (e.g. if you are in the Ausnet area you can login to My Home Energy Dashboard) to find out when your high power usage is occurring. It could be during the night when your hot water system is using off peak power to heat the water. If you have an old hot water unit or if your thermostat is broken, you could be using excessive power for hot water.

If you still have queries regarding why your bill is higher than you expected, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will help you investigate also.

+ Why am I not getting the Feed-in-Tariff on my bill?

Once the post-installation formal paperwork has been processed by your electricity retailer you should start to recieve the Feed in Tariff. Pleaes note that sometimes this process can take up to 2 months. We submit the paperwork to your retailer as soon as the Certificate of Electrical Safety has been approved by the inspector. After this, the processing time is in the hands of your retailer and the distributor. Make sure you respond to any requests from your retailer, and sign the formal agreement with them which confirms that you now have solar.

If it has been more than two months since your installation and you still suspect you are not receiving the feed-in-tariff, please contact us to advise. We will endeavour to check whether there are any problems in the process.

+ Do my panels need to be cleaned?

Solar Panels definitely benefit from being cleaned on a regular basis. We recommend doing so ever 12 months on average, although more regularly may be suitable if you live in an area which is very prone to dust or residue accumulating.

Usually you can tell just be looking at the panels whether they are dirty. Panels are easily cleaned with a sponge and water, the aim is just to reduce any surface residue which may be preventing light from hitting the modules inside the glass and preventing them from creating as much power as possible.

Contact us on 03 5678 8082 if you would like to arrange a panel clean appointment.

+ I don't think my inverter is working properly, what should I do?

Solar systems are generally quite reliable and indestructible. There is not a lot of moving parts so they are not prone to having issues. Most of them will work day in and day out for many many years.

By checking your online monitoring and seeing if your system is producing power, or having a look on the actual inverter that the screen/light show normal operation is enough to ensure they are functioning properly. However, if you notice an Error Code or lights on your inverter, or see a decrease in power production, you should investigate. You should also investigate if your bills and usage suddenly increase.

If you would like us to check your system and conduct a routine clean, please feel free to contact us on 1300 733 332.

If you suspect that your system is in danger of causing an electrical or fire hazard, please turn it off if safe to do so and contact 000 immediately.