Solar FAQ

How much will a solar system cost me? 
 
How much do solar panels cost? In short,  there is no "one size fits all" answer. Because each of our customers have different energy needs, each solar power system our consultants design have different requirements, and therefore, a different price.
As a reputable supplier The Honda Shop only use quality European and Japanese Technology.
  
You may want a solar power system to cover the cost of your current electricity bill, or you may want a system that covers your electricity bill and then some, providing you with the ability to make a profit and sell surplus energy back to the power company. You may require a high capacity inverter, which allows you to upgrade your system and add more panels in the future.

All of these elements can easily be determined by having a no obligation on site visit with one of our friendly consultants. 

Contact us today to book your consultation or call 13004HONDA OR (08)92743555. 
 
 
Which system solar power will suit my needs?
 
Most often people install systems between 2 and 3 kW. These systems will contribute significantly towards reducing your energy consumption and a reduction in your energy costs, larger systems will enable you to put energy back into the grid system for profit.
 
Will my solar power system still work if the power goes off?

If your area suffers a blackout, your solar power system is designed to automatically shut down too. The electricity supply authority requires that your system is isolated from the grid for safety reasons when the grid is down. However, optional batteries and inverter can be installed to back up your system, so that power is available even when the grid fails.
In the event of a blackout, the backup unit seamlessly continues to supply power to the house without interruption. For information on a battery Backup System call (08) 92743555 and ask to speak to one of our Solar Consultants. 
  
Will my electricity bill get credited?

Yes it does. Some electricity retailers pay the same amount or more for the for the electricity that your system feeds back into the main electricity grid as they charge you for regular electricity. For details on Western Australia's new feed in tariff click here
 
How much maintenance does a solar power system require?

Since they have no moving parts and while the maintenance consists of very little, responsible manufacturers will tell you that there is some care involved. The good news is that you won’t be up on the roof making adjustments or doing anything more than a bit of cleaning. Our panels are built to last decades without a lot of fuss, but an occasional rinse will ensure they last to their potential.
 
The solar panels should be clean to operate at full capacity. Dust and bird droppings are the main culprits up on the roof. For many, a short, yearly rinse is a small price to pay for three decades of silent, reliable use.
 
How does a Grid Connect Solar System Work? 
 
Solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity and an inverter converts DC electricity into 240-volt AC electricity that's used to power your home or business. Any excess electricity created by the solar panels is fed into the main electricity grid and is bought from you by
Synergy. You can reduce your power bill significantly so that you have little or nothing to pay. You will also reduce your dwelling's greenhouse gas emissions by several tonnes per year. For an illustrated diagram of how Grid Connect solar works, see below

 
Can my solar system cover my total electricity consumption? 
 
Sure it can, however, the ability for your system to do so will depend on its size, secondly, how much power you use in your home during the day (the less you use the more that is exported into the grid at a profit.

The amount that you recieve from Synergy will depend on the new feed in tariff and the amount will be confirmed on July 1st 2010 for more information on how much the rate will be and for the latest updates from the West Australian goverment click here. 

Are all solar power systems the same? 
 
A Grid Connect Solar System is manufactured from a variety of components such as solar panels, inverters, aluminium frames & stainless steel fasteners- the quality of each system component is important to the overall functioning of the system.
 
The Honda Shop's solar division uses only quality components sourced from Japanese, Italian and German manufacturers. Like most things in life you really do get what you pay for and solar systems are no different. We refuse to sell or stock budget price panels from companies who have just entered the market place. A lot of current solar suppliers offer big warranties on their products but have only been in business a few years themselves, The Honda Shop is a family owned business started in 1979.  
 
We stock only quality Monocrystalline, Multicrystalline and Polycrystalline panels. We can also supply new Thin film technology and our friendly Solar Consultants can advise you on what system will best suit your requirements.  

Will my solar power system still work at night? 
 
No, your solar power system shuts down overnight, and automatically restarts in the morning when sunlight starts its electricity production. This is all done automatically by your inverter. The inverter constantly senses your solar panels' power output, so as the sun goes down at night, so too does the array power.

The inverter maintains maximum power output for as long as it can, until dusk; this is when no more power can be produced and the inverter shuts down, waiting for morning to start again.
 
However, optional batteries and inverter can be installed to back up your system, so that power is available even when the grid fails. In the event of a blackout, the backup unit seamlessly continues to supply power to the house without interruption. For information on a battery Backup System call (08) 92743555 and ask to speak to one of our Solar Consultants. 


What rebates are available from the government?
 
There are a number of government rebates and incentives available to reduce the cost of the installation of your solar panels. The available rebates and incentives vary based on which state your property is located in.
 
The Honda Shop's solar consultants will assess all government incentives are utilised. We will also assist with all application forms and paperwork to make the entire process very simple for you.
 
Renewable Energy Certificates RECs
 
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are an electronic form of currency initiated by the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, and are rewarded to consumers who generate certain forms of clean renewable energy; RECs are a commodity similar to shares. Their value may increase or decrease over time. Under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) scheme the following types of Small Generation Units (SGUs) are eligible to create RECs: 
  • Small solar (photovoltaic) systems
  • Small solar (hot water) systems
  • Small wind turbines
  • Small hydro systems
     
How Many RECs will I get?

The amount of RECs each system can produce is different and depends on 2 factors; your system and where it’s installed (refer to map below to see which zone you live in). One of our friendly consultants will calculate how many RECs you will receive based on the size of your system and the zone that you live in, it's all part of the service we offer to you.  

 

Gain an upfront discount with your RECs
 
The majority of our clients choose to receive a benefit from RECs at the time they have the system installed, typically in the form of an upfront discount on the full purchase price of the system. Your RECs will be transfered to The Honda Shop and used to reduce the cost of your system.
 

Can I upgrade my system in the future?

Yes most definitely. If you wish to increase the size of your solar system in the future larger inverters and more solar panels can be fitted. At The Honda Shop we will discuss this with you and more often than not encourage you fit a larger inverter at the initial installation to save you money in the future. Fitting a larger inverter initially will give you the option to expand and increase the amount of solar panels on your roof therefore increasing the power output of your system at a much lower cost than purchasing another larger inverter.

What are the solar panel materials and workmanship warranties?

The Panels are a standard 2 Years product warranty and performance guaranteed output of 90% for 10 years and 80% for 25 years, they also come with approvals and certificates UL Listed, CEC registered certified IEC 61215,IEC61730-1/2 and UL 1703.TUV.
What is a Inverter?
 
Grid Connect inverter converts the DC electricity from your solar panels into the 240VAC electricity that powers your home or business. Inverters can be single centralised units, or you can have one inverter per solar panel. Both centralised and decentralised inverters can allow you the flexibility to expand your system in the future, should you wish to do so.
 

I have a flat or low pitched roof - can I still get a solar power system? 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
The Honda Shop can customise any Solar array system to a customers requirements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

What if I need to Track the Sun?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A solar tracker is a device for orienting a solar photovoltaic panel toward the sun. The sun's position in the sky varies both with the seasons and time of day as the sun moves across the sky. Solar powered equipment works best when pointed at or near the sun, so a solar tracker can increase the effectiveness of such equipment over any fixed position, at the cost of additional system complexity.
There are many types of solar trackers, of varying costs, sophistication, and performance. Our solar consultants can quote trackers to suit your required system.  

 

 

How do I get a quote?

It's easy, we come to you! Our friendly Solar consultants will come to your home or business location both metro and regional, call (08) 92743555 to arrange your no obligation quote.

You can also complete the inquiry form by clicking the following link and one of our friendly team will be in contact with you within one business day, Click Here to inquire.

Our knowledgeable consultants will not only measure and quote but they will help with any relevant government paperwork to make the whole process as simple as possible. No one job is the same and nothing is impossible so whatever your questions are please dont hesitate to ask.

     
 



 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The HondaShop - Midland, Western Australia

Visit us

The Honda Shop Midland
106-108 Morrison Road, Midland,
Western Australia 6056

Call us

Country Free Call 1800-HONDA1
Metro & all other (08) 9274-3555