FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


A solar system basically consists of two main components: the panels and the inverter.
- Solar panels: These collect light from the sun and convert it into energy. The panels are connected together in groups and are then connected to an inverter. The power produced is in the form of DC (like your car battery).
- Inverter: This is the component that collects the energy from the solar panels as DC and converts it to AC (this is what your house runs on). It is then connected to your switchboard with any excess being fed back into the grid, or into batteries for use when the sun goes down, if you have a hybrid system.
The output of a solar system depends on its size, tilt angle, exposure to shading and direction of orientation. North facing is ideal, however east and west-facing systems are possible but with roughly a 15% reduction in output. Solar panels work best in ambient temperatures of around 25 degrees. As a guide, on average a 1.5-KW system will produce around 2,400 units of power annually and a 3-KW system will produce 4,800 units. A Typical Australian house will use on average around 18 kilowatt-hours per day.
Synergy currently pays 7c for every unit of power exported. This rate varies if you are a Horizon Power customer depending on which town you live in.
The federal government offers STC’s (small technology certificates) for every eligible solar system, provided that it has been installed by a licensed electrician and a Clean Energy Council accredited installer. The amount of rebate depends on the size of the system. At Pelican Electrical Services we have factored this into our pricing and are happy to offer this to our clients up front as a discount. Or as an alternative you can pay the full cost for the solar installation and receive the cash payment as a rebate.
Your meter will need to be changed if it is the old rotating disc type, to the newer more modern digital type. This is so it can read exported as well as imported power. We will organise this for you. If you already have the latest meter it will just need to be re-programmed.
In general, the system is maintenance free apart from dirt that can build up on the panels, although they are generally self-cleaning due to their angle. As a guide they should be cleaned at least 1 to 2 times per year. This is just a case of removal of any excess dirt that has built up on the panels. It is also recommended that a thorough inspection of your system be carried out every 3 years. We offer an after sales service and are able to respond to any warranty or maintenance issues promptly.
All panels across our range carry a standard 10-year manufacturing warranty as well as an output performance guarantee of 90% output after 10 years and 80% after 25 years. The SMA series of inverters, as well as most other brands, have 5 years as standard although this can be extended at additional cost. Workmanship on our installations is guaranteed for 5 years.
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Pelican Electrical Services is a well-established electrical contracting business located in Mandurah. In addition to the wide range of electrical services we offer, we also specialise in the supply and installation of solar systems for domestic and commercial use.