Solar
How solar systems work, what the parts do and what to check when something looks off.
- Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?Often, yes, but it depends on your existing inverter, your switchboard and where a battery can go, so a licensed installer needs to assess your home first.
- Hail or storm damage to solar panels: what to doStay on the ground, photograph the damage from a safe distance, note what your app shows, tell your insurer, then have a licensed installer inspect the system.
- How can I tell if my solar system is underperforming?Compare your app or inverter display on similar sunny days, look for error messages and bill changes, and call a licensed installer if something looks wrong.
- How does a solar power system work in a Brisbane home?A plain-English walk through the panels, inverter, meter, grid and optional battery, and why your output rises and falls through the day.
- How do I turn off a solar inverter safely?Panels make power whenever light hits them, so shutdown should be done by your installer or a licensed electrician, not by guesswork.
- How do I restart my solar system after a shutdown?Restart your solar system only to your installer's or manufacturer's instructions, and expect a waiting period before it exports power again.
- Do solar panels work during a blackout?Most grid-connected solar shuts down in a blackout to protect line workers, so backup power needs a battery set up for it.
- Why is my solar inverter showing a red light or error?A red light or error means the inverter has detected a condition; note the code and call a licensed installer, and do not open the unit.
- Should I turn off my solar before a cyclone, flood or storm?Energex has published shutdown guidance for cyclones; follow it with your installer's advice, never go on the roof, and get storm damage inspected.
- Why is my solar export limited?Your network provider sets how much solar power your home can send to the grid, so limited export is usually a rule, not a fault.
- Are home batteries safe, and can I put one in the garage?Home batteries installed to the standard by an accredited installer are designed to be safe, but where one can go depends on its type and the rules.
- Is my rooftop DC isolator a fire risk?Some solar DC isolators have been subject to safety notices; do not touch yours, and check the make against the regulator's list.