#AskWINAICO
We want to provide the greatest transparency from any solar manufacturer in Australia. Our products are developed around reliability and we believe that you should have the same confidence with our local branch members. Below is a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that can help provide some initial answers to any inquiry that you may have.
If you would like to talk to our local team, click here to find out our contact details.
The cost of your system will depend on many factors, including the space and direction of the area you want the panels installed, your location and your needs.
However, we are seeing a lot of systems with payback periods of 4 years, which means that after the first your years, your power is basically free.
A solar system is a long term investment. The initial savings that come from buying cheap parts will be quickly overtaken by the extra savings quality products bring through better power production.
The dark side of the solar industry is littered with ordinary people who were sold an 'amazing system' for a bargain price, only to have the system break down in 1-2 years. Often they find their installer has now disappeared, and they are left with an expensive and time consuming mess to deal with.
Paying a little more for a quality system installed by a professional gives you the confidence that your investment in solar will pay off, and if something does go wrong, your installer will be take responsibility to fix the problem.
Your payback period is the cost of your solar system divided by your average energy bill.
So if you were paying your regular bills, instead of the bills you pay with your new solar system, how many years until that savings has paid for the system.
Well, we'll admit we are a little biased here, but we believe that real world testing has found that WINAICO panels outperform the others on overall efficiency and value for money.
There are many reasons to get solar!
- As energy costs rise, installing solar on your home or business is the best way to future-proof your bills
- Every solar panel reduces Australia's use of fossil fueled electricity
- Distributed solar can actually support the wider grid at peak demand periods (generally very hot and sunny days)
- Supporting local solar businesses keeps money in your community, rather than going to large corporate electricity retailers
Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight and converting it to electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect. Solar panels produce DC power (Direct current), which is converted by an inverter into AC power (alternating current), which is what your home appliances use and is what you would normally buy off the grid.The amount of electricity your panels will generate depends on how much sunlight they receive.
An inverter converts the DC (Direct Current) Electricity produced by your solar panels in AC (Alternating Current) electricity, which is used on the national grid.
In a string inverter system, solar panels are linked together in series and the DC electricity is brought to a single inverter which converts the DC power to AC power.
In a micro inverter system, each panel has its own micro inverter attached to the back side of the panel. The panel still produces DC, but is converted to AC on the roof and is fed straight to the electrical switchboard.
There are also more advanced string inverter systems which use small power optimisers attached to back of each solar panel. Power optimisers are able to monitor and control each panel individually and ensure every panel is operating at maximum efficiency under all conditions.
In practical terms, if you buy a well made solar panel it does not matter if it is monocrystalline or polycrystalline, other than that you will generally see higher power ratings for mono panels.
In the simple terms:
Mono-crystalline = 1 Crystal
Poly-crystalline = Many Crystals
To get a bit more technical:
Mono cells are made by drawing out molten silicon using what is called the 'Czochralski process', whilst poly cells are cast is a large vat which is slowly cooled.
Poly cells by their construction have crystal boundaries, where recombination of charge carriers can occur and cause power loss. Hence mono cells are more efficient. However it is slightly more expensive to make mono cells, as the process is more complex and poly cells can be made on a larger scale.
Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells are very similar in performance.
A monocrystalline solar cell usually costs more than a polycrystalline solar cell. Polycrystalline panels are ideal for installations with unlimited roof or ground space, they also make sense for owners looking to minimise upfront installation costs. Monocrystalline panels are ideal for smaller rooftops or space-constrained properties, as monocrystalline technology produces higher efficiency cells so you get more power onto the same surface area. However the best type of solar panels isn’t decided only by mechanics and specs alone. What determines your outcome in terms of system performance over the time is a lack of defects in the manufacturing process and having a company that will replace the panels if their performance falls below the expected levels. You will also need an authorised installer to insure the warranty of the panels and your roof.