Our Advice
We appreciate there is a bewildering amount of information in the market and it can be difficult to compare one installer from another. So how do you choose the best solar or wind installation company?
Compare quotes, technology, quality and credibility.
When buying a solar or wind product, we at Braemac Energy believe it’s critical to consider the following:
-
How long has the company been in business?
Will they be around tomorrow and will they be around in 25 years to fulfil their warranties?
-
What brand are the panels?
Many companies use generic or re-badged product. Go with brand names you can trust and research. Brands such as Suntech, Sharp, Schott and Kyocera have a proven track record for longevity and quality.
-
What inverter are you being offered?
Inverters are crucial to the continued health of your solar or wind installation. SMA and Fronius are German made and widely considered the best available. Latronics is an Australian made inverter with a good reputation. The manufacturer warranty should be a minimum of 5 years.
-
Do they have their own installation crews?
-
How much do they want up front?
This speaks volumes, if they want more than 20% up front then they are either a small company (not necessarily a bad thing) or looking to make a fast buck with little to none of their own capital involved (this is a bad thing).
Reasonable and Unreasonable Charges
With each quote, there are reasonable extras but many “unreasonable” ones that you should look out for.
“Reasonable” extras incurring charges include:
- Tilt racking for a flat roof
- Travel costs for remote locations
- Two storey house installation
- Split systems (panels located on two or more parts of the roof)
“Unreasonable” extras might include:
- A site inspection fee. If they want your business, they should make their time available to you without any strings attached.
- Tile roof charges. There is no labour or material cost difference that warrants any additional charges for a tiled roof.
- Upgrade to a brand name panel or inverter. Reputable companies like Braemac Energy never offer brand name upgrades, because we offer quality product up front, always!
Even if you are not considering a Braemac Energy system, we are happy to give you practical advice on getting the best deal – no hard sell, no strings attached. Just call us on 1800 759 769
