Existing System
- 8 yr old 3.5kw system (installed Sep 2011 by previous owners)
- Inverter - SMA Sunny Boy (SB 3000TL-20) 3kw
- 14 x 250w SRP (BBPV-250V) facing NE
- 2 story, 4 adults, 2 teens, 1 x Pool, no Air Con
- Our daily usage averages between 18 - 26kw per day depending on time of year and vacation absences, but that figure does not take into account what we consume from our current solar as ther is no way to monitor it.
- Producing 2 to 2.6kw (See below - that was Midday on an overcast day)
Future household plans
- Hot Water to be taken over by the new solar installation (currently Off Peak)
- AC installation (possibly 6 x Split units, 2 - 3 years away)
- Battery backup optional (if & when more affordable)
- Off grid some day - (nice to have but not essential)
Quote 1 - Installer A (11.2kw system)
| Item | Specification | Price (inc. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Panels | 38 x SOLAWATT Vision-60M 295w | $- |
| Inverter | 2 x SMA Sunny Boy 5.0-1AV-41 | $- |
| Racking: | Grace Rail | $- |
| Installation: | Full Installation | $- |
| Other: | SMA home manager 2.0-install back of meter box. | |
| Replace power point on din w/HWT. | ||
| Additional charges: | Hot water timer installed | $ 200 |
| Removal of old system to be left for owner disposal | $ 300 |
System Price ______________________________________________$ 20,066
Less STC incentive 170 certs @ $34.70 _________________________$5,899
Total Price: ________________________ _______________________$ 14,167
Quote 2 - Installer A (Option 2 - 6.6kw System)
| Item | Specification | Price (inc. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Panels | 22 x SOLAWATT Vision-60M 295w | $- |
| Inverter: | 1 x SMA Sunny Boy 5.0-1AV-41 | $- |
| Racking: | Grace Rail | $- |
| Installation: | Full Installation | $- |
| Other: | Replace power point on din w/HWT. | |
| Additional charges: | Hot water timer installed | $ 200 |
| Removal of old system to be left for owner disposal | $ 300 |
System Price ___________________________________________$ 11,069
Less STC incentive 98 certs @ $34.70 _______________________$3,400
Total Price: _____________________________________________$ 7,669
Quote 3 - Installer B (6.6kw System)
| Description | Quantity | Price (Incl GST ) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 x 330W Seraphim Blade Solar Panels - 6.6kW | 1.00 | |
| Sungrow 5kw Single Phase SG5K-D | 1.00 | |
| Sungrow Energy Meter 1 phase | 1.00 | |
| Solar Racking - Tin Per Panel | 20.00 | |
| Discount | $ 2000.00 | $ (2,000) |
Total System Cost Before STC Incentives ________________$ 8,597
GST Included $ _______________________________________$782
Less 100 STC’s @ 35.50 ____________________________$ 3,550
Total Price After STC Incentives/Discounts _______________$ 5,047
My concerns
- Why remove the old system? Its small and I can’t get monitoring on it but works fine. Adding a 6.6kw to it would give me 10kw of total solar. The installer at Quote 3 said they would retain it.
- SMA have a reputation for reliability, and the warranty is great, but the rare failures that occur result in replacement with a Reconditioned unit NOT A NEW UNIT.
- The SMA mobile App (Sunny Portal) is still very limited and does not provide real time or direct system monitoring and has very limited functionality. Check out the ratings on the App Store. Absolutely abysmal. Not that I would base my decision purely on the app, but is the Fronius App any better?
Quote 1
- Do I need 11.2kw? Even with my future plans ?? Does it sound over the top?
Quote 2
- This may be the option that I end up choosing but with a couple of mods.
- Keep my existing system
- Change to a Fronius ??? Opinions???
Quote 3
- Not impressed with the Seraphim panels or the Sungrow inverter. At least according to the online reviews. SOLAWATT seem to get a better rap online. As for the Sungrow, It’s not even a contest. SMA, or even better, Fronius I think. Opinions?
- The $2000 discount sounds phony. The system has probably been jacked up to start with.
Any opinions welcome and appreciated
Cheers
Peter
