Not AGL solar and battery installed! Who to contact about reporting substandard and faulty?

[maxwelloau]

Hi.

New solar system promoted by the local council with fanfare was installed at high cost. 

Failed after 5 days of below 50% operation. Contractor turned it off for 1 month. Then they rewired PV into more strings, still below an average operation due to differing brands of 2 x 5Kw hybrid inverters i believe. 

This is a joke like the wild uncontrolled  west! 

Where can I report this to? 

[Lester]

I did a quick google search for reporting bad solar installs, AI came up with . . .

Complaints about the quality of the installation performed by an accredited installer should be directed to Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA).
The SAA can investigate and take action, such as applying demerit points to the installer's accreditation. 

I guess this is dependent SAA on them being a SAA member ?

You can check here . . . https://saaustralia.com.au/ 

Also not sure 100% where you are, but if 'wild west' is WA, the results also mention reporting to Consumer Protection WA.

Mixing old and new systems is probably best avoided, especially if new battery tech is being introduced as well.

You have 2 inverters on 2 phases ?
We have this, 2 x 5kwh inverters on 2 or our 3 phases, one is hybrid (master) and the other same brand but not hybrid (slave).

[maxwelloau]

thanks. I appreciate the reply.   (Not a Lester from Langhorne creek? Probably not.) 

On the number of inverters, we originally were quoted on two 5 kw hybrid inverters same brand, model etc, then it was changed to two different brands models because thats the way the engineer does it! These are now on three different PV strings but common connection up to the 240V. 1 has no batteries and 1 does. There is no data or other connection between them. All info I could find that this was only ok for same brand, same model same firmware and data connected if that was needed. ie master and a slave. The Hinen H5000EU quotes two in paraLLEL in the install manual but only shows a picture of the same type. 

I cannot get a definitive opinion about this from the retailer, installer, or the manufacturer. Everyone is keeping schtum!   

[Lester]

No Langhorne Ck connection @maxwelloau 

That Hinen inverter seems to be ok for single string, I guess the other one installed handles 2 other strings that may be smaller each to a similar kw of PV as the single string.

It is supposed to be a single phase inverter.

Did you get the Hinen battery too, or something else ?

It really sounds complex from your reply above, maybe there was something missed in compatibility and now they seem to have just left you in the lurch ??

AGL can't really help, nor your DSNP.

You didn't pay through council I take it, so they are not one to go for if so.

Nor the manufacturer Australian office, but they might help you get someone else knowledgeable in the equipment to do an individual assessment of the install.

It's really the solar installers total responsibility to get this right, from the start . . . but if they stuff something up, they should work to get it fixed as soon as possible for their clients.

I saw the electrical company name in your other post screenshot text, but couldn't relate it to any checks or reviews, maybe you should try that locally, and if installers name known (should be on solar install certificates) you can try searching that SAA list of accredited installers.

If possible, see if any other solar company can come and do a check over the system, they should be able to spot any issues, not sure what they'd charge, probably on par with normal electrician callouts / charges, but this might be worth it to get to the bottom of things quickly.

If you can tell the original installer if something is found wrong / incompatible, it might stir them into action fixing this, or give you something solid to go to Consumer Protection WA with.
Good luck, my solar was not perfect for about 9 months after install, several things complicated optimal outcome, I had to do a lot of recording and screenshots to get some action.

[maxwelloau]

Thanks for the ideas and info Lester. We have learnt a great deal quickly! Maybe not quick enough and knowing enough before purchasing! Hindsight is a wonderful thing.  I can now repeat details off by heart is a bonus?  

Should have got an AGL system!  I am sure there would be more truth there. 

After restringing. 

The Hinen is a single phase 10kw max rated PV, in a 5kw inverter now has 7.5kw max pv in two strings.  It has a Hinen battery 20kw and that pair are working well. House overnight is draining battery to about 50%.

The Solis has only a single string of 2.64kw which likely will only occasionally reach that. I suspect these two are connected to the two different phases on the property meter. Honestly the Solis with limited panels and an east facing view doesn't seem to do much in reality.  Almost a waste I think.

(It beggars belief that the designer added another Inverter just because the max pv of 10.12kw would have been over the max pv of 10kw of the Hinen).  99% of the time the Hinen would never have reached maximum anyway.  Goes to show there is knowledge of many levels in this new industry and that rules is rules.  

After spending time to AGL, finally passed to someone called "resolution" and he spoke english! Convinced me it was nothing to do with the meter. Looked a the account, said that doesn't seem right, it shouldn't do that. Goodbye. 

Overall the  description of a 10kw solar system with 20kw battery. Ended up being 10kw panels, 5kw of inverter which also has 20kw of battery capacity. Then tacked on is the Solis, a fine item on its own I am sure, but with the limited number of panels and no battery is not that useful. 

Installer is just a contractor, ok with the straight forward but no understanding and didn't query this botched up system in the first place. Also supplier didnt think to ring and discuss with us, 1 panel less would have saved a hell of a lot of stuffing around, a second Inverter and probably been a benefit making what we got even better. 

End result we have a pretty workable system and it will do the job for us.  Not exactly what we thought, bit then a lot of that was hype and lack of actual details at sale time. 

Unfortunately you can take a sparky to a solar course but that may not make attendees actually brighter! 

[Lester]

Hindsight, yes it's wonderful for the next time, ha ha.

10kw pv and 20kwh battery, should be great, and 7.5kw pv on the 5kw inverter is fine.

I expect the Solis 2.64kw gives you the power to use in the home through the day, or at least covers most of that, with your larger system picking up the rest and charges the battery fine.

Does this wipe your bills, or just leave a bit of your supply charge to pay ?

If a fairly small usage home, it should.

Winter might be the only season you might have too low a production, but you can always charge your battery from the grid when cheapest, to use in peak times.

Site and panel orientation is nice when you can get optimal, no shade, panels all northern aspect.

Still my 2 x 5kw inverters often hit 9+ kw output with 15 east, 8 north, and 4 west.

Out of 11.2kw of pv that's not bad, and the morning and afternoon boost is good overall.

Sending 75% winter - 85% summer of my production to the grid, looking forward to getting a battery in the coming new year, just waiting to save up for it and for SolarEdge to get their new stackable LFP module system more established and check reviews / pricing before committing.