Thinking about getting solar panels? Smart move. Power prices keep going up and solar can save you heaps on your power bill. We do the electrical side of solar installations around Christchurch - connecting the inverter wiring batteries hooking it all up to your switchboard and the grid.
Just finished a job in Halswell where we connected a 6.5 kilowatt solar system to the house. Family was paying like $350 a month for power and now they reckon they'll save about $200 a month maybe more in summer. System should pay for itself in about 5 or 6 years then its just free power after that.
What We Do For Solar Installations
We dont sell or install the actual solar panels - thats what the solar companies do. They mount the panels on your roof and run the DC cables down. Our job is the electrical side connecting everything up so it all works safely and legally.
We install the inverter. Thats the box that converts the DC power from the panels into AC power that your house uses. We wire it into your switchboard install isolation switches set up the grid connection. All the electrical work basically.
If you're getting a battery we install that too. Wire it up to the inverter and switchboard so it charges from your solar and powers your house when the suns not shining.
Grid-Tied Solar Systems
Most solar systems around Christchurch are grid-tied. That means youre still connected to the power grid but you're making your own power during the day.
When the suns shining your solar panels make power. You use what you need and any extra goes back into the grid. Your power company pays you for that usually about 8 to 12 cents per kilowatt hour. Not as much as they charge you but its something.
At night or when its cloudy and your panels aren't making enough power you draw from the grid like normal. So you always got power - you're not relying 100% on solar.
To connect to the grid properly you need approval from your power company. We handle all that paperwork and make sure everything meets their requirements.
Solar Inverter Installation
The inverter is the brains of your solar system. Takes the DC power from your panels and turns it into 240 volt AC that your house uses.
Inverters usually go on an outside wall close to your switchboard. Needs to be in the shade cause they dont like getting too hot. We mount it securely wire it up to the DC from your panels and to the AC going to your switchboard.
Modern inverters are smart - they monitor your system track how much powers being made how much you're using all that stuff. You can usually check it on an app on your phone.
Common brands are Fronius SolarEdge Enphase SMA. Theyre all pretty good just depends what the solar company uses.
Switchboard Upgrades For Solar
Sometimes your existing switchboard needs upgrading before you can add solar. If you got an old fuse board or a really old switchboard it might not be suitable.
Solar needs its own breaker in your switchboard and needs proper isolation and protection. If your boards already full or its ancient we might need to upgrade it first.
At a house in Papanui the switchboard was from like the 70s. Had to replace the whole thing before we could connect the solar. Added cost but had to be done for safety and to meet code.
Battery Storage Systems
More and more people are getting batteries with their solar. Battery stores the power you make during the day so you can use it at night instead of buying power from the grid.
Makes solar way more useful cause you're not just selling your excess power for 10 cents and buying it back at night for 30 cents. You store it and use it yourself.
Popular batteries are Tesla Powerwall Enphase battery systems BYD batteries. They range from about 10 to 15 kilowatt hours of storage. Enough to run your house through the evening and night if you dont use heaps of power.
We install the battery mount it wire it to the inverter and switchboard set it all up. The battery usually goes in your garage or on an outside wall.
How Batteries Work With Solar
During the day your solar panels make power. Your house uses what it needs then the battery charges up. Once the batterys full any extra power goes to the grid.
In the evening when the suns gone down your battery kicks in and powers your house. When the battery runs out you draw from the grid.
Some batteries have backup capability too. If the grids out the battery can keep your house running. Not all batteries do this though - depends on the setup.
Solar Monitoring and Smart Systems
Modern solar systems have monitoring so you can see whats happening. How much powers being made how much you're using how much is going to the grid or battery.
Usually theres an app on your phone. You can check it anytime see your production see if everythings working right.
Some systems are even smarter - they can control when your hot water heater runs or when you charge your EV so you use your solar power instead of grid power.
Connecting To The Power Company
Before your solar can connect to the grid you need approval from your power company. They want to make sure your system meets their requirements and wont cause problems on the grid.
We fill out all the paperwork submit it to the power company wait for approval. Usually takes a couple weeks. Once its approved we can connect everything up and turn it on.
The power company also needs to install a new meter - one that can measure power going both ways. They schedule that separately.
How Much Power Can You Make
Depends on the size of your system and how much sun you get. A typical house might have a 5 to 7 kilowatt system.
In Christchurch in summer you might make 25 to 35 kilowatt hours per day. In winter maybe 10 to 15. Depends on the weather and which way your roof faces.
North facing roofs are best cause they get the most sun. East and west are okay. South facing isn't great for solar.
Average Christchurch house uses about 20 to 30 kilowatt hours per day. So a decent solar system can make most of what you need in summer and a fair bit in winter.
Solar Maintenance
Solar panels dont need much maintenance. Rain keeps them clean and theres no moving parts. But the electrical side needs checking sometimes.
We can do maintenance checks on your solar system. Check the inverter make sure all the connections are tight test the isolation switches make sure everythings working right.
Inverters usually have a warranty of 5 to 10 years. Sometimes they fail and need replacing. Batteries have a warranty too - usually 10 years.
If your solar stops working or you're not making as much power as you should we can come check it out. Sometimes its just a tripped breaker or the inverter needs resetting. Sometimes theres a bigger problem.
Off-Grid Solar Systems
Most houses in Christchurch are grid-tied but sometimes people want to go off-grid completely. No connection to the power company at all.
Off-grid means you need way more solar panels and way more batteries cause you're making all your own power. And you need a generator as backup for when you run low.
Its way more expensive than grid-tied and you gotta be careful with power usage. But some people want to be totally independent.
We can do the electrical for off-grid systems. Set up the inverter battery bank charge controller generator connection all of it.
Commercial Solar Installations
Solar works great for businesses too. Offices warehouses shops - if youre using power during the day solar makes sense cause thats when you're making power.
Commercial systems are bigger - might be 20 or 30 kilowatts or more. More panels more inverters sometimes three-phase connection.
We did a solar install for a warehouse in Sockburn - 25 kilowatt system. They run forklifts and machinery during the day so they use heaps of power when the suns shining. Saves them thousands per month.
Solar and EV Charging
If youve got an electric car charging it from your solar makes heaps of sense. Free fuel from the sun.
We can install EV chargers at the same time as your solar. Set it up so the charger uses your solar power when its available.
Some smart systems can even control when the car charges to make sure it uses solar first before drawing from the grid.
Solar System Sizing
The solar company usually helps you figure out what size system you need. They look at your power bills how much you use what your roofs like.
Bigger system makes more power but costs more upfront. Gotta find the right balance between cost and how much you'll save.
Most houses around Christchurch get somewhere between 4 and 8 kilowatts. Thats like 10 to 20 panels depending on the panel size.
Consents and Regulations
Solar installations need building consent from the council. The solar company usually handles that but we make sure all the electrical work meets code.
Everything needs to be done to AS/NZS standards. Proper isolation switches correct cable sizes earthing all that stuff. We provide electrical certificates for the work we do.
The council inspector comes and checks it before it can be signed off. We make sure it passes first time.
How Long Does Installation Take
The solar company mounting the panels usually takes a day or two. Our electrical work takes about a day for a typical house system.
Then theres the power company approval and meter swap which can take a couple weeks. So from start to finish maybe 3 or 4 weeks total.
If theres a switchboard upgrade needed or a battery thats extra time. We give you a timeline before we start.
What Solar Installation Costs
The electrical side of a solar install is usually around $1500 to $3000 depending on whats involved. Thats our part - inverter installation switchboard connection isolation switches testing certification.
If you need a switchboard upgrade thats extra - maybe another $2000 to $3000.
Battery installation is extra too - usually $800 to $1500 for the electrical work.
The solar panels and inverter and battery themselves cost more - thats what the solar company charges. Total system might be $10,000 to $25,000 depending on size and if you get a battery.
Is Solar Worth It In Christchurch
Yeah it can be. Power prices keep going up and solar prices have come down heaps in the last few years.
If you use power during the day - like if someones home or you run heat pumps or hot water - solar works really well. Payback is usually 5 to 8 years then its just free power after that.
Batteries make it even better cause you can use your solar power at night too. But they add cost so payback takes longer.
Why Choose WeDo Electrical For Solar Work
We're licensed electricians who know solar inside out. We do the electrical work properly so your system is safe and meets all the codes and standards.
We work with most of the solar companies around Christchurch. We know what they need and we get the job done efficiently.
Our pricing is fair and we do quality work. We provide proper certification and make sure everything passes inspection.
If you got problems with your existing solar system we can troubleshoot and fix it too.