Understanding solar energy
The sun’s rays are captured via
photovoltaic cells (solar panels)
usually mounted on a north or west
facing roof. An inverter wired up to
your meter converts the captured
sunlight into electricity for your
home.
Enjoy the savings
Beacon Solar systems can
significantly reduce your
traditional power consumption and
bills whilst easing the stress of
future power price hikes.
Your electricity provider monitors
the power you use from the grid and
the solar energy your system
collects from its panels. At times,
you’ll need more power than your
system produces – so it
automatically imports electricity
from the grid, just as it does now.
But you still only ever pay for the
power that you import from the grid,
the rest is free.
Sustain the future
In keeping with the philosophy of
clean renewable energy, your new
Beacon Solar system has no moving
parts, is silent to run, requires
minimal maintenance (just clean it
with water once a year) and has a
very long service life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do I still need
electricity from the mains?
Your solar system may not always collect enough
electricity to cover your daily
power requirements therefore you can still import electricity
from your mains. Your power consumption and the size of the unit will affect how
much electricity is collected
however on days when there is too little sunlight and during
the night your system will automatically switch to the mains.
2. How effective is a
solar system in terms of value for
money?
Australia is world famous for its sunny climate
however we do not always best use
our abundance of sunlight. Sunlight is a
natural clean energy resource and
once you pay the
initial outlay for the solar system
to be installed all the electricity
you collect is
absolutely free. Your solar system
lifespan is over 20 years so imagine
how much it
could reduce your household running
costs over this time.
3. Where else can panels
be placed?
The
optimum place to install your panels
is a north/west facing roof however
is this is not
possible we can also install your
solar panels on sheds,
verandas and pergolas.
4. What if I have a flat
roof?
Roof mounting systems can be installed to
angle your solar panels at an
adequately slanted position so that they can
still collect the maximum
electricity from the sun.
5. How will I use the
electricity generated from my solar
system?
The
electricity collected from the solar
system is converted from direct
current (DC) to 240V
alternating current (AC) through the
inverter. Once it has been converted
into AC
it
is then fed back into your house or
into the electricity grid. You will
then receive a credit
for
the power your system sends to the
grid.
6. Will a solar system cover
all my electricity requirements?
Factors such as the size of the system, the
location of your home, types of
appliances and
household consumption will all
influence the electricity
requirements. Our qualified installers can design and
install a system that best suits
your needs so that
you
obtain the best result from your
system.
7. What happens at
night?
The solar system only produces the electricity
through the collection of sunlight.
Therefore, at night no solar
panel system is able to produce
solar electricity so the
household will obtain power directly
from the mains. However during the
day the
collected electricity is still
credited to your account.
8. What happens on a
cloudy day?
On sunny days your solar system will obtain the
best possible electricity
collection,
however on cloudy days the panels
will not collect the same amount.
You can expect
the panels to gather around half the output that would
be achieved on a sunny day. If the electricity for a cloudy day is not
enough to cover the household
requirements, the system will use power directly from
the grid.
9. What happens during a
black out?
During a black out all solar systems
will automatically switch off and
re-connect once electricity has been restored to
avoid any safety issues that may
arise for the utility workers repairing the line.
10. Does the system come
with a warranty?
Our
panels and inverters are sourced
from the world’s most reputable
solar
manufacturers to deliver a system to
you that are second to none. All our
panels come with
a 5 year performance guarantee to
resist water, salt and pollution corrosion along with weather extremes such as
hail and storms. Our inverters are
built to the highest European standards and each
are encased in weatherproof housing,
backed by a
5 year manufacturer’s warranty that
can be extended to 10 years.
11. Can I add more
panels to my system later?
Our
1kw systems give you the
flexibility to create a 1.5KW
system at a later date
without the requirement of an
inverter upgrade which could become
costly. The Fronius 2kw inverter allows you to install anything between a 2kW and a 3KW system.
12. How do I know what
size is right for my house?
The size of your solar PV system will depend on; the physical unshaded area available for the installation of panels; how much you are prepared to spend; and what portion of your electrical consumption you wish to generate.
To help determine what size system will give you the best output to meet the requirements of your home please contact one of our helpful Beacon Solar representatives on 1300 BE SOLAR (237 652), solarsales@beaconsolar.com.au or complete the obligation free quotation form by clicking here.
13. What is a typical households consumption?
A typical Australian house consumes around 18 kilowatt hours (kWh) per day so a 1-2kW system displaces an average of 25-50% of your average electricity bill.
14. Will I need a new meter?
Once your solar power system is installed you may require a new meter. If you have a traditional accumulation meter (with spinning disk) this will need to be replaced with an interval meter or smart meter. This is because an accumulation meter does not record the energy you export to the grid or the electricity you import from the grid. An interval meter
or a smart meter provide half hourly readings of the electricity you consume and the
surplus electricity you generate. The new meters are provided by your electricity provider.
15. What happens after my solar PV system has been installed?
After your solar PV system has been installed and if you wish to receive your relevant
Feed In Tariff, you will need to enter into an agreement with your electricity provider.
For more information on the benefits of making the switch to solar power and to read the Consumer Guide to Buying Household Solar Panels visit the Clean Energy Council website
