Top Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Solar in Canberra

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Solar in Canberra

Switching to solar is one of the smartest upgrades a Canberra household can make—but the quality of your outcome depends on the decisions you make before anyone sets foot on the roof. As a local installer, Prime Solar Energy sees the same avoidable errors derail performance, payback, and peace of mind. Below are the most common mistakes we encounter—and how to sidestep them with confidence.

1) Treating Solar as a One-Size-Fits-All Purchase

The mistake: Choosing a “standard” package (often 6.6 kW) without checking whether it suits your usage, roof, or future plans.
Why it hurts: An undersized system won’t meaningfully reduce bills; an oversized one may export cheap power you could have used later or stored.
How to avoid it: Start with a usage analysis (12 months of bills if possible). Consider daytime vs evening consumption, EV charging, heat pumps, and likely lifestyle changes. A good installer designs to your load profile, roof orientation, and shading—not to a sales template.

2) Ignoring Roof, Shade, and Layout Constraints

The mistake: Assuming any sunny roof will deliver top performance.
Why it hurts: Canberra’s winters are crisp and clear, but even partial shading from trees, vents, or neighbouring buildings can drag down array output. Poor panel placement or mismatched strings can create bottlenecks that persist for 25 years.
How to avoid it: Ask your installer for a site-specific design including stringing diagrams, panel tilt/orientation, and a shading report. In tricky spots, consider module-level power electronics (optimisers or microinverters) to manage shade variability and keep your array producing.

3) Choosing on Price Alone

The mistake: Letting the cheapest quote win.
Why it hurts: Low-ball offers often cut corners on panel or inverter quality, racking, cabling, and—critical—workmanship. The result can be early faults, missed rebates, or roof damage.
How to avoid it: Compare like-for-like: panel efficiency and degradation rates, inverter brand, racking quality, monitoring, warranties, and installer accreditation. A fair price reflects safe electrical work, proper isolators and protection, and a team that will still be here in 5–10 years.

4) Overlooking Inverter Selection and Monitoring

The mistake: Treating the inverter as an afterthought.
Why it hurts: The inverter is the system’s brain. A mismatched or bargain unit can limit output, complicate future battery upgrades, or fail prematurely.
How to avoid it: Choose a reputable brand with Australian support, robust warranties, and monitoring you’ll actually use. If you plan to add storage later, select a hybrid inverter now—this can save thousands and simplify backup integration.

5) Misunderstanding Canberra’s Feed-in Tariffs

The mistake: Designing a system around high export revenue that may no longer exist.
Why it hurts: FiTs in the ACT are retailer-set and typically modest. Banking on exports to drive ROI often disappoints.
How to avoid it: Optimise for self-consumption first: schedule appliances (washing, dishwasher, hot water heat pumps) during the day, and consider battery storage if your evening load is significant. A system sized for your usage beats a speculative export strategy.

6) Skipping Accreditation, Compliance, and Paperwork

The mistake: Not checking Clean Energy Council (CEC) accreditation or assuming all gear is approved.
Why it hurts: Without CEC-approved components and accredited installers, you risk losing eligibility for federal incentives and ACT programs. Insurance claims and property sales can also get complicated.
How to avoid it: Confirm your installer is CEC-accredited, uses approved products, and provides electrical compliance certificates, manuals, and warranties. A reputable team will also guide you through ACT program steps (like workshop requirements, if applicable) and retailer approvals.

7) Forgetting About Future Needs (Batteries, EVs, Electrification)

The mistake: Installing a system that can’t evolve with your home.
Why it hurts: Retrofitting for a battery or EV charger can mean extra cost, re-wiring, or inverter replacement later.
How to avoid it: Plan for electrification—reverse-cycle heating, heat-pump hot water, induction cooktops, EV charging. Choose a battery-ready design, leave roof space for expansion, and make sure your switchboard and earthing are up to spec.

8) Underestimating Canberra’s Climate Realities

The mistake: Assuming hot summers are the only design consideration.
Why it hurts: Cold, clear winters can improve panel efficiency, but low sun angles and frost demand robust racking, clever layout, and quality cabling.
How to avoid it: Use racking with solid corrosion resistance, secure fixings for wind events, and properly rated DC isolators. Ask about temperature coefficients on panels and warranted performance over 25 years.

9) Neglecting Maintenance and After-Sales Support

The mistake: Believing solar is “set and forget” forever.
Why it hurts: Dirty modules, tripped breakers, or unnoticed inverter errors can eat into savings for months.
How to avoid it: Choose an installer who provides monitoring setup, a maintenance guide, and responsive support. In Canberra’s environment, periodic cleaning and a check-up every couple of years keep performance on track.

10) Vague Warranties and No Clear Point of Contact

The mistake: Filing away the paperwork and hoping for the best.
Why it hurts: If a panel fails in year eight, you’ll want more than a generic email address.
How to avoid it: Ensure your quote lists product, performance, and workmanship warranties in plain language, with a named warranty contact. Ask how replacements are handled and the typical turnaround.

What a Best-Practice Installation Looks Like (Prime Solar Energy Approach)

• Data-led design: We analyse your usage, roof, and shading to size accurately.
• Quality components: CEC-approved panels, reputable inverters, durable racking.
• Local compliance: ACT standards, safety, and documentation—no shortcuts.
• Future-ready: Battery-capable designs, EV considerations, expansion pathways.
• Aftercare: Monitoring setup, owner handover, and ongoing support when you need it.

Final Thoughts: Build for the Bills You Actually Pay

Great solar in Canberra isn’t about chasing the biggest system or the cheapest deal; it’s about engineering for your lifestyle, the local market, and long-term reliability. Avoid the pitfalls above and you’ll enjoy stronger savings, smoother ownership, and a system that keeps performing year after year.

If you’d like a no-obligation design review or a second opinion on a quote, Prime Solar Energy is here to help. We’ll right-size your system, map out your savings, and install it to a standard we’re proud to put our name on.

Also Read:

Solar Panels in Canberra – Buying Guide 2025
Solar Batteries in Canberra – Buying Guide 2025