After years of site visits and support calls, we see the same mistakes again and again. None of them are about intelligence. They’re about not knowing what to ask. So here’s the list we wish every customer had before buying.
- Buying on price alone without an itemised quote.
- Sizing from a guess instead of your actual load and bill.
- Skipping earthing and surge protection to save a little.
1. Choosing on price alone
The cheapest quote usually saves money on things you can’t see: thin cables, no SPD, a weak structure. Ask for an itemised quote and compare it line by line. Our guide on comparing quotes shows how.
2. Guessing the size
“My neighbour has 10kW so I’ll get 10kW” isn’t sizing. Start from your appliances and your last 12 months of bills. The load calculator takes two minutes.
3. Ignoring load shedding
An on-grid inverter switches off when the grid goes. If your area has load shedding, you almost certainly want a hybrid.
4. Buying a battery that’s too small, or too big
A tiny battery leaves you in the dark at 2 am. An oversized battery costs a lot and never gets fully charged in winter. Size for the hours you actually need.
5. Forgetting shade
A water tank or neighbour’s wall can shade panels for hours in winter. Check the roof at 10 am and 3 pm before fixing the layout.
6. Too many panels in one string
This leads to overvoltage on cold mornings and can damage the inverter. Ask your installer for the string calculation.
7. No earthing
Skipping the earth pit saves a little today and can cost an inverter in the first monsoon. See our earthing guide.
8. Installing the inverter in a hot, closed spot
Inverters need airflow. A closed cupboard or sun-facing wall shortens their life and reduces output.
9. Not keeping documents
Invoice, serial numbers and installation photos are your warranty. Keep them in one place.
10. Buying from someone who won’t be there later
Solar is a 20-year relationship. Ask who will answer when there’s a fault in year three, and whether the brand has local service.
One extra tip
Use more of your solar during the day. Under net billing, running heavy appliances while the sun is up is worth far more than exporting. It’s the cheapest upgrade there is.
Planning your first solar system?
Send us your bill and appliance list. We’ll help you avoid these mistakes from the start.