Solar options for home in 2022

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Solar options for home in 2022 - 2026

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1115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 314

#3482978 22-Apr-2026 11:34

@BuzzLightyear:

That was just the solar brackets installed. I had them replace some tiles and recoat to a new colour as well on top of that.

Where are you located (I'm in Auckland North Shore) - Gerard said they work with roofers - not do the work themselves.

Got anyone you can recommend?

fastbike

488 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 368

#3482989 22-Apr-2026 12:19

richms:

Have you considered removing the skylight as they tend to just be things that leak and dont provide much useful light compared to what you can get from a light running off the solar that would take the place of it?

Having spent considerable time designing the house and how the velux allows both light and air into the house, it will be staying :)

Leaky skylights happen when corners are cut and the roofer is told to make a flashing on site, usually with a tube of silicone !

Otautahi Christchurch

BuzzLightyear

422 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 109

#3483149 22-Apr-2026 19:34

CokemonZ:

@BuzzLightyear:

That was just the solar brackets installed. I had them replace some tiles and recoat to a new colour as well on top of that.

Where are you located (I'm in Auckland North Shore) - Gerard said they work with roofers - not do the work themselves.

Got anyone you can recommend?

I’m in west Auckland. I think they are a subsidiary now. All the branding and domain name was Gerard roofing and same address. It was 2024 so could have changed.

RoofTG Pacific Limited

T: 0800 100 244

90 -104 Felton Mathew Ave, St Johns, Auckland 1072, New Zealand.

cshwone

1095 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 851

#3483270 23-Apr-2026 06:39

We have now had our solar installation for a month and can already see the benefits with tumbling grid use even though the weather hasn't been kind. Even on extremely dull days we see a good reduction in importing from the grid. So much so that..............

We have a second home on our section which allows our special needs daughter to live semi-independantly. I replaced the old building with a new build last year. It's a kitest house and the main structure is formed from Coloursteel clad SIPS. It has it's own separate power line and thus ICP.

I am looking at installing an array on the gently sloping Northerly facing roof (12.5 x 3.2m) but our installer hasn't done such an install before and our research isn't throwing up much on how to mount the panels on a SIPS roof.

Has anyone here done this and be able to provide advice on methodology?

Thanks

jjones

29 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 5

#3483579 23-Apr-2026 17:23

I will avoid lightforce solar. Their sales people will over promised and do a lot of misrepresentation just to make a sale. The after sales and support is abysmal. Avoid the headache and the hassle, use another installer. This is based on my personal experience.

fastbike

488 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 368

#3483588 23-Apr-2026 18:36

cshwone:

We have now had our solar installation for a month and can already see the benefits with tumbling grid use even though the weather hasn't been kind. Even on extremely dull days we see a good reduction in importing from the grid. So much so that..............

We have a second home on our section which allows our special needs daughter to live semi-independantly. I replaced the old building with a new build last year. It's a kitest house and the main structure is formed from Coloursteel clad SIPS. It has it's own separate power line and thus ICP.

I am looking at installing an array on the gently sloping Northerly facing roof (12.5 x 3.2m) but our installer hasn't done such an install before and our research isn't throwing up much on how to mount the panels on a SIPS roof.

Has anyone here done this and be able to provide advice on methodology?

Thanks

I think S-5 do clips that could work, Solar Partners are the local agents

Otautahi Christchurch

cshwone

1095 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 851

#3483630 24-Apr-2026 08:00

fastbike:

I think S-5 do clips that could work, Solar Partners are the local agents

Thanks, have emailed them.

Paul1977

5180 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2202

#3485041 28-Apr-2026 14:06

It's been a long time coming, but finally had solar installed on Friday.

24x 490W Aiko panels
String 1 - 12 panels facing NNE
String 2 - 12 panels facing WNW
10 kW Fronius inverter
No battery

Inspector coming for sign-off tomorrow morning, then all system go.

sen8or

1916 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1424

#3485437 29-Apr-2026 09:20

Ours starts today

26 x 470w Longi panels (although I think the installer said something about 480 or 490 as thats what he was getting delivered) for 12.2kw Module Power (@470)

set in 3 strings - 1 x ENE (7 panels), 1 x NNW (13 Panels), 1 x WSW (6 panels)

10kw Sigen Energey Inverter

1 Sigenstore Bat 10 (8.76 actual) battery

Not sure when inspector is due, installers said it will take about 2 days for the physical install

sen8or

1916 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1424

#3485519 29-Apr-2026 12:13

Installer called about adding a gateway to the install, about $1500. Is this a good investment? a quick google indicates its good for smart use of solar power (directing where / when energy should be used) and for cutting over to the battery in the event of a power outage. We only have had a handful of power outages dating back to the quakes of 2010/2011 so am unsure of this part of the benefit.

Cheers

Sen

Paul1977

5180 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2202

#3485528 29-Apr-2026 13:25

sen8or:

Ours starts today

26 x 470w Longi panels (although I think the installer said something about 480 or 490 as thats what he was getting delivered) for 12.2kw Module Power (@470)

set in 3 strings - 1 x ENE (7 panels), 1 x NNW (13 Panels), 1 x WSW (6 panels)

10kw Sigen Energey Inverter

1 Sigenstore Bat 10 (8.76 actual) battery

Not sure when inspector is due, installers said it will take about 2 days for the physical install

Looks like good all-day production with that layout.

They smashed out our install of 24 panels and inverter in about 3 hours. I was very impressed.

Inspector was out this morning and gave ours the green tick, so we are now up and running.

kangaroo13

94 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 94

#3485540 29-Apr-2026 14:25

sen8or:

Installer called about adding a gateway to the install, about $1500. Is this a good investment? a quick google indicates its good for smart use of solar power (directing where / when energy should be used) and for cutting over to the battery in the event of a power outage. We only have had a handful of power outages dating back to the quakes of 2010/2011 so am unsure of this part of the benefit.

Cheers

Sen

I'm really surprised this has come up so late in the process, as it is a critical part of the overall system design and should have been factored into the quote from the outset.

Is it the case of a 'dumb' retailer just getting business through the door with an attractive quote, but now it has gone through the installer, someone who actually knows what they are talking about has looked at the system design and realised it's missing something?

Smart use of power is important to getting the best out of the solar system & battery - be that through a priorietary 'gateway' with such features, or other devices such as hot water system diverters, smart relays (e.g. CatchControl), Home Assistant on an Arduino or whatever.

Did you get multiple quotes, and did any of the competing quotes address this aspect?

sen8or

1916 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1424

#3485554 29-Apr-2026 15:14

I think the only quotes that had a gateway were from Tesla systems, the others that used Sigen didn't talk about it (that I could see anyway). I didn't really ask the question either. Even with the extra Gateway I'm happy with the overall system specs and pricing. If its important to maximising efficiency then I'll go with it.

kangaroo13

94 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 94

#3485557 29-Apr-2026 15:30

sen8or:

I think the only quotes that had a gateway were from Tesla systems, the others that used Sigen didn't talk about it (that I could see anyway). I didn't really ask the question either. Even with the extra Gateway I'm happy with the overall system specs and pricing. If its important to maximising efficiency then I'll go with it.

A gateway can mean different things and provide different functionality between manufacturers, so I would suggest talking to someone knowledgeable with the Sigen products about what their gateway provides. You have a battery system, and by the sounds of it you don't have any other device in your system to control loads and flow of power, so on the face of it, some sort of gateway product would seem to be beneficial. There may be some functionality built into your model inverter - which is why you need to talk to someone familiar with your ecosystem.

I have a solar system with a Sigen hybrid inverter - not one of the ones that integrates with a battery stack, but a slim wall-mounted 6kW unit. Ours is grid-tied (no battery yet), and we have another device managing power flow to our main load, the hot water system. So - in our case, we do not have a Sigen gateway. It's something we will revisit a few years down the track if/when we add a battery and EV charger.

sen8or

1916 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1424

#3485561 29-Apr-2026 15:46

to be fair, the installer did say he wasn't sure what he was competing against with the other quotes (did theirs include a gateway) in which case he's happy to discuss value for the gateway. I'm not out to take advantage of the installer (as he wasn't pricing against a system that had it) so will keep going

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