Solar System Upgrade in Robina, Gold Coast

Is Your Solar System Ready for the Future? A Robina Upgrade Story

You’ve had solar panels for years, enjoying the lower electricity bills. But lately, those bills have started to creep back up, and you’re not sure why. Your once-reliable system just isn’t performing like it used to. This was the exact situation for a homeowner in Robina who called us to find out why their solar savings had disappeared.

Their problem highlights how even the best solar systems age, and how a smart upgrade can be about more than just replacing panels—it’s about future proofing your home.

The Problem: A Chain of Failures

When our licenced electricians arrived at the Robina property, a thorough inspection revealed not one, but a series of interconnected issues that had caused the system to fail.

• A Failed Solar Inverter: The heart of the system was no longer beating. The inverter, which converts the sun’s energy into usable power for the home, was completely dead. It had power going to it, but it showed no signs of life. This was the primary reason for the sudden drop in performance.
• Degrading Solar Panels: The panels on the roof were showing visible signs of age. Just like anything left in the harsh Queensland sun, they had started to degrade, reducing their efficiency. While not completely broken, they were a key reason the homeowner’s bills had been slowly increasing over time. In this case, individual solar panel repairs were not a viable option.
• An Unsafe Switchboard: We found corrosion and outdated components inside the home’s main switchboard. An old switchboard can’t safely handle the power from a modern solar system and can pose a significant fire risk.
• An Inefficient Hot Water Setup: The home was still using an old off-peak tariff for the hot water system. This meant the tank was heating up overnight using paid power from the grid. This setup was actively fighting against the potential savings from a solar system, which generates free power during the day.

The homeowner was left with a system that was inefficient, unsafe, and costing them money.

The Solution: A Smart Solar System Upgrade in Robina

After explaining the issues, we provided a clear plan to restore the home’s energy efficiency and safety. While we recommended a larger 6.6kW system to maximise future savings, the homeowner opted for a new 3kW system, which still offered a massive improvement in performance and reliability.

Our comprehensive solution involved several key steps:

1. Replacing the Old Solar System: We safely decommissioned the old, failing system and installed a brand new, efficient 3kW solar system.
2. Servicing the Switchboard: We performed a full service on the switchboard, replacing outdated components and ensuring it was safe and compliant. This included installing surge protection—a device that acts like a bodyguard for the new inverter and other appliances—and ensuring the system had proper earthing to protect against electric shock.
3. Optimising the Hot Water System: We removed the outdated off-peak metering and installed a new timer on the hot water system. This simple but brilliant change tells the system to heat the water during the middle of the day, soaking up the free, abundant energy from the new solar panels instead of drawing expensive power from the grid at night.

Why Choose Fallon Solutions?

For over 60 years, Fallon Solutions has been providing expert electrical services. We take a holistic approach to solar. We don’t just look at the broken solar panels on your roof; we assess your entire electrical setup—from the switchboard to your hot water system—to ensure you get a truly safe, efficient, and integrated solution that delivers maximum value. Want to learn more about our solar services, visit our solar trade area.

Get in Touch Today

As solar systems age, they can become less efficient and even unsafe. As this Robina project shows, a system upgrade is the perfect opportunity to not only restore performance but to make your whole home’s energy use smarter and safer.

If you have an older solar system in the Robina area or are concerned about its performance, contact the expert team at Fallon Solutions today for a comprehensive inspection and quote. Call us on 1300 054 488 or send us an enquiry here.