TCK solar

EXPLAINING YOUR QUOTE

SOME EXPLANATIONS TO YOUR QUOTE

If you are reading this, it means you have a TCK Solar quote on hand and possibly have some questions. It may all seem a bit overwhelming, but we are here to help. You should have a few columns with different system sizes and different panel and inverter suggestions. It may seem a lot but let us break some of this down for you to make is a bit easier to digest. If you would rather talk to us in person do not hesitate to give us a call on 03 99887785.

System Size

You may be wondering how we determined the size of your system. Generally, we look at your energy need for the year and cover it with a little extra as a buffer. This way you are technically operating carbon neutral across the year. On your quote you will see how much of your energy needs are covered by the different systems we are proposing.

Most solar installers sell 6.6kW system kits. We do not go down this path as every household and every roof is different. These kinds of systems may or may not cover your needs. Our approach is taking your current and future situation into account an will therefore give you the best outcome.

All-electric

TCK Solar is providing all-electric solutions, which means that we are a partner at your side if you are considering going the all-electric route. We will make sure that your system will cover your current and future needs. For example, if you are planning on changing to an induction cook top, getting an electric car or adding a heat pump or aircons to your house in the coming year, but are not quite ready to commit to it now, we will work with you so you can remain carbon neutral even once you have made those changes.

Panel specifications and what they mean

You may have wondered what some of the questions on your quote mean. Solar panels undergo a lot of testing and data is collected to show how powerful and durable they are. Each panel is tested and sorted for its output. This tells you how many watts one panel can produce at 25 degrees celcius. The efficiency is different though, it shows the percentage of sunlight a panel can convert into electricity. TCK Solar deals with SunPower panels, their P6 panel has an efficiency of about 21%, while their Maxeon panel is the most efficient in the world with ratings over 23%. Of course, shading, dirt or temperature will influence the efficiency of your panels. A SunPower P6 panel with an Enphase microinverter will loose about a sixth of its capacity, while other panels brands may loose up to a third of their capacity. The SunPower Maxeon solar panels are created in such a way that the loss will only affect the cell that is experiencing shading, keeping energy loss to a minimum. As we are mainly using Enphase microinverters or SolarEdge optimisers with our systems, the percentage of energy loss is much less, as each panel contributes energy individually.

Heat also effects the performance of a solar panel. The performance is measured at 25˚C. A conventional panel will lose about 0.33-0.39 of a percentage per degree. For our highest performing Maxeon panels this lies at about 0.29%. Meaning that at 25˚C a Maxeon panel will show around 23% efficiency. At 85˚C its efficiency will have dropped by 17.4% meaning that the 435 watt panel still performs at about 360 watt. Whereas a conventional panel with a temperature coefficient of 0.39% will drop from 435 watt to about 333 watt.

Panels, just like everything else, will age and become less efficient over the years. However, all of our panels have a high performance percentage over 25 years. If you are deciding on a Maxeon panel, your system should still be performing at about 92% of its total capacity after 40 years. All in all, your system should last about 40 years when using the Maxeon solar panels. This longevity is really where premium panels shine. The durability combined with the high amount of efficiency SunPower panels keep is unmatched.

Since TCK Solar offers not only the most durable, but also the most efficient panels on the market today, we can give you an estimate on how much more power you can expect from your system in comparison to a run of the mill system. This is of course an estimate, as our system for you is designed in a way that it will give you the most power for your particular home.

Inverters

Inverter technology has come a long way. We have been working with SolarEdge inverters for years, as they are the best string inverters with power optimisers on the market. They come with a 12-year warranty that is extendable to 25 years.

In 2020 we switched to Enphase microinverters for the residential market as the system safety, monitoring, performance, longevity and ease of installation lifts it to the next level. When buying the Maxeon AC panels the built-in Enphase micro inverter even comes with a 25-year warranty. With their newest improvements, the price point has become down a long way making it great value for money. If you decide on a system that uses Enphase microinverters that are not part of a module, the warranty of those is 10 to 15 years, but can be extended to 15, 20 or 25 years for the price of about $10 for a five-year increment.

Inverter efficiency means the amount of AC output you get from DC input. Some of the DC power will be lost due to heat loss or stand-by power use. Inverters these days operate with an efficiency of around 96-99%.

Safety

Your safety is important to us here at TCK Solar. That’s why we make sure we keep all of our solar installer qualifications up to date and keep enrolling them in workshops when we add new products.

We are also extremely careful when installing string systems, as they carry a DC load on the roof. We follow the SafeDC™ rules. Our systems are also equipped with an automatic short circuit detection and termination to limit fire danger. With Enphase microinverters DC current is turned into AC at panel-level, making it a safer installation altogether.

Trust and Transparency

TCK Solar is always here to talk things through with you. We want you to feel confident in your decision and investment. If you have any questions or concerns, please voice them with us. Most of our business comes from referrals, and we get a lot of repeat clients that either upgrade their existing systems, buy a new system from us as they have moved, get a system for their holiday home, or add to their homes to become all-electric. You can randomly choose a reference from any of the last 250 installations we have done, if you want to talk with another customer of ours. For over fourteen years we have done our utmost to built customer relationships and provide great customer service. We at TCK Solar believe in the quality of our products and want to offer you the best solutions.