Solar & Battery Datasheets and Guides
Solar
Inverter
Battery
EV Charger
Aiko Solar Panels
Warranty and data sheet
Latest guides
Browse help by topic
General Questions
Solar & Battery
Battery
EV Chargers
Electrical Upgrades
!$Do you service my area?
We service Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich and parts of the Sunshine Coast, essentially anywhere within about an hour of us. Staying local is deliberate. It means we arrive on time, install carefully, and can get back to you quickly if you ever need support. If you are unsure, just ask.
!$Should I get solar and battery together, or solar first?
Together is often the tidiest and most cost-effective approach, because the system is designed as one and you avoid a second visit and connection process. It is not the only path. Many people start with solar and add a battery later, which works well if the system is designed to be battery-ready. Fred lays out both options honestly so you can choose what suits your budget and timing.
!$What rebates can I get, and do I have to claim them myself?
Two federal incentives apply. Rooftop solar earns small-scale technology certificates (STCs), and home batteries earn a separate discount under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Both come off your quoted price upfront, and both step down each year toward 2030. You do not apply for anything. As an accredited installer we handle the certificate paperwork and take the value straight off your price.
!$Why are your prices lower than some other companies?
Because of how we run the business, not because we cut corners. We keep overheads lean and grow through referrals rather than expensive advertising and commissioned sales teams, and those costs get added to the customer’s price everywhere else. Same premium brands, same standards, and a genuine 5-year written workmanship warranty behind the work.
!$Will I need a switchboard upgrade?
Not always. If your switchboard is modern, has spare capacity and proper safety switches, we can usually just add the new protected circuit. An upgrade is needed where the board is full, outdated or non-compliant. We never recommend one you do not need, and we will not skip one that safety or the rules require.
!$Will my battery keep the power on in a blackout?
Only if it is set up for backup, which is a distinction many sellers gloss over. A standard battery lowers your bills but, by law, must shut down during a grid outage for safety. To keep power flowing in a blackout, the system needs backup capability wired to the circuits you want protected. We make that clear up front and design it properly if you want it.
!$Will solar actually save me money in South East Queensland?
Yes, provided the system is sized to your usage and you shift some consumption into daylight. Every kilowatt-hour you generate and use yourself is one you are not buying at retail rates. Because export credits in SEQ are modest, the biggest savings come from self-consumption: running the pool pump, dishwasher and air conditioner while the sun is up.
!$Are home batteries safe?
The batteries we install use LFP chemistry, the safest mainstream chemistry for home storage, and each has a built-in battery management system monitoring temperature, voltage and charge. Several models add further fire-safety features. Installed correctly to Australian standards by a qualified electrician, a quality home battery is a safe addition to your home.
!$Can a battery run my whole house, including air conditioning?
It can, within its power rating. A well-sized battery comfortably runs everyday loads and a typical air conditioner, though very heavy simultaneous loads can exceed what a single battery delivers at once. We design around how your household actually uses power, and where needed a higher-power battery or a multi-module system handles bigger demand.
!$How long do home batteries last, and what is the warranty?
Modern batteries are built for daily charging and discharging over many years, and quality units are warranted to retain a healthy share of capacity across a 10 to 12-year period. FoxESS, for example, warrants at least 70% capacity retention, with a 12-year term on the CQ6. We register the warranty for you, and our own 5-year written workmanship warranty covers the installation.
!$Is a battery worth it in South East Queensland?
For many SEQ homes, yes. The federal rebate has cut the upfront cost, export credits are low, and local households have high evening and air-conditioning loads. A battery is most valuable if you have plenty of surplus daytime solar and real usage after dark. We give you a straight, conservative assessment rather than assuming it always stacks up.
!$What rebates apply, and can I get both?
Two separate federal incentives apply, and a combined system can use both. Your panels earn small-scale technology certificates (STCs) under the long-running solar scheme. Your battery earns a separate discount under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Both come off your price upfront, and we itemise each one so you can see what the solar and the battery each contribute.
!$What size battery do I need?
It depends on how much power you use after dark, how much surplus solar you have to store, and whether you want backup. Too small and you are buying grid power by mid-evening. Far too large and it may never fully charge or pay for itself. We size it to your real evening and overnight usage and explain the trade-offs.
!$Which circuits can I back up, and for how long?
You can usually choose your essentials: lights, fridge and freezer, internet, power points and often an air conditioner. Runtime depends on the battery’s stored capacity and what you run. Backing up the whole home including the heaviest loads is possible but costs more, so we help you decide what is worth protecting.
!$Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?
In most cases, yes. There are two common routes: add a separate battery with its own inverter alongside your existing solar, or replace your current inverter with a hybrid one that runs both panels and battery. Which suits you depends on the age and type of what you already have. We inspect it and recommend the option that genuinely fits.
!$Do I qualify for the battery rebate if I already have solar?
Yes. Having existing solar does not disqualify you. The rebate is about the battery being an approved product installed by an accredited installer to standard, with one rebate per eligible address under current rules. We confirm your eligibility as part of the quote.
!$How do I know if I have enough surplus solar to justify a battery?
The clearest sign is a meaningful daily export figure on your bill or in your monitoring. That surplus is what a battery stores instead of selling it cheaply. If you export very little because your solar is small or already self-consumed, we may suggest adding panels alongside the battery. We assess your actual data rather than guess.
!$What does adding backup involve, and does it cost extra?
Backup means adding a gateway or backup sub-board and wiring it to the circuits you want kept on, which is extra hardware and labour over a standard battery install. It is worth it if you experience outages or simply want the peace of mind. We quote it as a clear option so you can decide.
!$What is the payback time on a retrofit battery?
It depends on your usage, how much solar you currently export for small credits, your tariff, and the rebate at the time. A battery makes the strongest sense for households with high evening usage and plenty of daytime surplus. We give realistic, conservative numbers for your circumstances and will tell you honestly if it is not yet worthwhile.
!$Will my current inverter work with a new battery, or do I need to replace it?
Sometimes your existing inverter can stay and we add a battery beside it. Other times, especially with older or basic inverters, switching to a hybrid makes more sense. The deciding factors are its age, type and capacity. We assess it honestly and tell you whether keeping or replacing it is the smarter spend, rather than bolting a new battery onto tired equipment.
!$Will my switchboard need upgrading to add a battery?
Sometimes. A modern board with spare capacity and proper safety switches may simply take the new protected circuits. An older or full board often needs an upgrade to add a battery, and especially backup, safely and compliantly. We check your switchboard as part of the quote and tell you honestly, never an upgrade you do not need and never skipping one the rules require.
!$Are EV chargers covered by the federal battery rebate?
No. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program covers eligible home battery storage only, and EV chargers are specifically excluded. We say this plainly because some advertising blurs the line. The real saving with a home charger comes from cheap overnight or solar charging compared with public charging and petrol, not from a rebate.
!$Can I charge my EV from my solar panels?
Yes, and it is one of the best ways to run an EV almost for free. Many smart chargers offer a solar-matching mode that charges the car using your surplus solar rather than exporting it for a few cents. If you have solar, or are considering it, we can set the charger to prioritise your own generated power.
!$Does Energex need to be notified or approve my charger?
Smaller single-phase chargers are generally straightforward, but larger or three-phase chargers can require notifying the network. In some cases load management lets a charger be added without triggering a supply upgrade. We handle any network requirements and design the installation to suit your supply, so you do not have to navigate that yourself.
!$How long does it take to charge an EV at home?
A typical 7kW home charger adds enough range overnight for most daily driving and fully recharges most EVs from low in a single night. The exact time depends on your car’s battery size and how much charge you need, but for the vast majority of households, plugging in overnight means starting each day full.
!$What if my switchboard is on the opposite side of the house from where I park?
That is common and entirely workable. It means planning the cable route and sizing the cable for the distance to avoid voltage drop, occasionally with a sub-board to keep things neat. A longer run can add some cost, which we set out clearly in the quote rather than springing it on you. We will find the most practical, compliant path.
!$Why install a dedicated charger instead of the cable that came with my car?
The portable cable supplied with most EVs plugs into a normal power point and charges very slowly. Fine occasionally, but a full charge can take a day or more, and continuously loading a standard power point is not ideal. A properly installed wall charger is faster, safer and purpose-built for daily use, which is why most EV owners move to one.
!$Will the charger work with any EV, including my next one?
Home AC chargers in Australia use the Type 2 connector, which fits the vast majority of EVs sold here, so the chargers we install work across brands. Changing cars later does not mean changing your charger. We confirm your vehicle’s connector and onboard charging capability when recommending a unit, so it is a proper match.
!$Can you do the upgrade at the same time as my solar, battery or EV install?
Yes, and it is usually the most efficient approach. Because we are an electrical company doing everything in-house, we carry out the switchboard or cabling upgrade as part of the same project, properly sequenced with your solar, battery or EV installation. One team, one standard, one point of accountability.
!$Do I receive an electrical safety certificate?
Yes. Electrical work of this kind must be certified, and we provide the required electrical safety certificate as part of the job. It is your documented assurance the work meets the standards, and it matters for safety, for insurance and for any future sale of the home.
!$How long does an upgrade take, and will my power be off?
A typical residential switchboard upgrade is often done within a day, with power off for part of it, usually a few hours depending on scope. More involved work such as consumer mains, a three-phase conversion or asbestos handling takes longer. We plan the timing with you and give a realistic timeframe before starting.
!$What if my meter board contains asbestos?
Some older switchboard backing panels were made from asbestos-containing material, which must be handled correctly and safely. Where that is a possibility, we identify it during assessment and manage it appropriately rather than disturbing it carelessly. Your safety and ours comes first.
!$Why do quotes for switchboard work vary so much?
Because the scope and the quality vary enormously. A cheap quote may use minimal or lower-grade components and skip work that should be done, while a thorough one brings the board fully up to standard with quality protection. We quote to do it properly with premium devices, and explain exactly what is included so you can compare like with like.
!$Will an upgrade fix flickering lights, tripping circuits or warm switches?
Often, yes. Flickering lights, nuisance tripping and warm switchgear can point to overloaded circuits, loose or aged connections, or inadequate protection, all of which a properly designed switchboard upgrade addresses. We diagnose the underlying cause rather than just resetting the symptom, so the fix lasts.
!$Will an upgrade improve my home’s safety even without solar?
Yes. Replacing old fuses with modern circuit breakers and safety switches, and bringing the board up to standard, significantly improves your home’s electrical safety in its own right. It protects against shock and fire risks regardless of whether you ever add solar. Many customers value that peace of mind on its own.
Saving tips
Get monthly energy-saving tips
