Yes, you can. By installing our basic system against loadshedding, you can make your house solar ready. When you are ready to upgrade we can install the panels or even add an inverter and/or battery to meet your increasing needs.
It is a must by law to have a certified electrician test and issue a COC for the system. Any extension or addition to an electrical system requires a COC.
Permission should be obtained from your power supplier and a special meter bi directional meter should be installed by them. Some areas in SA does not yet support this.
The inverter is guaranteed for 5 years, the battery for 10 years or 3600 cycles @80% depth of discharge.
Panels 10 years with 98% depreciation after year 1 and 0.55% every year after that. These figures are average estimate and can change with different manufacturers or models.
The inverter is a hybrid. This means that it can alternate between power sources. It will always use the available solar power and battery before using the grid.
Only a registered person can issue a COC after that person is satisfied there are no faults and the electrical installation is safe.
Every registered person is issued with a license and when conducting test for a COC needs to carry the license with him or her. (Almost like a driver’s license).
Anything between 2 to 8 hours depending on the size of the installation. It may even take longer.
These test are to test the safety and functioning of your installation. To complete these test in less than 2 hours means there might have been some safety tests not conducted.
Be wary of COC inspections that cost less than R1500 (according to the ECA). Remember you get what you pay for!
Non-functioning appliances does not mean the COC is invalid (Non-functioning stove or light globe)
The COC covers all the fixed wiring of the installation for example the DB board and light switches.