Frequently asked questions

Nothing dramatic — the inverter senses the grid drop and switches your essential circuit over to battery and solar automatically, usually within milliseconds. Lights, Wi-Fi and the fridge and all the other essentials just keep running. With larger inverters (and more battery capacity) you are able to run more essentials.

We do not recommend it on the backup circuit (we recommend on the non-essential side) — geysers draw too much power and drain batteries quickly during a power outage. But, if there isn't a power outage it can still run on solar/battery and provide you savings during the day and night if there is stored battery capacity available.

It's designed to power your essentials — lights, fridge, Wi-Fi, security — through outages, while non-essentials like geysers, pools and ovens stay on the grid-side board (we call it non-essentials). See how the split works.

Only once your system is registered for SSEG (Small-Scale Embedded Generation) with your municipality — the process and rules differ from council to council. Until it's approved, the CT meter blocks export so nothing flows back unapproved.

Panels generate less on overcast days, so the grid tops up the shortfall as usual. Your battery still gives you full loadshedding cover — it just may not fully recharge from solar alone until the sun's back.

Most AWPower systems use LiFePO4 batteries, rated for several thousand charge cycles and a roughly 10-year design life under normal daily use — far longer and safer than older lead-acid battery types.

You'll receive a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the electrical work once installation is complete — keep it safe. It's also worth notifying your insurer that solar equipment has been added to your property.

Mainly keeping the panels reasonably clean and having the system inspected periodically to ensure connections are tight and settings are correct. If you're on an AWPower solar support plan, we also monitor your system's performance remotely and flag issues before they become problems. We are also able to offer you electrical services at reduced rates (adding additional plugs, installing geyser timers etc).

Often, yes — hybrid inverters usually accept more panels or battery capacity later, up to a limit. It's worth telling us upfront if you're planning to expand, so the system is designed with room to grow. Inverter size and type is one of the single most important design decisions initially.

They're two different jobs: the battery gives you backup power during loadshedding or outages, and the panels give you savings by generating your own electricity instead of buying it. A hybrid system does both at once.