Solar Battery FAQ

Why have a battery?

Solar battery storage lets you use your solar panels day and night, not just when the sun is shining. Instead of exporting excess energy for less than 10% of the price you buy it for, you can store that power and use it later. The biggest advantage might be energy security: when the grid goes down, your lights, appliances, and refrigerator keep running.

What is a kWh? It is a unit of energy. A watt is volts x amps.  1 volt  @ 1 amp = 1 watt. 1000 watts is a Kilowatt. It means 1kWh can supply 1 Kilowatt of power for 1 hour, or 0.1 Kilowatt for 10 hours.

What is a kW? It is a unit of power. EG: A kettle typically draws 2.5 Kilowatts of power, but only for a short time, like maybe 2 minutes. So, to boil a jug uses 2.5kW x 2 Minutes / 60 Minutes in an hour = 0.0833 kWh of energy.

Is 48kWh of storage realistic or necessary?

Yes. Before the Federal battery rebate scheme, a 48kWh battery was hard to justify financially unless blackout protection was a big priority. But with rebates, it’s far more accessible. And when the grid fails—as it has for my family three times in the past two years, each outage lasting over 24 hours—you’ll appreciate the capacity. Grid issues are likely to increase, not decrease.

What warranty does the system have?

• Batteries & inverter: 10 years manufacturer’s warranty
• Workmanship: 10 years warranty

Why don’t you offer a 5kW inverter?

48kWh is a BIG battery system. The minimum size inverter to have a reliable chance of fully recharging the battery in one day is 8kW. A 5kW inverter could never change an empty battery to 100% even at the peak of summer with no clouds.

Do you offer a 10kW inverter?

Yes, it is $1750 more than the 8kW inverter. 10kW is the largest single phase inverter that can be installed in QLD. It has the added advantage of having 1 extra MPPT controller, a total of 3,  so it can simultaneously manage solar panels facing 3 directions.

Why does the system seem inexpensive?

It isn’t—the real cost is about $26,000. The government subsidises it through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs):

• 1 STC ≈ $38.12
• A 48kWh battery = 446 STCs = $17,000 subsidy (until end of 2025)
• On the 1st January 2026, the rebate drops by 10%, reducing the rebate to $15,300

  How long does installation take?

Once the SAA-accredited installer is on site, installation usually takes one day. You’ll only lose power twice, for about 20 minutes each time.

Could the system cost more than $9,000?

Yes, depending on site conditions. Extra costs may arise from:

1. Preparing a pad for the batteries
2. Updating or replacing the meter board to meet 2023 standards
3. Replacing DC wiring if the solar panels were installed before 2024 (no charge if leaving the system AC-connected)
4. Adding bollards if installed in a carport
5. Building a fireproof barrier if needed and adjacent to a habitable room
6. Adding sun and/or rain protection if installed on North, East, or West walls

Are toxic gases a risk?

Risk? Yes. Likely? No. The LiFePO4 chemistry is very safe: fires are almost non-existent. I believe all home battery fires in Australia have been with a different battery chemistry, NMC Li-on, which no home batteries use anymore.

Do all those warning stickers have to stay?

Not anymore. Future installations will have just one set of warning stickers on the isolator box, none on the batteries. We’re also improving aesthetics by hiding most of the grey conduit and the battery cables

What brands do you supply?

• Inverters: Solis, Deye, Afore (depending on size and features needed)
• Primary battery: Ruixu — new to Australia but proven in the USA and Canada.
  Watch a YouTube review here

Why Ruixu?

We are the Australian importers of Ruixu batteries. With no middleman, we can offer one of the most compelling deals in the market.

Still confused?

Don’t worry. I’ll personally perfom a site survey, discuss installation options, and walk you through every decision step by step.