which is the best way to do your solar installation?

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which is the best way to do your solar installation?

Nov 6, 2020 | Solar System Guide, Solar Tips/ Tricks | 1 comment


an image showing a team of solar technicians doing a solar installation

Many solar companies in Zimbabwe charge you fix and supply if they realize that you need a solar installation. Now, many a times you will agree with me that usually the figure at the bottom of the quote usually feels very high. Consequently, you might find it cheaper sourcing your own materials and find a solar installer near you.

We get questions from both homeowners and contractors about clients buying their own materials. Solar installers in Zimbabwe want to know if they should get involved with a customer who wants to do that. Owners want to know why a solar installer wants to charge a mark-up on the materials.

In this short blog post we will look at both sides of the coin and see how best you can acquire your solar installation. If buying your own materials and source labour is the cheaper, is it the best way considering the money you will pay for your 5kva solar system.

Why many people want to buy their own materials for their solar installations?

an image showing a customer buying his own solar panels

Solar companies in Zimbabwe outsource their solar installation materials from outside the country or from local dealers. Obviously, they will put a mark-up on each and every item they sell you. As a result, almost everyone would want to avoid that mark-up. What is sadder is that, some solar installers in Harare charge exorbitant prices! You might have probably noticed it and almost hated it as soon as you discovered it. So, you reason that it is better you acquire your own materials from the suppliers. ‘Straight from the pump’ they say. That way you will be almost sure that you will get the best deal for your solar batteries, solar inverter as well as for your solar panels.

For sure in an attempt to save money, many people believe that if they buy the materials for their job, they’ll save money. They shop around until they are convinced, they know exactly what they want and where to get it. They believe  they find the store or warehouse with the best prices, and they know exactly where and how they want it installed.

Advantages of buying your own material for your solar installation.

1. You can buy your materials at your pace of getting money
an image showing a happy customer thinking about buying solar materials with a little money he has got now

Getting your solar equipment, yourself will also allow you to buy things as you get the money. In Zimbabwe things are tough, and we seldom get enough money rounded up to acquire a complete solar installation at once. This month you might sacrifice to buy your Canadian Solar panels, the next you are buying your 5kva solar inverter. This goes on until everything is enough as per the specifics of most solar companies in Zimbabwe. Even though it might take time, you might reason, it comes soft on your pocket as well.


2. reducing cost of labour for your solar installation
an image showing a customer  and a contractor shacking hands after a good job negotiation

Another advantage you might enjoy after buying your own materials is the opportunity of getting very cheap labour. After getting the best solar equipment at very good prices, you need to have someone who will ‘simply’ assemble that equipment for you. Now, Zimbabwe has a shortage of jobs and many freelancers are available to give you a hand. For example, the number of solar installers in Harare have recently hit a record high. Almost anyone can install your solar. You might reason that with so many options to get labour, you will be at a very good position to negotiate down the price you will pay for your solar installation.

So basically, when you want to buy your own material, it has many thing to do with the cost. But how about the flip side of buying your own solar installation material. Can anything possibly go wrong? Let us see.

Disadvantages of buying your own material and outsource labour for your solar installation

Some time ago, my wife asked me to get our cottage roof replaced and repainted. The roof was supposed to have a new look which matched some beautiful backyard cottage we saw on her favorite home design tv show.

It should have been a simple pull push project. I counted the roof sheets on top of the old cottage and ordered for them from our local hardware. At the back of my mind I knew I had next to no knowledge about carpentry. So I sought for a carpenter to do the dirty work because I had already bought ‘all’ the needed materials.

If I’d been hired to do this job, using the materials bought by the homeowner, we’d probably be in court right now. There were problems that I didn’t see as the homeowner that my carpenter discovered.


1. wrong material selection for your solar installation
an image showing a customer disappointed after buying wrong solar installation materials

This is bound to happen almost every time you try to buy materials of a field you are not familiar with. With solar systems you ought to buy everything right. For example, a complete 5kva solar system comprises of a 5kva solar inverter, solar batteries, and solar panels. There is a variety of 5kva solar inverters. They differ in electrical specifications, applications to models. Are you going to select a suitable solar inverter? Granted, you might know the correct solar inverter for your needs. But how about a suitable battery bank. Will you choose Lithium ion batteries or some other type? If so, why? Honestly, this process is mind boggling, unless you have a solar installer to your side.

If you ever make a mistake on choosing any of these items, the cost will hike. Many a times people buy solar items from South Africa. The hassle of exchanging the item is very tiresome and almost impossible sometimes.


2. Warranties for your solar installation

If you happen to choose a good solar installations company like Taqon Electrico, you are certain that whatever they install you comes with a warranty. But what happens if you just call any solar installer from the street? Besides running the risk of never finding them again, it is very difficult to claim any warranty from the shop you would have acquired your solar equipment from. One of the troubles your supplier will struggle to do is to verify whether your chosen installer had installed your material according to acceptable standards. Another problem is that your installer is less likely to cover your solar equipment under warranty if they were not the ones who supplied them. In that case you will run the risk of being stuck with broken down equipment without any warranties. Now if this happens whilst your equipment were still in the service tenure, it will be a frustrating loss.


3. Solar Installation Quality Issues
an image showing that quality is important when doing your solar installation

Usually this is bound to happen from either your part or your installer’s side. How does this happen?

On your side, just because you are buying equipment you are not quite familiar with, you might buy low quality equipment because the price is always attractive. On the counter, the guys at the hardware are always looking forward to make a sell. So, if you buy with the mentality of cutting costs, many a times you will fall into this trap of buying low quality material. This means that even if you get the most competent installer from the street, you will never make it up for low quality equipment.

On the other hand, I have seen customers buying high quality solar equipment, only to get an incompetent installer to do the work for them. Customers seldom see this because they are not quite familiar with the solar industry standards. These poor work practices come in different forms. These could be loose connections, poor cable terminations, leaning inverter mountings, poor space factoring, poor settings configurations, bad wiring and you name it.

The worst situation will erupt when poor quality materials meet an incompetent solar installer. Hence on this note, you , as the customer has to make everything right if you ever think of buying everything yourself. Get the best equipment at the best price and also get them installed by an accredited installer to avoid void warranties in case anything goes wrong. This sounds like some big work right. But its worth it if you do it right.


4. Time and Money
an image showing that you can loose time when your try to do a solar installation yourself

They say time is money and we value our time depending on what we could lose if we spent time on something. Have you ever wondered how much time it takes for one to implement a successful solar installation project? In our article, HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF SOLAR INSTALLATION AT HOME?, we saw that great amount of time is needed when doing a research on the most appropriate solar system that suits your needs. You need to know the correct type of solar panels, solar mountings, cable types, solar inverters, solar batteries, solar accessories and you name it. After getting this information, you now need to know who supplies them at the best price and quality. At last you also need to get the best person to do the work. Now, you agree with me that this is no child’s play. You need a lot of time to line all this in place. If you have some other things to do, you might find it difficult to accomplish.


Is fix and supply for your solar installation the way to go?

You might also decide to tackle your solar installation doing fix and supply. In my humble opinion, I think this way might seem heavy for your pocket but it has its benefits. Many benefits. However, the crucial step is to find a very very good solar installation company. By very good I do not mean they necessarily have to be the most expensive of all. Otherwise if everything become too expensive, the whole point of installing solar will be void. It has to be economical as well as very valuable.

But how do you choose a very good solar installation company in Zimbabwe. Well, that can be an issue of another day. But for now, we are going to outline some of the benefits of getting a fix and supply.

1. It saves you time
an image showing you can save time if you do fix and supply for your solar installation

A very good solar installations company will save you the headache of researching. Why do we say this? Remember whilst you will be doing other things, these guys will be doing solar all the time. They know the best equipment, the best designs, the best deals and lastly, they know how best to install you your solar system. From your part it is a matter of giving them a few details about what you want to achieve with your solar system , and they will generate a quotation from that. The next thing from that stage you are now getting your solar installation done. From our website, you can also https://www.taqon.co.zw/packagesview complete solar kits that we offer and download a quotation instantly. Upon making your payment, we will install you your solar system right away.


2.Security

Good solar installation companies offer you security for your solar system in the form of warranties. They also offer workmanship warranties that can still protect you in the event that anything goes wrong with your solar system. For example, at Taqon Electrico we give 1-year warranty on our workmanship as well as up to 5 years warranty for the solar panels. In addition to that, our solar batteries and solar inverters are covered with warranties stretching up to 1 and half years. Therefore, when you deal with good solar installation companies, quality is guaranteed. This lessens headaches you need to deal with.


3. Its cost effective solar installation
an image showing that having your solar installation fixed and supplied increases the efficiency of your solar installation cost

I am sure when you install your solar system, you would want it to last for a very long time. No maintenance costs and no repairs for a very long time to come. Now, if you do it wrong the first time, you will likely face problems which will cost you money in the long run. However, dealing with accredited suppliers will save you costs in the long run. No headaches for repairs or replacements of broken down and unwarranted equipment for a very long time. No inconveniences and re-dos. It might cost a few hundred dollars initially, but it is cost effective in the long run. Make sure you get your solar system from reputable companies.


4. No surprises with your solar installation

With professional companies, everything is written down that the outcome is almost always predictable. They will deal with any irregularity which might threaten your relationship with them. No wrong material selection. If there happens to be any adjustments, they will be communicated prior to the installation. At Taqon Electrico, all alterations are communicated plainly to avoid any surprises with the customers. Everything is installed according to specifications on the quotation. This will definitely save you headaches.

In my humble opinion solar projects ought to be cost effective as well as being functional. Everyone is entitled to chose a method of their choice but the most reasonable way out conquers.

You can either higher an expert to do everything for you, and of cause at a cost, or you can choose to be the expert and put everything on your shoulders hoping to save some money. If you’ve been involved with a job like this, you know that they sometimes turn out okay. But all too often, they don’t.

an image showing our solar installation team at taqon electrico

At Taqon Electrico we offer fix and supply services as well as labour only. We do not discourage potential clients to buy their own material but we also encourage them to exercise due diligence. We encourage our clients to scout the cost as well as the quality. It is also important for clients to understand the responsibility they give themselves when they buy their own materials. Incase anything goes wrong, they need to foot the cost.

However, if possible, a fix and supply is best. Due caution is needed when choosing the best supplier. The best supplier do not necessarily need to be the most expensive ones. At Taqon Electrico we strive to be the best whilst our services are very reasonably priced. Work with us because we believe ‘CUSTOMER IS KING.’

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Please do not forget to tell us what you think and share you experiences too on the comments section below. If you happen to have any questions, kindly CONTACT US.

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1 Comment

  1. taqon electrico

    thank you very much. we will always keep making interesting staff.

    Reply

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Taqon Electrico

Taqon ElectriCo is a Solar and Electrical Systems Installer based in Harare Zimbabwe. Our aim is to give the best Electrical and Solar services, therefore, making our customers happy.

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