Who is doing the work and are they registered
Solar is electrical work. The Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa advises asking for the installer's registration card from the Department of Employment and Labour and checking that it is the right class, an Installation Electrician or a Master Installation Electrician.
Ask whether the company is a registered electrical contractor. Ask who will be on site and who will sign the Certificate of Compliance.
PV GreenCard
The PV GreenCard is a SAPVIA quality programme. A company can only register if it has a registered electrician assessed on the programme. It is a useful extra check, not a legal need. Ask if the installer holds one, and ask them to show you the as-built report once the job is done.
Paperwork you should get
- The electrical Certificate of Compliance, signed.
- The PV GreenCard as-built report, if the installer is on the programme.
- A single-line diagram and a list of equipment with model numbers and serial numbers.
- The supplier's approval letter or proof of registration.
Who registers the system
If your system connects to the grid, it needs registering with your supplier: City Power, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni or Eskom, depending on your bill. Ask whether registration is in the quote, who submits it, and what happens if the supplier refuses it. The installer should not connect and leave you to sort it out.
Warranties, in writing
Ask for separate warranty terms for panels, the inverter, the battery and the workmanship. They run for different periods and have different conditions. For the battery, ask how many charge cycles are covered and what capacity it must keep. Ask who you call, and who removes and replaces a faulty unit. A warranty from a company that closes down is worth little, so ask how long they have been trading.
Is the quote clear
The quote should list the inverter in watts, the battery in watt-hours with its usable portion, the number and size of panels, which circuits are backed up, and what is not included. Be careful of a quote that only gives one total with no equipment list. You should also be told what happens on a cloudy week and how long the battery lasts on your chosen loads.
Ask what is not included. Common gaps are changes to the DB board, trenching, a new meter or smart meter, and extra roof work. A line that says supply and install, with no detail, is worth a question. Ask for the answer in writing so there are no surprises on the day.
Get at least two quotes and compare like with like. The cheapest is not always the same job.
Finally, ask what happens after the job. Who services the system, how do you report a fault, and how fast do they attend? Ask for a phone number and an email that are answered. A quote is also a first look at how a company communicates.
The job behind this: Solar PV systems.