Solar repairs and inverter replacement
A lot of Hills solar was installed between 2012 and 2018 by companies that no longer exist. We're the ones who come back.
Your system is probably not doing what it used to
Solar degrades quietly. There's no alarm, no smell, nothing obviously broken — the bill just stops improving as much as it used to. By the time most people notice, the system has often been underperforming for a year or more.
The most common cause is simply age. Inverters are the electronic heart of the system and they typically last 8 to 12 years, while the panels are warranted for 25. An enormous number of Hills systems installed in the mid-2010s are now sitting right in that window.
What we get called out to
The inverter is dead, dark, or showing an error
End of life, or a specific fault worth diagnosing before replacing. We check whether it's the inverter or something feeding it — replacing a healthy inverter fixes nothing.
Call 0422 253 379Generation has dropped but nothing looks wrong
A failed string, a dead panel, a degraded isolator, or shading that has grown over the years. Monitoring often hasn't been checked since the day it was commissioned.
Call 0422 253 379The DC isolator has failed
A well-known Australian problem. Rooftop DC isolators were widely installed with enclosures that let water in, and they corrode and fail. Some have caused fires.
Call 0422 253 379Solar keeps tripping the switchboard
Insulation breakdown somewhere in the DC side, a faulty inverter, or an interaction with the RCD arrangement at the board.
Call 0422 253 379The original installer has gone out of business
Extremely common for the 2012–2018 cohort. Your panel and inverter manufacturer warranties may well still be valid even though the installer isn't — we can tell you what you've still got.
Call 0422 253 379Repair or replace?
Honest answer: it depends on the age of the panels, not just the inverter.
If the panels are sound and only the inverter has failed, replacing the inverter is usually the sensible move — you keep a working array for a fraction of a new system. If the panels are also near end of life, or the array is small by modern standards, putting a new inverter on it can be throwing good money after bad.
We'll tell you which situation you're in. If it's the second one, we'll say so, even though the first one is the easier sale.
Solar repair questions
How long do solar inverters last?
Typically 8 to 12 years. Panels are usually warranted for around 25. That mismatch is why inverter replacement is the single most common solar job we do.
My installer has gone out of business. Am I stuck?
No. Manufacturer warranties on panels and inverters sit with the manufacturer, not the installer, and are often still valid. We can identify your equipment and tell you what's still covered before you spend anything.
Will replacing the inverter affect my feed-in tariff?
Straight replacement of a failed inverter with equivalent capacity generally doesn't affect an existing arrangement. Increasing system capacity can. We'll flag it before doing anything that changes your position.
Can you add a battery when you replace the inverter?
That's often the right moment to decide, because a hybrid inverter is only worth paying for if a battery is genuinely on the cards. If it is, doing both at once saves a second visit.
How do I know my system is underperforming?
Compare this year's generation with the same month two years ago — most systems have monitoring even if nobody has looked at it. If you can't access it, we can test the system directly.
What customers say
Jason solved a really complex problem for our house with excellent professionalism and workmanship. Highly recommend, would def work with him again. On time delivery and within budget.
Jason onsite quickly and completed the work on the spot, giving us a good price and was very polite. Would highly recommend.
Fantastic service! Friendly, efficient and well priced. Highly recommend. Thank you for swiftly fixing our switches.
These are Google reviews for our team at Cync Electrical & Automation — the licensed contractor behind Hills Electrician. 5.0 from 20 reviews. — see the profile
Solar not performing?
Tell us the brand and rough age and we'll tell you what's likely. Call 0422 253 379.
Get a quote