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Your Guide To Solar And How To Get The Most From Your System
This guide explores the key components of a solar system, how the system works, and practical tips to get the most from it.
Written by
Dean Dunning
Published on
August 18, 2025
Introduction
Solar power systems are a smart, sustainable choice for New Zealand homeowners. With falling costs and better technology, generating your own clean energy is more accessible than ever. This guide explores the key components, how the system works, and practical tips to get the most from it.
Core Components Of A Solar System
Solar Panels: Capturing The Sun’s Energy
Solar panels are the starting point of your system. Mounted on your roof or a ground frame, they capture sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. This DC power is the raw energy that your system transforms into usable electricity for your home.
Thanks to lower prices, perfect roof angles are no longer essential. You can install extra panels to offset less-than-ideal positioning, making solar viable for more homes.
The Inverter: The Heart Of The System
The inverter converts DC power from your panels into alternating current (AC) for your home and the grid. Because it runs constantly, reliability matters.
Choose a quality brand like Tesla or Fronius for longevity and reliability. With Aurora Energy doubling the export limit from 5kW to 10kW, larger inverters and systems are now more practical, allowing greater self-use and export potential.
Batteries: Store Energy And Take Control
Batteries have gone from niche to mainstream, storing excess energy for later use, providing backup in outages, and helping you take advantage of variable power rates. Today, it's more common for a solar system to include a battery than not, thanks to falling costs and improved performance.
Stick with a reputable brand like Tesla for long-term warranty support and reliability.
Optimising with Variable RatesMany electricity retailers now offer variable rates, cheaper overnight, higher during peak hours. Export rates can also vary, with some plans paying around 40 cents per unit during peak times but as little as 5 cents overnight.
If your power plan has cheaper off-peak rates, a smart battery can charge when rates are low and discharge when they’re high. For example, Tesla Powerwall’s time-based control uses your retail plan and usage patterns to maximise savings automatically.
You can boost these savings even further by timing high-energy appliances like hot water cylinders, heat pumps, and underfloor heating to run during solar generation or off-peak hours, and by avoiding peak usage periods.
Electric Vehicle Charger
While not a core solar component, EV chargers can integrate seamlessly with your system to keep charging cost-effective and eco-friendly. Modern models can:
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Use excess solar after your home and battery needs are met
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Schedule charging to avoid expensive grid use, for example, during off-peak hours or when excess solar is available
How Solar Power Flows
The flow of power in your solar system is simple but clever. Here's how it works:
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Generation: Panels produce DC electricity from sunlight.
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Conversion: The inverter turns DC into AC for your home and the grid.
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Usage: AC power runs your household appliances.
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Excess power: First goes to the battery, then exports to the grid for credits.
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Shortfalls: Draw first from the battery, then from the grid if needed
This smart balancing act ensures maximum use of solar power and minimal reliance on expensive grid electricity.
How It All Comes Together: A Tailored Solar System
Every solar setup is customised to suit your home. Key factors include:
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Roof layout: Size, angle, sun exposure, and shading influence panel placement.
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Battery needs: Usage patterns and backup power requirements determine battery size and features.
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Inverter type: Must match the system’s size and whether a battery is included. Hybrid inverters handle both solar and battery inputs efficiently.
Custom design ensures your system is optimised for cost savings and performance.
Aftercare And Support
Aftercare is key to long-term system performance. At Think Solar, we provide full support beyond installation:
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Monitoring app setup: Track performance and savings easily.
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Internet reconnection – If your modem changes.
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Troubleshooting: Our team is available to fix issues quickly.
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Guidance: System adjustments as your needs evolve.
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Warranty support: We assist with any claims for Tesla, Fronius, and other supported brands.
Why Choose Solar Today?
With affordable panels, dependable inverters, and smart batteries, solar delivers lower bills, outage protection, and reduced environmental impact. Add smart controls, EV integration, and dedicated aftercare, and the benefits grow even further.
Ready to go solar? Contact Think Solar for a free consultation. We’ll design a system tailored to your home and needs.
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Is A Cheap Solar System Really Worth It? | Your Guide On What You Need To Spend
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Solar Warranties 101
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