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Solar System Upgrades and Inverter Replacement
South Australia went solar earlier than almost anywhere in the world. A great many of those systems went up between 2010 and 2015 — and they’re now reaching the point where something needs doing.If you’re here, it’s probably one of three reasons.
Efficient Solar & Battery is a family-owned business with more than 15 years in the electrical and renewable energy industry. We’re a NETCC Approved Seller, which means we’re bound by the national consumer protection code for solar and battery retailers.
Your inverter has failed
This is the most common reason people call us, and it’s usually the moment a decision gets forced.
Inverters typically last 10 to 15 years. Panels last considerably longer. So the usual pattern is a system where the panels are still generating fine and the inverter has given up — often with a fault code, sometimes just silence, occasionally after a hot spell.
A failed inverter can sometimes be repaired. More often it can’t be economically, because the model is out of production or the parts cost most of what a new unit does.
The question then isn’t really “repair or replace the inverter”. It’s what makes sense for the whole system, given you’re getting an electrician on site anyway.
Your system is too small
A 1.5 kW or 3 kW system was a substantial investment in 2011. Today it’s a fraction of what the same roof could produce.
Panels then were commonly 250W. The panels we install now are 475W to 510W — close to double the output from the same physical space. We’ve replaced systems where the original array produced less than a quarter of what the new one does, on exactly the same roof.
If your bills have grown since you installed — an extra person in the house, ducted air conditioning, a pool, an electric vehicle — a system sized for your 2012 household is unlikely to be covering your 2026 one.
You want to add a battery
The third reason, and increasingly the most common.
South Australian feed-in tariffs have fallen to the point where exporting surplus solar barely pays. Most retailers offer between 5 and 8 cents per kWh, often capped daily, and network charges can apply to daytime exports. Meanwhile the power you use yourself is worth what you’d otherwise pay for it.
If you have solar and you’re exporting most of what you generate, storage will usually do more for your bill than more panels.
You often don’t need to replace anything to add a battery — see our home battery installation page for how that works. But if your inverter is near end of life anyway, doing both at once is usually cheaper than doing them separately.
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Repair, replace, or upgrade — we'll tell you which
There are three ways to deal with an ageing or failed system, and which one suits you depends on your equipment, your household and your usage. We'll assess your system and tell you plainly which we'd recommend and why, rather than quoting the most expensive option by default.
Repair. Where a fault is genuinely worth fixing and you'll get several more good years out of the system, we'll say so. We'd rather tell you that than sell you something you don't need.
Like-for-like replacement. A new inverter matched to your existing array. The cheapest way back to a working system, and the right answer if your panels are in good condition and the system is adequately sized for your household.
Full upgrade. New panels, new inverter, optionally storage. More expensive up front, but you get a system sized for how you actually use power now, with current technology and a fresh warranty on everything — and Small-scale Technology Certificates apply to the new system, which takes a meaningful amount off the price. Payment plans are available if you'd rather spread the cost.
We'll explain which option makes the most sense financially for your situation, and why. If you'd like to see the numbers on a different option, just ask.
Repair. Where a fault is genuinely worth fixing and you'll get several more good years out of the system, we'll say so. We'd rather tell you that than sell you something you don't need.
Like-for-like replacement. A new inverter matched to your existing array. The cheapest way back to a working system, and the right answer if your panels are in good condition and the system is adequately sized for your household.
Full upgrade. New panels, new inverter, optionally storage. More expensive up front, but you get a system sized for how you actually use power now, with current technology and a fresh warranty on everything — and Small-scale Technology Certificates apply to the new system, which takes a meaningful amount off the price. Payment plans are available if you'd rather spread the cost.
We'll explain which option makes the most sense financially for your situation, and why. If you'd like to see the numbers on a different option, just ask.
What's involved
01
Site assessment
We look at your existing array, inverter, switchboard and meter, and check the condition of your roof and mounting. Older systems sometimes have mounting hardware that’s due for attention, and it’s far cheaper to deal with while the panels are off.
02
Your switchboard
Homes from the 1970s through the 1990s often have boards with no room for the additional protection a new system or battery requires, or types that no longer meet current standards. We check this up front and price any upgrade into the quote rather than raising it on installation day.
03
Network approval
Any change to your system size or configuration needs SA Power Networks approval, and new systems must support Flexible Exports.
We handle the application.
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Metering
A system change often triggers a meter reconfiguration through your retailer. It’s the most common cause of delay between installation and switch-on, so we flag it early.
Recent upgrade work
Murray Bridge — 13.3 kW replacing a failed inverter
This customer’s inverter had failed and wasn’t worth repairing. Rather than patch it, they replaced the system entirely and took advantage of how much panel technology had moved on.
Twenty-eight Jinko Solar Tiger Neo 475W panels for 13.3 kW of capacity, single phase, with a GoodWe GW9900-MS inverter. The original system was a fraction of that output on the same roof.
Murray Bridge — 9.975 kW full upgrade to current technology
This customer wanted the whole system brought up to date, with better reliability than the ageing equipment they had. Twenty-one Trina Solar Vertex S+ 475W panels for just under 10 kW.
Meningie — 10.925 kW with 16 kWh usable storage and whole-home backup
An older, undersized system replaced outright rather than patched. Twenty-three Trina Solar Vertex S+ 475W panels for nearly 11 kW, plus GoodWe battery storage, full home backup and the switchboard work to support it.
The job also included network pre-approval and the meter upgrade request — the two administrative steps that hold most installations up.
Common questions
My inverter has failed. Do I need to replace the whole system?
Not necessarily, and we’ll tell you honestly. If your panels are in good condition and the system is well sized for your household, a like-for-like inverter replacement is often the sensible answer. If the system is ten years old and undersized, replacing everything usually costs less than you’d expect and delivers considerably more.
Can I keep my existing panels and just add a battery?
Usually, yes. AC coupling adds a battery alongside your existing system without touching your panels or inverter. See our home battery installation page for the detail.
Will I lose my feed-in tariff?
It depends on which scheme you’re on and what changes you make. It’s the first thing to establish and we’ll help you find out before you commit to anything. Your electricity retailer is the definitive source.
Do rebates apply to a replacement system?
Small-scale Technology Certificates apply to new eligible systems, and the battery rebate applies to eligible batteries. We’ll calculate both at quote stage and show them as separate line items.
What happens to my old panels?
We remove and responsibly dispose of them as part of the job.
How long does an upgrade take?
Most are a one to two day job on site. From accepting your quote to a working system is typically around two weeks, with network approval and any meter work being the two steps outside our control.
Get a quote
Send us a recent electricity bill and tell us roughly when your system was installed. We’ll work out what you’ve got, what your options are, and price them so you can compare properly.