What does the price include?

All of the equipment on each of the system component lists, the complete system design, the sourcing of equipment and the full build of the main system, including wiring battery cables etc. plus instructional book. It does not include delivery, installation or solar panels.

Why don’t your packages include solar panels?

We could include panels, but we feel in many cases it would be better to source panels as locally as possible. Panels don’t always courier well in our experience. If absolutely requested, we can make provisions for the supply of panels. We do, however, give advice and guidance on panel choice and installation so you aren’t alone on this.

What would be the added costs of panels?

As with everything there is cheap and high end. But the rule of thumb for good panels is $1 (NZ) or slightly more per 1 watt of power. Added to this panel mounting equipment and wiring. More information on solar panels and mounting them is included in our instructional and education booklet.

Why are these kits more expensive than some others on the market?

It’s all relative. Cheaper kits exist with lower quality equipment, we use high end components and equipment. Regardless of the quality of equipment used in kits, they are still kits. Ours are ready built and cost no more than you would pay (or close to) individually sourcing our equipment yourself. Going cheap on equipment seldom works out, that is our experience. Putting equipment together without knowledge and experience has risks which also seldom works out. We build the main system for you at no extra cost.

How do I install the kit?

Instructions and guidance is included on the purchase of each kit. Anything requiring wiring at 230 volts AC needs to be performed by a qualified electrician. We advise that a qualified electrician be consulted with for your installation. These kits are 24 volts on the DC side of the system and this is not dangerous to humans, however electrical short circuits of any voltage can potentially cause a fire situation, so care has to be taken with everything electrical.

Do you do installation?

Yes we do, we have installed many systems including tiny homes, cabins and large systems to supply family homes. We are aiming to enable people to do this themselves though, having the major build component of the system already done for people at no extra cost.

What does installation cost?

An hourly rate of $70 plus travel.

Do the kits come with a warranty?

All components come with equipment manufacturers warranty, and we use top components with good warranties. The terms of the warranties are based on the manufacturers terms and based on correct use and placement of the equipment.

What can I run on solar?

Potentially, with a large enough budget, whatever you want.  But essentially solar works best for low to medium power use, lighting, refrigeration and freezing, water pumps for water supply, entertainment (charging laptops phones and playing music), and washing machines that don’t require water heating.

Kitchen appliances such as mixers, toasters and juicers can be run as they are used for short periods of time. Items such as vacuum cleaners and power tools can be used, but they have a high power consumption and should really only be used when the sun is out, bringing power into your system and preferably when the battery system has been recharged.

Using high energy equipment needs to be done while regulating what else is drawing power at the same time so as not to overload the system.  Anything that heats electrically, electric jugs, water heating, electric ovens, electric blankets, electric heaters, electric frying pans and hairdryers, all have a very heavy draw on power, these items should be either left out or powered by other means.

What do you mean by powered by other means?

Wood heating, wet-back stoves, back-up generator, gas cooking and gas califont water heating.

What type of battery is best / what are the differences in the types of batteries?

There are basically two types of batteries, lead technology and chemical technology (lithium).  Lead technology batteries come in various forms but all operate on the same basis. They are heavy and bulky, they are less costly and generally more reliable due to requiring less technology to manage them.  They have a lesser range of usable power, so therefore require a larger battery bank to meet power requirements. 

Lithium batteries are lighter and have more capacity to store power, therefore less batteries are needed to meet power requirements.  Lithium batteries require technology within them to manage the charging and discharging rates of the cells for safety and reliability.  With this added level of technology there is more potential for a weak link in the system giving lithium batteries a potential to fail.  

As with everything, buying quality renowned brands of batteries reduces this risk of failure and brings reliability and long life to lithium batteries.  Lead technology should not be dismissed, it has reliability and less potential complications, but quality lithium batteries definitely win out for less weight, volume of space taken, usable stored energy and life span.

What are the weaknesses/negatives of solar?

As the name says, sun is required. The more solar panels the more ability to capture sun energy. This is governed by budget and space to fit the panels. Some appliances and equipment require major energy supply that can really drain battery systems. Such energy needs are anything that heats, like water immersion heaters, electric cookers, room heaters, jugs and hairdryers. These requirements can be powered on solar but require substantial systems at high cost and such things can be powered by other means.

The biggest limit is people’s understanding of appliance energy requirements and their own use of energy. You must adjust your life to meet living with solar energy and give yourself some basic knowledge of how energy works. We give a booklet on this to start that process. It isn’t complicated, just different.

We have lived on solar for 10 years in the middle of a forest. We have everything we need, we run two cabins and a workshop on two different systems. It is rewarding. We get no power bills and are always up and running during grid down situations that put everyone else in the dark.

Back up power generation on cloudy days is a necessary thing to have to be fully self-sufficient; petrol or diesel generators, and in the right situations wind or hydro turbine systems compliment solar well. Solar needs SUN and UNDERSTANDING.  Life can be happily lived with solar; we have done it for a long time now.  

Our systems come with built in external generator direct plug-in ability.  Something you don’t get in most kit sets.

Do you design larger solar energy systems?

We can do on request, we have a consultation process.

Can I buy the components and build the kit myself?

Yes you can, there are many products on the market, but there is a lot of poor quality equipment out there with a lot of promises and a tempting low price tag. We have chosen and tested the components we are using in these systems. 

If you were to purchase these components separately it would still cost the same or close to. However,  there is still a lot of understanding and knowledge required regarding how to connect the components correctly. This includes selecting the correct fusing, circuit breaking and cable sizing.  It is important to do this correctly so as not to cause potential electrical fires, equipment failure and to ensure maximum efficiency for system performance. Configuring solar panels for the correct voltages, amps and overall wattage is important also, so as not to damage charging equipment.

There are many kits on the market, and it may seem easy to put them together, but you actually still have to do this or pay someone to come in and do it. Our difference is that we build our systems for you.  You don’t have to build yourself or pay someone to do this. Same cost, built ready to go, peace of mind.

Where are you located and what areas do you service?

We are in North Kaipara, Northland, and service Northland and Auckland.

What are your contact details?

Please email us direct to solar@kanukaforest.co.nz, message us via our facebook page, or use the contact form on the home page.