Frequently Asked Questions
General
Email us at info@gridfree.store, message us on Facebook or our on-site livechat, or call 09 218 5533 for any questions.
You can also visit us at our office+warehouse at:
C4/27 Smales Road, East Tamaki, Auckland. (Book an appointment here)
Credit card, EFTPOS, bank transfer, cash are all accepted and we have finance options available.
QCard offers Long Term Financing Options that can be used for our solar kits, with interest-free terms of 6, 12, 18, or 24 months. Learn more about signing up for QCard Finance here.
We accept other 3rd party finance such as Squirrel and Gem Visa to purchase kits. We can also help with WINZ quotes.
We don't do any form of sales or promotions on our kits - instead, we offer the best price we can year round so you never have to worry about missing out.
Shipping times vary depending on location and how rural the address is, but is typically at least 3 business days. You will receive a tracking link when your order ships that will give you an indication, and our freight company will be in touch to confirm delivery on the day.
As we don't provide installation, we can't confirm how much installation will be. We have a list of electricians across the country who are familiar with installing our kits. You can also find a handy guide here about how installation works here. You can find your own electrician if need be as the instructions are very easy to pass over, and we're happy to support them. Prices vary depending on the package, so it's best to contact them directly for a quote.
We operate out of East Tāmaki, Auckland. Get in touch if you’d like to come chat and see the products in person, and we can set up a time for you to visit.
Yes, but be mindful of these things:
GEL Batteries
They need a top-up charge everything 3 months to keep them in good condition. This can be done with a regular 12V battery charger (like you'd used for a car battery) to charge them individually.
The rest of the kit requires no maintenance when in storage. Make sure everything is kept weather tight and not attacked by pests.
Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries have a low self-discharge when not used so they can last a long time in storage, but bear in mind:
Lithium batteries – like all batteries – not only wear down with usage but also have a calendar life. So, it is best to purchase them as close as possible to when they will be used. Storing them for an extra 2-3 years, for example, will take a small amount of time off the end of their service life.
If you do have to store them for some time, make sure to charge them to around 75% before leaving them. It is also worth checking on them every 6 months and keeping them topped up to that level.
Products + Kits
All our products have the required certification and compliance to be sold in New Zealand, and these documents can be supplied with purchase.
We include the Risen Solar 475W N-Type Bifacial Solar Panel with our packages because they deliver exceptional efficiency and durability, making it ideal for both new installations and retrofits. With advanced N-type Bi-Facial technology, you’ll generate more power per square meter while enjoying long-term reliability backed by industry-leading warranties.
To work out more clearly what package you’ll need, start by calculating your expected daily usage of all your appliances in Wh - click here to try our Solar Calculator if you are looking for an off-grid solar pakage, it will match you with the best package for your energy requirements.
For Grid-Tied Residential solar packages, contact us directly.
The Wh production of each kit changes over the course of the year due to changing sunlight hours. In the peak of summer most places of New Zealand get between 6-8 sunlight hours, and in winter you get less sunlight hours normally between 3-4. This means you may need to adjust your usage to conserve energy over the year, or get a larger kit to keep up during winter. In the details of each kit you will find an indication of what you can run on that kit, but as a guide, here are the approximate Wh productions of each kit over the year, based on 7 and 3 sunlight hours: (these do not account for extended periods of no sun).
All of the packages in the Pro Series and the Solar Nest Series are able to be expanded.
For our grid-tied residential Solar Reserve Series, most of them can also be expanded, depending on what you are planning to do, so talk to the team about it first.
Both TBB and WHES components we use support remote monitoring through their own app.
Usage
What you can run varies from kit to kit, and is affected by the efficiency of your appliances and how you use them.
It's about matching the right package to how much energy you need to run your life.
The best place to start is with our solar calculator from here you can identify how much energy you will need each day and match you with the best suited solar package.
Use the wattage output of your panel and multiply by the number of panels you’re running. Then multiply by the average sunlight hours in NZ (4 hours). This will vary across the year.
For example:
If you run 4 x 475W panels, it's a 1900W array.
1900 x 4 = 7600, so over four hours you’ll produce 7600Wh.
You want to make sure they are mounted somewhere that will get as much of a full day's sun (with no shadows being cast across them) as possible. Mounting facing north and with an angle of 30-45 degrees is the optimal. However, as long as there will not be any trees or other buildings casting a shadow across the panels for the entire day, then it's not critical to be facing north.
If you choose a kit with a hybrid inverter, it is possible to connect a generator. To enable autostart, you will need an inverter generator with two-wire autostart compatibility.
Our kits are not to be used for vital or life supporting systems. In the event that you identify a fault with any component, it will need to be returned to us for testing, and a replacement unit will only be supplied when we confirm a fault covered by warranty.
We recommend using gas for cooking and heating applications, where possible, as these are high consumption appliances and will drain batteries heavily. Learn more here.
It depends on your daily consumption, to calculate this take 50% of your battery capacity and divide that by your daily consumption.
For example:
9.6kwh * 0.5 = 4.8kwh
4.8kwh / 1.5kwh (Daily consumption) = 3.2 days
The lifespan of our Gel batteries is typically 3-5 years, but if treated well, and not discharged heavily can last over 7 years.
The lifespan of our Lithium batteries is typically 10-12 years, but if treated well, and not discharged heavily can last over 15 years.
Watch this video about battery care.
Deep cycle Gel batteries
Remember to trickle charge the batteries every 3 months if you’re not going to be using them.
Lithium batteries
It is best to purchase them as close as possible to when they will be used. Storing them for an extra 2-3 years, for example, will take a small amount of time off the end of their service life.
If you do have to store them for some time, make sure to charge them to around 75% before leaving them. It is also worth checking on them every 6 months and keeping them topped up to that level.
This type of battery wears faster when fully charged and fully discharged. The most common way to reduce this extra wear is to keep the battery between 20% and 80% charged as we do in our systems.
If you want to add more batteries to your system later, you will need to consider that different aged batteries will have different capacities and capabilities. If you add a new battery with significantly older batteries, it can lead to the newer battery having to work a lot harder to compensate.
We recommend upgrading within 1 year, with the absolute maximum being 2 years.
More Residential & Grid-Tied Solar FAQs
It sure does. New Zealand is a great place for solar, with plenty of daylight throughout the year. Most parts of the country receive between 1,700 and 2,100 hours of sunshine annually.
NZ has an established framework for solar installs. Many people in the country, in all major cities, receive a good return on their investment, both on-grid and off-grid.
The cost of a home solar system in New Zealand can vary significantly depending on the size and design of the system. The type and number of solar panels, inverter capacity, battery storage, installation requirements and your home’s energy needs will all affect the final price.
As a general guide, residential solar systems with battery storage can cost between $20,000 to $35,000. However, these are indicative figures only, and installation costs apply.
A home battery stores the excess electricity your solar panels generate during the day, so you can use it later when your panels aren’t producing enough power.
When your solar system is generating more electricity than your home is using, the excess power is first used to charge your battery. Once the battery is fully charged, any additional electricity can be exported to the grid.
When your home needs more electricity than your solar panels are currently producing, the battery can discharge and supply the extra power. This means you can make greater use of the solar energy you generate, rather than relying on electricity from the grid when the sun isn’t shining.
For many households, a battery can also provide backup power during a grid outage.
How many solar panels you need depends on a few key factors, starting with your household’s energy use. A retired couple will typically use very different amounts of power compared with a growing family, while things like swimming pools, spas and EVs can significantly increase your energy needs.
Your location also plays a role. The amount of energy your panels can produce depends on the available daylight and solar conditions where you live.
Finally, there’s your roof. The available roof space determines how many panels you can install, how much energy your system can generate and, ultimately, the overall cost.
One of the advantages of solar is that it requires very little ongoing maintenance once installed. Solar panels have no moving parts, so there is generally very little that needs regular attention.
Keeping the panels clean can help maintain their performance, particularly if they are exposed to dust, dirt, bird droppings or other debris. In most cases, an annual inspection and clean is a good way to keep your system operating efficiently.
Other components, such as the inverter and battery, may require servicing or replacement over time. Inverters typically need to be replaced after around 10 to 15 years, depending on the equipment and operating conditions but often last well beyond this.
Batteries also have a finite lifespan, although this varies depending on the battery technology, usage and manufacturer.
Choosing to install a solar system in your home is a significant investment, and there are several factors worth considering before making a decision. Your household’s energy consumption, roof size and orientation, location, available sunlight, system size, battery storage and budget can all influence which solar solution is right for you.
It’s also important to consider how you use electricity throughout the day, how much energy you want to generate, and whether your goal is to reduce your power bills, gain greater energy independence, or have backup power when the grid goes down.
While solar may have some upfront costs and practical considerations, the long-term benefits can make it a worthwhile investment for many homes. A well-designed system can help reduce your reliance on grid electricity, lower your ongoing energy costs and give you greater control over where your power comes from.
Most residential solar installations can be completed in around two days, so you can start enjoying the benefits of your new system without a long installation process.
The exact timeframe will depend on the size of your system and the complexity of the installation. Factors such as roof access, panel layout, battery storage and where the inverter is installed can all affect how long the work takes.
Our team will let you know what to expect before installation begins and keep the process as straightforward as possible, with minimal disruption to your home and day-to-day life.
Yes. Solar panels can be a great way to power an electric vehicle using electricity generated at your home. Instead of buying all the electricity needed to charge your EV from the grid, you can use your own solar generation to reduce the amount of grid power you need.
The amount of solar you need depends on how much you drive, your EV’s battery size and how often you charge. Someone who drives a short distance each day will have very different energy requirements from someone who regularly travels long distances.
Your solar system can supply electricity to your home and EV at the same time. The system will distribute available energy based on your household's demand and the EV charger’s requirements.