What’s The Hidden Cost Of “Cheap” Solar?
Naked Solar believe every Solar installation should be safe, reliable, and worry-free for decades. We’ve built this guide to empower you with the right questions and insights to ensure your solar journey is smooth and successful, regardless of who handles your install.
Sue contacted Naked Solar after noticing intermittent faults with her 9-year-old system. With her original installer no longer in business, she needed an expert to diagnose why her panels were acting up.
The Root Cause: The Solar Limpet System
Our inspection revealed the culprit: the Solar Limpet mounting system.
This system is no longer MCS Certified, and for good reason—it is notoriously difficult to install correctly. Even a minor miscalculation during installation can lead to long-term water ingress, causing significant structural damage over time.
The Remediation Process
Because the damage was hidden beneath the panels, the repair process was substantial. To ensure the safety of Sue’s home, the following steps were required:
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Professional Consultations: Multiple roofing experts were brought in to assess the extent of the rot.
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Structural Repairs: Compromised timber had to be replaced entirely to restore the roof’s integrity.
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Official Certification: A comprehensive structural assessment was conducted to sign off on the repairs.
The result: While these steps ensured the home’s safety, they unfortunately resulted in a significant financial burden for the homeowner and several months without solar power.
A customer recently approached us seeking help after a solar battery installation from a low-cost provider went wrong. They chose the cheapest quote on the market, but it ended up costing them significantly more in the long run.
The Technical Oversight
The previous installer failed to fit a bidirectional Total Generation Meter (TGM)—a critical piece of equipment they likely didn’t even know was required for this specific configuration.
The Issue
Because the system wasn’t set up correctly, it could not track energy generation accurately. The consequences were immediate:
❌ System Failure: Incorrect Feed-in Tariff (FIT) readings were sent to the energy company.
❌ Financial Penalty: The Energy Supplier clawed back £900 in FIT payments from the customer.
❌ The “Double Pay” Trap: The customer then had to hire Naked Solar to retrofit the correct meter just to stop the losses and fix the system.
The Issue
What began as a routine inverter fault investigation revealed a deeper systemic failure. We discovered significant water damage inside the DC cables, caused by a previous (and improper) attempt to extend the cables rather than replace them.
Further testing showed:
❌ Safety Risks: Low insulation readings on multiple panels meant the entire array was electrically compromised and unsafe.
❌Incompatible Parts: The existing “Sunclix” connectors were incompatible with the system’s Y-connectors.
❌Physical Damage: Water ingress had damaged several cable exits and MC4 connectors across the array.
The Solution
To restore long-term safety and efficiency, we performed a full system rectification:
✅ Full Connector Replacement: Replaced every MC4 connector across the entire array to eliminate water-damaged and incompatible parts.
✅ Rewiring: Replaced compromised cabling to ensure the system meets safety standards.
The Issue
Following a recent “remove and reinstall” by a third party, Elizabeth’s solar array was found to be in a state of critical failure. Our investigation uncovered extreme negligence that compromised both the structural integrity of the roof and the electrical safety of the system.
Key Findings:
❌Structural Risks: Mounting rails were secured with plastic cable ties instead of steel bolts, and roof hooks were glued in place rather than screwed into rafters.
❌Physical Hazards: Loose panel clamps left modules at risk of blowing off the roof, while improper foot placement resulted in multiple cracked tiles and water leaks.
❌Fire & Electrical Safety: 30% of the panels were wired with cross-polarity (reversed wiring), creating a severe fire risk. High-voltage DC cables were also left exposed and resting on abrasive tiles.
❌Substandard Weatherproofing: Proper metal flashing was replaced with scrap lead and glue, providing no long-term protection against the elements.
The Solution
Due to the extent of the damage, a simple “patch-up” was not possible. To ensure the home is safe and the system is functional, we are performing:
✅Total Roof Repair: Replacing damaged tiles and installing permanent, compliant waterproofing.
✅ Full Reinstallation: A complete teardown and rebuild of the array using industry-standard steel fasteners, rafter-screwed anchors, and correct electrical mapping.
