6.65 kW AIKO Solar with a Hot Water Timer in Murwillumbah: Case Study

A 6.65 kW AIKO solar system with a 5 kW Sungrow inverter, plus a hot water timer and contactor so the hot water heats during sunlight hours, for a weatherboard home in Murwillumbah.

Our own in-house team designed and installed the system in March 2026.

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The job

An older dark green weatherboard home in Murwillumbah with a corrugated roof. The household wanted solar to cover daytime use, and the electric hot water was a big part of that use. So as well as the panels, the design added a timer and contactor that make the hot water heat while the sun is up and the panels are producing.

What we installed

• Solar: 14 all-black AIKO Neostar panels (475 W each), 6.65 kW in total
• Inverter: a 5 kW Sungrow inverter, mounted on the weatherboards with its DC isolator and conduit
• Hot water: a timer and contactor so the hot water runs in sunlight hours
• Consumption monitoring and app training

How it went

We met on site before install day to check the roof and the switchboard, plan the inverter position and set up the hot water control, so there were no surprises on the day. The panels went on in two straight rows along the roof, and the Sungrow inverter went on the wall under cover. Then came monitoring set-up, grid connection and a sign-off call.

Solar in Murwillumbah

Murwillumbah has plenty of older timber homes on the river flats and the hills around town. For a solar-only system, using more of your own power at home, such as heating the hot water by day, is one of the simplest wins. Nearby, see Jinko solar and a 16 kWh Sigenergy battery in the Tweed Valley and 23.46 kW of solar at Stokers Siding.

How every job like this runs

1. Free energy assessment from one or two recent power bills, or a quick phone call on 0483 903 020.

2. Custom design sized from the household’s real usage, with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate and solar STCs taken off at point of sale. We handle the paperwork. See your rebates or try the battery rebate calculator.

3. Face-to-face site visit before install day: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, and agreement on what stays on in a blackout. No surprises on the day.

4. Install, usually one day, by our own electricians. No subcontractors. Then monitoring set-up, grid connection and a sign-off call.

Warranties

Every new solar install from us now comes with 10-year inverter replacement, 25-year panel performance and our 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work. Equipment is covered by the manufacturer warranties.

The federal battery rebate steps down on 1 January 2027 and again on 1 July 2027, based on install date. If a battery is on your list, it’s worth getting your assessment done early.

Questions we get asked

What does a hot water timer do with solar?

An electric hot water system can be set to heat only during sunlight hours, using the home’s own solar instead of power from the grid at night. On this job we fitted a timer and contactor to do just that.

Why a 5 kW inverter with 6.65 kW of panels?

Panels rarely make their full rated output, so a slightly larger array on a 5 kW inverter is common. We size both from the roof and the household’s use. See how big a solar system do I need.

Can a battery be added later?

Yes, many solar-only systems can take a battery later. In Murwillumbah we always plan a battery position above known flood levels. See adding a battery to existing solar.

Do you work on older timber homes?

Yes. Older weatherboard homes often need switchboard work, which we check on the site visit so it is in the quote before install day.

Thinking about solar and a battery?

We’re based near Mullumbimby and install across the Northern Rivers. See solar and batteries in Murwillumbah and the Tweed Valley, or compare Sigenergy, GoodWe and Sungrow, Solax and Tesla.

Get a free energy assessment · or call 0483 903 020

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More from Sun Connect Solar: your rebates; battery rebate calculator; customer reviews; FAQ; recent installs: 6.65 kW solar and 9 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby · Solar and a 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby area · 8.4 kW Jinko solar and 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Ocean Shores · all recent installs.