Storms, power surges and Queensland’s humidity can be rough on solar systems. If your system has stopped, is showing fault codes, or performance has dropped after bad weather, a solar insurance report helps your insurer decide what’s broken, what caused it, and what it will take to fix or replace it. Here’s how Solair Electrical (based in Thornlands and serving Brisbane & the Redlands) makes the process clear, quick and stress-free.

What’s a Solar Insurance Report?

It’s a structured, technician-written assessment of your solar PV system that documents:

• The fault: exactly what has failed or been damaged.
• The cause: for example storm impact, water ingress, wind damage, surge, vermin, wear and tear, or installation defects.
• The evidence: photos, test results and serial numbers.
• The remedy: repair or like-for-like replacement with itemised costs.

When should you get one?

• After severe weather (high winds, hail, heavy rain) or a known power surge.
• When your inverter shows fault codes or the system shuts down.
• If monitoring or your bill suggests a drop in solar output.
• When you notice leaks, cracked panels, melted plugs or damaged cabling.

How Solair Electrical handles your insurance report for your solar system

Step 1: Easy booking and triage

• We confirm your suburb (Brisbane, Redlands and surrounding areas), system details, the event date, and your insurer/claim number if you have one.
• We’ll guide you on safe isolation until we arrive if needed.

Step 2: Safety first on site

• We verify safe access, isolate the system correctly, and make sure the roof area is secure and workable.

Step 3: Visual inspection (plain-English findings)

On the roof (panels & mounting)

• Panels: check for cracked glass, shattered cells, delamination, water under the back sheet, hot spots or snail trails.
• Seals & frames: look for failed edge seals and gasket damage after high winds or impact.
• Fixings & rails: confirm clamps, rails and roof penetrations are intact and watertight.
• Junction boxes & plugs: inspect MC4 connectors for heat damage, arcing or moisture.

Cabling & isolators

• DC cabling: check UV damage, abrasion, vermin bites and correct supports.
• DC isolators: check for water ingress, cracked enclosures, heat stress and correct IP rating.

Inverter & switchboard

• Inverter: confirm mounting, ventilation, evidence of surge damage or internal faults.
• AC side: inspect solar main switch, protective devices and labelling in the switchboard.

Step 4: Electrical testing — explained simply

We run a set of tests that prove what’s healthy and what’s not. Here’s what they mean in layman’s terms:

DC side tests

• Open-circuit voltage (Voc): the “pressure” of each string with no load. Abnormally low or mismatched readings can point to a damaged panel, reversed polarity or a broken connection.
• Short-circuit current (Isc): the “flow potential” of the string. A low Isc often indicates shading damage, cracked cells, water ingress or a failed bypass diode.
• Polarity & continuity: confirms the string is wired correctly end-to-end with no breaks.
• IV curve (where appropriate): a graph of how the string delivers energy under load. Think of it as a “health chart” for the panels; odd shapes reveal hidden issues like hotspots or partial damage.

Insulation Resistance (IR) test

• We apply a safe test voltage to check that the live DC parts are well insulated from earth and each other. A low IR reading usually means moisture in connectors, water inside a panel, damaged cable, or a compromised junction box — common after heavy rain and wind-driven storms.

AC side checks

• Grid voltage & frequency: confirms the supply is stable and within normal limits.
• Protection devices: verify breakers, fuses and RCDs are correctly rated and operating.
• Inverter test-run: we start the inverter (if safe) to see live operation and capture fault codes.

Step 5: Photos, proof & paperwork insurers like

• Clear photos of damage, serial numbers and nameplates.
• Test results with plain-English explanations.
• Cause assessment (e.g. surge, storm impact, water ingress, wind damage).
• Repair vs replacement recommendation with an itemised quote.

Common faults we find after Brisbane storms

Panel issues

• Water ingress: moisture gets past seals into the panel or connectors, causing earth leakage and shutdowns.
• Seal failure after high winds: wind-driven rain forces water through gaskets and edges; damage may appear days or weeks later as IR faults.
• Cracked glass or cells: impact or flex from wind gusts leads to hotspots, arcing or output loss.

Inverter issues

• Surge damage: lightning-related surges can take out control boards or capacitors; symptoms include random restarts or permanent fault codes.
• Isolation faults: inverter detects leakage to earth (often from wet connectors or damaged panels) and shuts down to keep you safe.
• Age-related failure uncovered by a storm: weather events often expose weak components that were close to failing.

Wiring & hardware

• UV-brittled cable: sun-exposed insulation cracks, letting moisture in.
• Loose clamps/rails: movement under wind causes intermittent connections and leaks.
• MC4 plug damage: heat-discoloured or melted connectors from poor contact or water inside the plug.

Why catching faults early improves Insurance claim outcomes

• Prevents further damage: early isolation and repair stops water tracking, corrosion and arcing.
• Stronger evidence: photos and test results taken soon after the event help link damage to the storm or surge.
• Meets insurer expectations: prompt action shows you’ve taken reasonable steps to mitigate loss.
• Faster resolution: a clear, complete report avoids back-and-forth and helps assessors approve the right remedy.

What you’ll receive from Solair Electrical

• A clear, plain-English report with photos and test results.
• An itemised repair or like-for-like replacement quote.
• Guidance on next steps with your insurer and any safe-to-operate advice.

What to prepare before we arrive

• Insurer details and claim number (if you have one).
• Inverter brand/model and any fault codes on screen.
• Approximate install date and any past service invoices.
• Roof access notes (locked gates, pets, fragile areas, etc.).

Repairs, replacements and upgrades

If the system can be repaired safely and economically, we’ll specify approved parts and get you back generating. If replacement is the smarter path, we’ll recommend efficient, compliant gear and can discuss battery-ready options.

• Solar repairs in Brisbane & the Redlands
• New solar systems
• Solar batteries

Why choose Solair Electrical

• Local and responsive: Thornlands-based, covering Brisbane, the Redlands and nearby bayside suburbs.
• Straight talk: clear explanations, no jargon, and photos to back it up.
• Insurer-friendly reports: itemised, evidence-based and easy to approve.

FAQ — Solar Insurance Reports

Do I call my insurer first or Solair Electrical?

Either order works, but many customers call us first so we can safely isolate, diagnose and produce the report your insurer will request anyway.

Can you repair on the spot?

If the fix is minor and safe to proceed, we’ll let you know the options. For claimable damage, most insurers prefer an assessment report and itemised quote before work proceeds.

What if my system is old or the parts are discontinued?

We’ll document that and recommend a like-for-like or modern equivalent. If replacement is more economical or required for safety/compliance, we’ll state that clearly in the report.

 

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Serving Thornlands, Cleveland, Ormiston, Victoria Point, Capalaba, Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Wellington Point and across Brisbane. If you need a solar insurance report or think your system has storm damage, get in touch with Solair Electrical.