Seeing your solar inverter drop out on bright, windy days around Capalaba Central, Vienna Woods or Alexandra Hills? You’re not alone. Many older Redlands homes still run legacy switchboards — ceramic fuses, shared neutrals, undersized mains — that weren’t designed for today’s solar, EV chargers and modern appliances. Here’s what causes nuisance trips and exactly how Solair Electrical upgrades your switchboard to keep your power on and everyone safe.

Why solar trips happen in older Redlands switchboards

• Old fuse gear & mixed wiring: Ceramic fuses, brittle cabling and shared neutrals create leakage and nuisance RCD trips when the inverter pushes power back.
• Undersized main switch or busbar load: Added solar, air con and EV charging can overload old boards, causing heat and random faults.
• No RCBOs per circuit: One faulty appliance can drop half the house (and your inverter) if circuits aren’t individually protected.
• Average earthing & loose terminations: Poor M.E.N/earth bonds or loose neutrals trigger intermittent trips, especially on humid stormy days.
• Voltage rise & high street voltage: On long runs or thin cables, export can push voltage up so the inverter disconnects to protect itself.
• Weathered rooftop isolators: UV, heat and moisture ingress cause leakage that presents as “random” switchboard trips.

How we fix it — our Redlands upgrade approach

1) On-site testing in Thornlands, Capalaba & Alexandra Hills

We start with insulation resistance tests, polarity/earth checks, RCD ramp testing, thermal scans and a full neutral/earthing integrity check. If solar is dropping out at certain times, we log voltages under load to confirm voltage rise or grid swings.

2) Modernise the board

• New enclosure & labelling: Weather-tight, tidy DIN-rail layout and clear circuit labels.
• Main switch & SPD: Correctly sized main switch and surge protection to guard your solar and appliances during Brisbane Bayside storms.
• RCBOs on each circuit: Isolates faults so a kettle doesn’t take your inverter offline.
• Dedicated solar protections: Lockable solar main switch, correct RCD strategy for the inverter circuit, re-terminated neutrals, and upgraded cabling where needed.
• Voltage rise fixes: Upsize key runs, separate the solar AC back feed, optimise inverter settings within local limits.

3) Tidy, test, certify

We test, photograph and certify the upgrade. If we find rooftop issues contributing to trips, we’ll note and quote repairs. We also handle Insurance Reports when storm damage is suspected.

Mini checklist: before you call us

Snap a few photos and run through this quick list — it helps us price and prep parts:

• Photo of your entire switchboard 
• Close-ups of any old fuses or discoloured breakers
• Photo of the inverter nameplate & rooftop isolators (if accessible)
• Note when trips happen (time of day, wet weather, big appliance running)
• Any recent works (new AC, pool pump, EV charger, battery)

Related local services we offer

• All Electrical Services – repairs, safety upgrades, maintenance
• Home Batteries – check switchboard readiness before install
• Insurance Reports – testing & documentation for storm claims
• Solar Removals & Decommissioning – clean removal ahead of retailer programs

FAQ: switchboards & solar trips in Redlands

Why does my solar keep tripping in the afternoons?

Heat, higher street voltage and household loads can push voltage up on older wiring. If neutrals/earths aren’t perfect or circuits share RCDs, the inverter will disconnect to protect itself.

Do I need a full switchboard replacement or just new breakers?

We’ll test first. Sometimes targeted fixes (new RCBOs, fresh terminations, surge protection) solve it. If the board/enclosure is aged or crowded, a full upgrade is smarter and safer.

How long does a typical upgrade take?

Most standard Redlands homes are done in a day, with power off for a few hours. We plan around fridges, medical devices and work-from-home needs.

Will this help before I add batteries or an EV charger?

Yes. A compliant, well-laid-out board avoids nuisance trips once you add batteries or higher loads. We’ll advise on cabling and protections at the same time.