Why “Can You Repair My Solar Equipment?” May Be the Wrong Question

We sometimes get questions from folks with an existing off-grid solar system about repairing their equipment.

Yes, we can almost always repair a piece of equipment. But should you?

The off-grid solar cost calculus and how we understand the total cost of ownership (TCO) has changed significantly over the past decade. 

A shift from a disposable to a durable mindset

Solar technologies from the bygone era represent a disposable mindset rather than a durable one. Serviceable components like fans require frequent maintenance. In rural environments like Caliente, where many people store solar equipment in sheds or pump houses, dust or temperature fluctuations may cause extra wear.

On the other hand, modern solar equipment, including batteries, can last up to a decade without maintenance. Therefore, you only need to consider the capital cost, not the ongoing maintenance or replacement expenses (e.g., the labor of flooding lead-acid batteries regularly or the cost of replacing lead-acid batteries every three to five years.)

To repair or to replace?

Depending on the cost of servicing older equipment, you may be better off buying a modern replacement that’s smaller, more efficient, dust-proof, and rodent-proof. Most newer designs also require less (or no) maintenance (e.g., they don’t have fans).

For example, it may take us $200 to refurbish an old solar charge controller (SCC). Can we fix it? Most likely. But you could also buy a new, good-quality one for $200. It has a Bluetooth app to make monitoring solar production a breeze and won’t require regular maintenance. 

We hate wasting things and throwing out functioning equipment. However, some older technologies that require regular servicing may not be worth the trouble, frustration, and downtime. We help our clients weigh the long-term tangible and intangible costs to understand whether they’d be better off replacing or repairing a piece of equipment. 

Consider the environment

Moreover, fixing equipment may not get to the root cause. Most equipment contains intricate electronic components designed to function within a specific temperature and humidity range. As such, a system’s environment and practical installation impact its longevity. 

In addition to repairing or replacing equipment, we often recommend clients improve the operating environment. For example, installing a $100 radiant barrier in the shed may save you thousands in future equipment replacement costs. 

It’s a journey

The broader choice of solar equipment available today also allows us to take a phased approach to revamping or upgrading an existing off-grid solar system. 

We orchestrated a staged upgrade for Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue in Caliente. The client had two OutBack inverters that cost ~$5,000 each. With an eye on TCO, we recommended they spend a few hundred dollars to refurbish the equipment to get the remaining useful life out of the investment.

Meanwhile, the new high-endurance custom battery pack we built for this client will likely outlive the existing inverter and SCC. We designed the upgrade so that they can easily replace those parts without changing anything about the battery — the costliest component in a solar solution.

Moreover, the equation may vary for different clients, and their priorities inform how we determine repair and upgrade pathways. For example, some implement solar for resilience and energy independence, while others prioritize cost savings. Still, some use solar because they don’t have other options (short of paying SCE $50k+ to pull a line).

Our modular approach and expandable systems mean our clients don’t have to replace everything when one or two things have issues. We go beyond designing a system — we assess our clients’ setup and recommend flexible upgrade pathways, accommodating real-life constraints, preferences, and requirements to optimize TCO in the long run.

That’s why we don’t tell people, “Yes, we can repair your equipment. Just drop it off,” because it's only one piece of the puzzle.

We invest the time and conduct an onsite evaluation to assess the entire setup and understand a client’s current and future requirements before making recommendations and designing an upgrade pathway for their goals and priorities.