December is around the corner, which means beaches, braais, and (hopefully) switching off from work. Before you hit the road, it’s worth taking a moment to make sure your solar system is ready for the festive break, too.
Your solar PV setup works hard year-round, quietly powering your home or business and saving on electricity bills. A few smart checks now can make sure it keeps doing exactly that, even while you’re away.
Here’s your solar holiday checklist for a worry-free December:
1. Let your system do its job
There’s no need to power down your solar system while you’re away. In fact, letting it run normally ensures:
- Ongoing savings on your electricity bill
- Consistent data tracking through your monitoring app
- Fewer risks of errors or unexpected shutdowns
Pro tip: Make sure your internet router stays online while you’re gone. A small backup battery or mini UPS can keep your Wi-Fi active during power outages, allowing your monitoring app to send real-time updates and alerts.
2. Check your prepaid balance
Even if your solar covers most of your usage, your system still relies on grid connectivity for backup power, especially if you experience cloudy weather or low battery levels.
Top up your prepaid electricity before you leave to avoid unnecessary outages or inverter shutdowns while you’re away.
3. Book a quick system health check
Your solar system deserves the same care you’d give your car before a long trip. A pre-holiday inspection ensures everything is running safely and efficiently.
Our Solar Maintenance & Support Agreement (SM&SA) includes:
- Full system performance and safety check
- Battery and inverter inspection
- Review of cables, isolators, and protection devices
- Verification of compliance and insurance readiness
Your peace of mind is priceless, especially when you’re miles away and soaking up the sun.
4. Adjust your battery’s safety settings
If you’ll be away for more than a week, increase your minimum State of Charge (SOC) to leave a little extra reserve in your battery.
That safety buffer could save you if:
- Cloudy weather reduces solar generation
- The inverter trips or malfunctions
- The grid supply fails for an extended period
It’s a small tweak that keeps your home protected even if no one’s around to reset the system.
5. Tell someone you trust
Leave a simple plan with a friend, neighbour, or family member. Share your installer’s contact details, basic instructions, and your monitoring app access if needed. A quick WhatsApp update from your system is a lot better than a nasty surprise when you get back.
6. Start 2026 with confidence
The festive season is the perfect time to think about system health and performance for the year ahead.
If you haven’t done an audit yet, now’s the time to book one. Our Solar System Audit includes a 60-point risk analysis to ensure your installation meets quality, safety, and insurance standards and delivers the savings it should.
In short
Your solar system can take care of itself but with a quick check and a few simple steps, it’ll do so even better. Spend your holiday relaxing, knowing your system is safe, efficient, and powering your home while you’re away.
Need help prepping before the holidays?