ooba | Home Solar Solution

Frequently asked questions

ooba FAQ's

Why ooba?

We assisted you in getting a home loan; now let us assist you in building equity in that home. We understand, that for most people, investing in solar can be a very confusing and complex exercise, so our aim is to make your solar journey as easy and transparent as possible.

ooba & solar

ooba is a company firmly entrenched in the business of home ownership, and we try, where possible, to assist our customers, both past and present to not only realize the dream of owning their own home, but also leverage your asset to build wealth and enhance financial security.

Who is Hohm?

We are not solar installers, so we have partnered with Hohm to:
- Source the best and most affordable parts from around the world
- Deliver you a competitive solar solution that meets your personal needs.
- Appoint the best installers in the country to implement our solutions.

What can Hohm do for me?

Going solar is complicated, riddled with compliance and many moving parts. Hohm will manage your entire solar journey from scoping for the solution, installation and ongoing operations and maintenance.

Finance FAQ’s

How can ooba facilitate my solar installation?

We understand that for most people, investing in solar can be a very confusing and complex exercise, so our aim is to make your solar journey as easy and transparent as possible.
- We can help you finance your solar system at prime,
- You will use the equity in your home loan.
- We guarantee you the best rate and terms on your home loan.

How can you finance an installation?

Installation can be down via the following options:
- Cash
- Extracting equity out of your existing home loan using a further advance or
a re-advance
- Personal loan

What is a further advance?

If you would like to borrow additional funds using your home as security for the installation, you can apply for a further advance. It is subject to an affordability assessment and a credit check, the same way a new home loan application would be. These loans are away for existing homeowners to access the value (equity) that they have built up in their home over time to for enhancement to the property.

What is a re-advance advance?

A re-advance is using an existing facility on your home loan to extract funds to pay for the solar installation

Can you help me with a personal loan?

Yes, ooba is able to assist you in your application for a personal loan.

How long do the finance options normally take?

Depending on the finance options selected, the funding process could take between 5 days (personal loan) to 3 months (further advance).

Hohm FAQ’S

What is Solar PV?

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is a technology that has been around since the 70’s - effectively you put large glass-looking solar PV panels on your roof at home or at your business that takes the sun’s rays and converts them into electricity. These panels connect up with an inverter, just like the AC adaptors we use to charge our cell phones, TVs or computers, and convert the direct current (DC) into usable alternating current (AC) which we can use to power our home or building

What kind of solar PV systems can you get?

The simplest and cheapest system is grid-tied; the solar PV system is installed to be tied to the grid or network. When the network goes down during load shedding, so does your solar system.The next option is called off-grid, which includes batteries for backup power. Here, kWhs generated from your solar system are stored in large battery banks. But what makes this setup so unique is that you act like an island and are completely removed from the grid. It doesn't matter if Eskom is up or load shedding, you run a system that is completely independent. This usually comes with a large upfront cost due to the number of batteries needed as well solar PV panels. The last option is called a hybrid system, which combines the best of both a grid-tied and off-grid system. Here,you are still connected to the network and have a number of batteries for backup. When load shedding happens, you can run a number of your appliances for a period of time. This depends on how many batteries you have and how your system is connected.

How much is the solar PV system going to cost?

The cost of your solar PV system is dependent on the size of your home or business, the amount of roof space available and the kind of solar PV system you want (grid-tied, off grid or hybrid). The savings also depend on the cost of electricity based on which municipality provides you with electricity at the moment. In general, solar PV paybacks vary from 3 - 8 years.

How will I benefit from solar?

Installing your own solar system at home or at your business will allow you to save a substantial amount on your current electricity bill, as you will be generating your own electricity supplied directly to you. This also means that you start becoming independent from Eskom or your local municipality, and if you have a large enough battery system included to run all your appliances, you can operate completely off-grid and independently.

How long does it take to install the solar?

Depending on the complexity of your installation, lead times from order to switch-on can be between 1 to 12 weeks.

How does solar impact my property value?

Your solar system will increase your property value assolar is a highly valued asset to mitigate the inconvenience of load shedding.It will also make your property more marketable due to lower electricity running costs for any prospective buyer.Why should I go solar and what are the benefits to me?Should you decide to install solar at your home, you will save money on your electricity bills as well as avoid rising electricity costs going forward. The savings will be dependent on the type of solar you install as well as associated and supporting solar and municipality by-laws.

Do solar panels work when the sun isn't shining?

Even though the average day is 12 hours, the power you actually get on your panels is anywhere between 2 and 6 hours of full sunlight per day depending on your particular solar installation.

How many hours a day do solar panels work?

Even though the average day is 12 hours, the power you actually get on your panels is anywhere between 2 and 6 hours of full sunlight per day depending on your particular solar installation.

How will the installation disrupt me?

Your home or business premises will determine the complexity of your installation. The solar providers will talk you through the process and plan to make the installation as unobtrusive as possible.

Does it come with a battery?

You will have the choice to choose batteries as part of your quote request - when adding batteries to your solar system, you will be able to run select loads and appliances off-grid and protect yourself from loadshedding. Battery technology has come a long way and typically lasts between 5 - 10 years depending on use, weather conditions and technology.

How much solar do I need to run my home?

It depends on the size of your house and the number of appliances and loads you have. The typical solar system is between 3 - 7 kWp insize, which equates to between 12 to 28 solar PV panels. The average consumption of a 300 sqm house typically has a bill of R2,000 per month and a 3 kWp solar PV can save up to R900 per month depending on your current electricity cost and charges from your local municipality.

Can I switch solar on and off?

Your solar system is integrated into your electrical network - once installed it works seamlessly. That said, you can turn it off and on at the inverter and breaker; however, this should only be done by a certified electrician and solar technician.

Where does solar get stored and for how long?

If you choose to add batteries to your solar system, your installation will be able to store the electricity generated from solar in the batteries. The amount of hours that you can run your appliances from the batteries depends on the size of your battery installation as well as the loads and appliances you run. Low wattage LED lights and appliances like TVs and computers use very little electricity, but running an electrical stove,heater or geyser will deplete your stored electricity very quickly.

Do I need a specific type of roof for solar?

Not particularly, as there are a number of different roof-mounting systems available that allow solar systems to be installed on top of flat concrete, IBR and tile-roof types. There are even options to mount the solar PV panels on top of carport structures and they can even be mounted to the ground.

How will the solar system look on my house?

To optimize your solar system, location and placement of the solar PV panels is key. In South Africa you preferably have the solar PV panels at a slight angle facing either north or a combination of east and west.This means that the solar PV panels will most likely be visible on the roof to you and your neighbours. In more developed markets, solar systems are seen as a socially-responsible asset to generate clean and green power, which often subsidises the aesthetic compromise, if any.

Can lightning or hail damage solar panels?

A compliant solar system installation will have the correct earthing in place and lightning protection can be added for additional protection. The solar PV panels are resilient and can withstand hail, but damage can occur depending on the size of the hail. Should any damage occur,the Investec Spark programme also includes insurance with AON to give you peace of mind.

Have you considered solar?

Why solar?

Why ooba?

How much?

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