The Solar Industry Is Eating Its Own

A little while back, SolarQuotes’ in-house installer Anthony Bennett wrote a solid post on a niche issue: whether power and data cables can run in the same conduit.It was based on a video I recently made of a difficult EV charger install.

The YouTube comments under the installation video were enlightening.

Not about the technical issues encountered. About the culture of electrical trades in Australia.

Instead of discussion or curiosity, what turned up was the usual: point scoring, nitpicking, and dunking on an install crew who were clearly trying to do the right thing.

I’ve copped it too. I’m not a licensed electrician – I’m an electrical engineer with my head in the theory. For some people, that’s all they need to dismiss you. But like most of you reading this, I care about quality. I want to get it right. And I’ve spent a good chunk of my life trying to help others do the same.

Across the solar industry, in Facebook groups, forums, comment threads, we’ve developed this nasty habit of tearing each other down. Electricians bagging out engineers. Engineers talking down to sparkies. Electricians attacking each other over conduit runs, labelling choices, inverter spacing, or trench depth.

A Distraction From The Real Problem

And while all that noise plays out, the real problems go unchecked.

The dodgy operators? They’re not in the comments. They’re not posting photos or asking questions or trying to clarify compliance. They’re smashing out a gazillion installs a week for a sales company whose call centre sales team have never heard of AS/NZS 5139, and never will.

The people who do show up, who want to get it right, are the ones we should be encouraging. But too often, we turn on them instead.

And yep, I’ve done it too. I’ve been the guy quoting standards and picking apart an install photo. It feels like protecting quality, but sometimes it’s just flexing. I’ve learned the hard way: it helps no one.

We don’t need more ego. We need more trust, shared learning, and a bit of humility.

Solar and battery installs aren’t easy. They’re often full of nuance, compromise, and edge cases. If you’re doing residential work properly, planning, documenting¹, checking, fixing, you’re already on the right side. TAFE, uni or school of life. On the tools or off.

Let’s Reform The Culture

So here’s the ask: build each other up. Speak to teach, not to tear down.

Because the real enemies of good solar aren’t in the comment thread.

They’re being dispatched by overseas call centres – rushing installs, cutting corners, and leaving customers with mess they’ll never see until it’s too late.

Let’s stop eating our own.

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