TAB Electrical Pty Ltd

17/08/2026

It seems counterintuitive, but solar inverters can trip at peak times of sunlight...

Bright, clear afternoons can lead to local grid voltage spiking too high.

From your home, this can lead to a single overloaded line, a byproduct of "phase imbalance."

Signs include high-voltage inverter errors, sudden afternoon dropouts in solar production, or unexpectedly higher power bills. A quick load test pinpoints the issue so we can rebalance your setup and keep your solar generating all day.day.

03/08/2026

Resolving this can unlock 100% of your switchboard’s capacity while protecting your appliances from costly, premature damage!

Phase imbalance happens when heavy power draw gets stacked onto a single line instead of being split evenly across all three phases.

This usually creeps up over time from running multiple split-system A/Cs at once alongside pool pumps or single-phase solar.

Signs include lights dimming in just one room, humming A/C units, or breakers that feel warm to the touch. A quick load-test pinpoints the issue so we can re-balance your switchboard and restore full power to your property.

At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.

16/07/2026

The solar boom is saving a lot of people a lot of money, but there is a problem...

When a lot of these houses were built, having a solar-battery system installed wouldn't have been a part of the thought process.

During peak hours of power generation, these systems produce more power than the property needs. They feed this excess power back into the grid, earning the owner much-loved credits on their account.

However, the issue lies within the existing household cabling. If the wires are too thin, they create electrical resistance, forcing your inverter to ramp its voltage up until it hits a safety limit.

As a result, your solar inverter system can shut down completely, switching you back to the grid and forcing you to buy power at full retail rates.

This highlights the difference between hiring a qualified electrician with the correct solar accreditation to manage your solar upgrade versus choosing cheap retail solar offerings currently capitalising on the boom.

At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.

08/07/2026

70,000 homes and businesses in Townsville and surrounds were upgraded to smart meters, yet barely any of them are using them to their full capability.

Foremost, this upgrade gives owners access to tariffs that offer different rates according to the time of day, compared to a flat daily rate.

While tariff choice is relative to your lifestyle and habits, there are options that offer 7 cents per kWh between 11am and 4pm, and Tariff 12F, giving free power between 11am and 2pm.

It's great having access to these options, but understanding how to make them work best for you can make a huge impact on your expenses. Know your hours, and learn how to time your heavy power usage for when power is cheap!
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At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.

23/06/2026

Batteries Fix Blackouts, Not Surges

Whether your property is connected to or off the grid, it is still just as likely to be exposed to power surges. These can stem from power disruptions feeding through from the grid, or internal issues from the system itself.

This issue is just as easy to rectify as it is in any normal home via surge protection devices, and you would be right to assume that this should be taken care of when undertaking such a significant upgrade to your property.

Shockingly often, if you examine mid-to-low-tier solar and battery installations across Queensland, you will find a massive percentage lacking dedicated, comprehensive surge protection.

Don't skimp on this simple addition, it should be standard. Make sure it's included when you're being offered a system at the "best price"

At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.

08/06/2026

How smart meters can spot equipment failure before it breaks

Wi-Fi smart metering isn't only for providing real-time power usage, but can also provide easy-to-read, valuable data that shows spikes and inconsistencies in cycles. Picking up on this can lead to preventative repairs versus costly replacements.

At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.

02/06/2026

In 2020 a formal industry submission to the Essential Services Commission (ESC), a major Australian energy retailer highlighted an investigation into a newly built 39-unit complex. Upon auditing, they discovered that only 4 out of the 39 units were correctly allocated in the market system. In that specific block, nearly 90% of the residents were paying for the wrong apartment.

When cross-metering is finally discovered, energy retailers can back-bill to try and fix the mess, creating legal nightmares between landlords, tenants, and body corporates.

If you own an investment property in a Townsville unit complex, a smart meter upgrade combined with an electrician’s compliance check protects you from future tenancy disputes and back-billing shocks.

At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.

12/05/2026

Phase imbalance (or load imbalance) occurs when the electrical demand is not distributed evenly across the three phases of a power supply.

This can happen due to high temperatures and heavy A/C use, pool pumps, heavy machinery, or uneven solar power distribution.

Signs of this can include flickering lights, audible humming, hot switchboards, or unexpectedly high power bills.

05/05/2026

Power has become more expensive, and the bills are just unpredictable.

If you have kids, live in a set of units, or have just switched to solar, having real-time data on your hourly consumption and remote control over your biggest power-drawing appliances is more important than ever.

Remote/Wi-Fi switching allows for all of this. It gives you better control and a deeper understanding of what uses power, the best time to use your appliances, and any potential power leaks that may be occurring at your property.

At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.

14/04/2026

Electric cars are looking alot more viable now than they did 6 months ago. A key reason alot of people have held off is the uncertainty surrounding what infrustructure is required for households. While your standard wall socket might work in a pinch, it’s not the long-term answer for North Queensland’s climate.

Between our high humidity and the heavy power draw of an EV, your home needs a few key upgrades to stay safe and efficient. Here is the bare minimum checklist for a compliant NQ setup:
-Your charger needs its own direct line to the switchboard to prevent overheating.
-You’ll need a Type B or DC-sensitive safety switch. Standard switches can be "blinded" by EV batteries, leaving your home unprotected.
-If your board is over 15 years old, it may need a capacity boost to handle an EV alongside your aircon and pool pump.
-Surge Protection.
It may sound like alot, but getting these basics covered is a drop in the ocean when making the switch to an electric vehicle.

At TAB Electrical, we provide top-quality electrical, air conditioning, and solar services across Townsville and beyond.