FAQ's

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The FAQ’s for our diverse range of products are many. Please look at the Bold  Heading for each product category. If your question concerns a Carport then look at the  ‘Carport” sub-heading for the appropriate answer.

Car Covers - FAQ's

• How to measure the right size car cover?

Choose a car cover that is slightly larger than the length of your vehicle as this makes it makes it easier to get the cover on and off your car. The covers come with straps and elasticised edges which help secure the cover to your car so there is no danger of it flying away.

The most important dimension is the length if you are unsure of the length of your vehicle a quick google search e.g. “Holden Senator” will bring up the dimensions of your vehicle.

Sometimes the width of a cover is stated - please take this measurement as a guide only. The width of the cover measures the top panel (the bit over the cab or roof) but tapers out as it gets lower. Take a Holden Commodore VE as an example

Autotecnica has a range of covers to suite many different vehicle shapes including Sedans, 4x4, Hatches, Utes and Wagons for indoor car covers or outside all-weather car covers.

• What is the best hail proof car cover for me?

          We usually recommend the Premium Hail car cover, the most popular car cover in Australia. Why the Premium Hail car cover? - Because it gives you all the padded protection you need on the top of your car and down to below the windows on the side. Particularly with low cars like some coupes and sports-cars the Premium Hail will protect most of the car. On an SUV this is also the case. The Ultimate Hail cover is a bit of an 'over-kill" for these types of vehicle giving wheels and tyres protection against hail is not really necessary!

The Ultimate Hail cover is good for medium and sedans but in most cases, customers would probably be happy with the coverage of the Premium and cut down on the bulky size of the Ultimate.

The Standard Hail is good for areas where hail is not so bad. It will protect the top of your car but has no side protection for windows. Side windows are often smashed in hail storms which are often accompanied by high winds or storm - that is why we usually recommend the Premium hail cover for side-window protection.

• Can a cover help prevent my vehicle from being stolen?
  

  Yes it certainly can.  A thief wants to get into your vehicle, start it, and drive off as quickly as possible.  As soon as a thief starts to make an entry, they are exposed.  A car cover takes a few minutes to remove, so the thief's exposure time is increased.  With so many cars uncovered, why would a thief want to increase the risk of being caught?  A cover also helps protect the contents of a vehicle.  When radios and other items are out of sight they are less likely to tempt a thief.
   

• How can I prevent my car cover from being stolen?
  

  A lock and cable accessory kit will certainly help.  Best thing is to put your name on the front of the cover.  The name works better than the license number.  
   

• Is there a correct way to install a cover?
  

  In general, always cover the front and rear bumpers as the last step.  If the cover has mirror pockets, place the pockets over the mirrors first.  If you have an old car you should cover the roof and windows first, and then the front and rear of the car.  On some coupes and roadsters made prior to 1932, you might be unable to install the cover at all if you start with the front or the rear bumper.
   

• What is the best way to fold a cover when taking it off the vehicle?
  

  The easiest way I've found is the way we picture it in our instruction sheets.  Simply fold each side up onto the roof and refold it as necessary so the material ends up about 2 feet wide.  Then, starting at the front of the vehicle, fold the cover towards the back in increments of about 3 feet.  This way you don't drag the cover over the vehicles surface, and it's easy to reverse the process for installation.
   

• Can I put a wet cover on a vehicle?

  If your vehicle is clean, it's actually the best way to dry the cover.  If it's an Autotecnica cover, as the temperature warms up, all the moisture will evaporate, since all of our fabrics are breathable.  

Carports - FAQ's

Do I need planning permission to erect a car port? -

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/understanding-planning/assessment-systems/exempt-development/carports You might not need planning approval to build a carport if it meets all the relevant development standards set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008  (the State Policy). This is known as exempt development. Read more on the above link.

What Wind region am I In?

Wind classification in Australia page here

- Australia is broken up into different regions, and areas within these regions, based on the wind speeds that are calculated through the area, VIC, NSW and South East QLD are all region B, Region C ( cyclonic are the areas up the north coast from Bundaberg and all the way around to Southern Western Australia. Region C Requires Cyclonic roofing screws and cast in ground footings, the cyclonic roofing screws are an additional Cost, based on a 6×6 Double carport this will be an additional $250.

Can I have a different size of carport from those advertised? -

Contact us for any design in standard carports - NOT Cantilever although we may have access to other sizes through special order.

How much is Carport delivery? -

for most of Australia delivery is included in the price with a small supplement added for WA and Tas.. If you live in a remote area, contact us for advice.

How is a Carport measured? - 

A 6×6 meter carport is measured from the outside of the fascia to the outside of the fascia; additional to this will be your gutters which are 150mm. Carports are priced at a standard height of 2.4 meters; this is measured from the underside of the fascia to ground level (actual clearance).

Can the carport be attached to my house or an existing building? -

Yes, an attached carport price is generally the same as free standing. We will design and supply a bracket that will attach to your home or existing building complete with certified engineering.

Solar Carports -FAQ's

1.  Why should I think about spending money on Solar power?

• Great Returns on investment - Solar is one of the best investments you can make and can pay for itself in around 3-5 years.
• Get paid to export to the grid - Your retailer still pays you for the excess power you don’t use during the day.
• Generous rebates still available - The Australian government still pays up to $4,000 towards the value of your system via Small Technology Certificates (STC’s)
• System warranties last 25 years - Systems are now extremely durable – this carport solar system has warranties of 25 years.
• Solar prices are coming down - Solar system prices have never been cheaper. The solar carport is no more expensive than buying a similar solar system and a good quality carport – a carport that will eventually pay for itself.
• Reduce exposure to future power price rises - By installing solar, you’ll reduce your reliance on the grid and the price rises sure to come.

2. How can I finance my solar carport kit purchase and installation?

If you need finance, the best current option for most home owners is to add the cost to your current mortgage through a re-draw facility. Home mortgages are typically the least expensive way to finance something that will add value and build the equity in your home. Typically, a $15,000 re-draw @ 4.6% will only add around $13.30 per week in interest. NOTE: In Adelaide, which is similar to Sydney, each 1kw should produce around 4kw of power each day. A 5.8Kw solar carport should generate around 23kw per day. You are currently paying around 25c or more per kw in most of Australia, so generating 25c x 23 = $5.75 per day which is over $40 per week and over $160 per month. YOU CAN AFFORD THIS!

  Best finance option is to add to re-draw on your mortgage but 'green loans' are available[/caption]

A number of lenders offer lower rate ‘green loans’ but as unsecured personal loans they are usually around 6.8% interest. Just google “green loans”.

3. Choosing an installer

The Clean Energy Council (CEC), Australia's peak body representing the clean energy sector, accredits installers who meet certain standards. To be eligible for any small-scale technology certificates, (STC rebate ) systems must be installed by a CEC-accredited installer. All installers used for your solar carport will be fully accredited.

4. How does the solar rebate work?

There are two main incentives that can help pay off solar PV systems: small-scale technology certificates (STCs) and feed-in tariffs (FiTs).

5. Small-scale technology certificates (STCs) (formally REC’s)

Under the federal government's Solar Credits Scheme, eligible households receive money for STCs created by their PV systems. STCs were formerly known as renewable energy certificates or RECs. Currently, the scheme allows you to cash in the certificates you could earn over the next 15 years straight away.

The easiest option with STC’s is to allow your installer to sell them on your behalf. This is then applied as a discount to your installation. It’s just easy with all the paperwork taken care of for you. The downside is you may get less money per STC. STC’ s vary on market price but mid-way through 2018 we can still expect around $630 per KW installed so a 3.9kw solar carport would expect around 3.9 x 630 = $2,457.00

You can sell the STCs yourself, which involves considerable paperwork, applications and fees. Depending on the number of buyers and the time it takes to complete the process, it may be months after installation before you receive your funds, for most, not recommended.

6.  Tell me about Feed-in tariffs (FiTs)

A feed-in tariff (FiT) is the rate you're paid for electricity that grid-connected panels feed-in to the local network.  Almost all FiTs around Australia are now net FiTs. This means a household is only paid for surplus electricity fed into the grid after domestic use is subtracted. The amount you get depends on your supplier but generally its only around 10c -14c per kw. Better to make use of your own generated electricity or think about storage in a battery.

7. Warranty

Manufacturer warranty on your carport solar system is 25 years. Any good quality solar systems should last at least that long.

8. Do my solar panels produce power when the sun isn’t shining?

The amount of power your solar energy system can generate is dependent on sunlight. As a result, your solar panels will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy, and no energy at night. However, because of high electricity costs and financial incentives, solar is a smart decision for anyone in Australia.

Solar carport and installation is arranged for you. maintenance is just a case of keeping your panels clean

9. Can I go off grid with solar panels?

When you install solar panels on your property, you will still be connected to the grid. This allows you to draw from the grid when your system is not producing all of the power that you need, and send power back to the grid when you produce more than you use. It is possible to go off the grid with a solar energy system that includes battery storage, but it will cost more.

10. How much will solar panel maintenance cost?

Solar panel system in your carport is made of durable tempered glass and require almost no maintenance for the 25 to 35 years or longer that it will generate power. In most cases, you don’t even need to clean your solar panels regularly although build-ups of dust and dirt will affect the efficiency so best to keep them clean

11. Storing solar energy in a battery or setting up a car charging station

You may want to consider a system that includes battery storage; the Tesla Powerwall is the best-known model but there are others also in the market. A home storage battery lets you store the electricity generated in daytime by the solar panels for later use. A battery storage component or a charging station component can be added to your carport kit by the installer for a quoted price.

12. How does a solar PV (photovoltaic) system work?

Some materials can be made to produce electricity when light falls on them; this is called the PV or photovoltaic effect. It’s this effect we use to convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electrical energy. An inverter unit then changes this into alternating current (AC) for your home's electrical circuits.

Solar panels work best when they're north facing, pointed directly at the sun, at an optimal angle and not blocked by trees or shading.

Any excess energy can be fed back to the electricity grid, for which you may be paid an agreed amount by your electricity provider. More common now, excess is fed into a battery storage system so you can use the stored power later ( as a charging station for your car or at night).

13. Tell me about Solar Panel Efficiency

This is simply a measure of the panel's electricity output (in watts) compared to its surface area. Generally, the higher the efficiency, the more power you can get from a given roof area.

Surprisingly solar panels designed to sit on roofs in direct sunlight actually become less efficient as they get warmer. Sometimes we get less power from the panels on a very hot day than on a mild day. Our Solar panel power ratings are based on standard conditions (25°C panel temperature). Correct installation is also important; panels should be installed in a way that allows air to circulate underneath the panels making a solar carport more efficient than a standard roof installation.

14. Where can I get more information on rules and feed-in tariffs in my State?

• ACT: Department of Environment and Planning Directorate 13 22 81
• NSW: Service NSW  137788
• NT: Department of the Chief Minister (08) 8999 5511
• Qld Department of Energy and Water Supply  13 43 87
• SA: Sustainability and Climate Change Division (08) 8204 2999
• Tas: Office of the Economic Regulator (03) 6166 4422
• Vic: Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning 136 186
• WA: Public Utilities Office (08) 6551 1000

Inflatable Car Covers or Car Bubbles - FAQ's

1. What if i get a puncture in my Inflatable car Cover?