solar hot water system w/booster switch inside, does it mean there has been a mains power upgrade?

I am eyeing a property built in 1976. It has been renovated and has a Solar Hot Water System with a Booster Switch Inside.

It might be a silly question, but does it necessarily mean any of the following

• switchboard
• mains
• old wiring

have been upgraded?

Cheers

 

A firm NO to all

Our 79/80's place has the same set up
Having solar HW doesn't mean it a recent installation, in fact having the switch inside could mean it hasn't been updated.

If you do go for a look open the meter box, if it has a new digital meter (not the old wheel) and safety switches (not the safety switch pushed into a fuse body) you can be reasonably sure it has been updated in the last 6 years.

 

Thanks mate for the reply.

By it, were you referring to the wiring? or did you mean the mains?

 

The mains (being the supply from the pole to the house/meter) is the property and responsibly of the service provider (or to the boundary pit if underground).

If when looking in the meter box you see a new digital meter or fixed (non removable) safety switches then "it" is reasonably to assume that the electrical system has been worked on in the last 6-10 years.

It is a requirement of any electrician that does work at a premises that the entire electrical system is SAFE, so if there has been any work done you can presume that the electrics are in reasonable condition.

*am not a sparky, but have paid for similar works previously

 

Post a picture of the switchboard/fuse box and we'll let you know.

But good info from @Stoffo above.

 

Old solar hot water systems are really inefficient and would pump up/down to the main tank (unless it had a roof tank) based on water temp reaching peak on the roof. The main tank was usually a specific paired (Often Rheem) tank model that would also likely have peak or off peak connection. Pumps wouldnt last long and it was common practice to just bypass it. (We gave up on our old house after two pumps over 10 years and then the final straw was it also leaked out (water running in street stormwater)) after the pump was replaced. Even if it worked it would be totally inefficient and the solar is probably a opaque colour. These units would go cold within a day of cloud so a booster switch would be used as the solar prevailed over electric. This made the electric prevail. We took ours from the off peak off too soon after we moved in as it was useless sometimes and then the boost would take almost a day to work. The electricity price difference was marginal.

I would make enquries from existing owner as to condition. It will create less tile damage to leave it on the roof until a solar system is planned. We sold our house with it inactive and that was noted in the contract.