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So now I have a solar PV system how do I make the most of it???

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  • KevinG
    KevinG Posts: 2,086 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    KevinG wrote: »
    However, I think I will be getting the broom out tomorrow ...
    Well, I'll consider it if the sun comes out, but no way at the moment, too hazardous and too much snow!
    2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 15,383 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Actually, all joking aside about playing in the snow, I was surprised that the 1.2 system (P2) was producing 6watts yesterday, as when I went out to look it was snowing, medium shall we say, the sky was thick white, and the panels had about 1 inch of snow on them - the patterns had just been hidden.

    Quite impressed that even a little power got through. Also I noticed that later the 2.4 system (P1) shut down, but P2 stayed at 25 watts, Only pure luck, but I think removing the snow when I did allowed the black to stay clear, whereas P1 slowly succumbed to the snow.

    Always enjoy learning more about PV, though to be fair, nothing was actually achieved as the thick white sky was blanketing any decent production. Only got 0.1 yesterday, but it did click the TGM over by 1, so I'm claiming that! :p

    M.
    Mart. Cardiff. 8.72 kWp PV systems (2.12 SSW 4.6 ESE & 2.0 WNW). 20kWh battery storage. Two A2A units for cleaner heating. Two BEV's for cleaner driving.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • raider
    raider Posts: 183 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    3 inches of snow on my panels, overcast day, still giving out 250 watts:D
  • KevinG
    KevinG Posts: 2,086 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    raider wrote: »
    3 inches of snow on my panels, overcast day, still giving out 250 watts:D
    Well mine have variously got about 6 inches or just a fine covering where the snow has slid off. Still zero output.
    2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.
  • raider
    raider Posts: 183 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    oops, tell a lie, it's all slid off. Guess thats an advantage of having panels at an angle of 50 degrees :T
  • KevinG
    KevinG Posts: 2,086 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I caved in and cleared them. Now generating! It had already begun to slide off most of them but two were still completely covered, so no chance of getting anything until I cleared them.
    2kWp Solar PV - 10*200W Kioto, SMA Sunny Boy 2000HF, SSE facing, some shading in winter, 37° pitch, installed Jun-2011, inverter replaced Sep-2017 AND Feb-2022.
  • furndire
    furndire Posts: 7,308 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Does anyone know how many watts they need to be producing for their Invertor to actually kick in & actually convert the electricity? Ours is a Fronius 4 (I think) & I have not got a clue.
  • orrery
    orrery Posts: 833 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    furndire wrote: »
    Does anyone know how many watts they need to be producing for their Invertor to actually kick in & actually convert the electricity? Ours is a Fronius 4 (I think) & I have not got a clue.

    Only my top string has cleared - the snow has slid to give a double covering to the lower string.

    The SLA Sunny Boy 400 inverter stayed asleep until about 1.30, then started displaying "Waiting for DC conditions" for about 30 minutes before starting with 20 watts.
    4kWp, Panels: 16 Hyundai HIS250MG, Inverter: SMA Sunny Boy 4000TLLocation: Bedford, Roof: South East facing, 20 degree pitch20kWh Pylontech US5000 batteries, Lux AC inverter,Skoda Enyaq iV80, TADO Central Heating control
  • Brian99_2
    Brian99_2 Posts: 155 Forumite
    GOOD point about different decimal accuracy on the meters.

    Anybody know if it is programmable ? by them ? or by us ?
  • When the snow slid off my panels it has filled my gutter (used to just melt slowly then run off as water) Big piles of snow on car as well so parked it a little further from house tonight that will give me more frost to clear but should avoid dents in roof.......
    3.995kWP SSW facing. Commissioned 7 July 2011. 24 degree pitch + Solar Immersion installed May 2013, after two Solar Immersion lasting just over the guarantee period replaced with Solic 200... no problems since
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