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

edwink

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Morning Ed.

Well, I've been having fun. Decided to download the SMA Sunny Design software and have a play. Been meaning to do this for some time - yes I am that sad.

Good news, to get a handle for how it works, I ran my two systems through it, and it gave both of them top marks for energy suitability. Phew, that means the nice guys I bought pasties and doughnuts for knew what they were doing.

So confident I knew what I was doing (well about 50% confident - one eyed man in the land of the blind stuff here) I tried your system.

Possibly bad news, didn't even enter different roof angles, simply tried to split the system 5 + 5. It didn't like that, and suggested losses "there will be a drop off as the PV voltage is lower than the minimum DC voltage of the inverter at the selected grid voltage".

Don't panic, at this stage, assume the problem is me (untalented amateur confusing things), not your system. I'm trying to refine my skills and get some more help. I'll be back!

For now keep monitoring generation to get a feel for performance, and comparisons to any similar installs nearby.

Anyone else out there know enough to help? From Ed's description of the wires, it certainly sounds like two strings.

Mart.

Hello again Mart

Just thought as I had not said before. The panels the company installed said they were the new hybrid panels and therefore more efficient!!! Any help?!!!!!

ED

albyota

Hi edwink, I'm assuming you had the installation done by an MCS accredited company, thus, didn't they provide you with a detailed quote showing the make of panels, wattage, array detail, string info, make and model of inverter etc?
could the 'Hybrid' panels be the Sanyo HIT type?

Mart is a great help to you and fortunately is prepared to spend time and energy, nice one mart.

albyota

sorry edwink just read back a couple of pages and found......

'Hello Mart

The make and model of the inverter is a SunnyBoy SB2500
The solar panels are Ultima Solar US 660'

albyota

Ultima Solar US 660... Ultima Solar Ltd Solar Photovoltaic
US 660240... BSI KM 582615/1

240 Watts

Martyn1981

edwink wrote: »

Hello Mart

Thanks for all your help. I have contacted sma.de as you suggested to ask their opinion regarding the inverter.
Will keep you posted. Thanks again!!!

No probs Ed, hopefully we're both learning here. I had great fun playing with Sunny Design (I really need to get out more).

Did you chose the hybrids to allow for a bigger system, as you get more size (kWp) for the same size roof area? Be ken to know how you get on long term. As prices fall, they're probably the future.

Do you have any kind of monitor at the moment. Just a thought, but as my system is similar to yours (30 and 20 deg pitches), and I'm now getting sustained peaks of about 60% of max, 2.2kW against 3.6kWp, then that might be handy for you if you get a really sunny day. See what your system peaks at and holds. That may give a guesstimate at how it's doing.

Regardless, it's working, and at worst is a little low, so by mid March should have a month of numbers to crunch and compare.

Are you having fun yet?

Thanks Albyota, just doing ma job sir, just doing ma job!

Mart.

albyota

Can't find any info on module efficiencies, although they are registered as an MCS product, SunnyDesign does not list them.

http://www.ultimasolar.co.uk/

Martyn1981

albyota wrote: »

Can't find any info on module efficiencies, although they are registered as an MCS product, SunnyDesign does not list them.

http://www.ultimasolar.co.uk/

Evening Alby. Funny enough, I went the same route trying to find them.

On Sunny Design Z used Schueco, but I went for UE Solar, figured they would be a closer match as more alphabetically correct

M.

albyota

mart, assuming the module is around 30.2Vmp x 10 is 302volts, bear in mind this is maximum power volts, the SB2500 inverter minimum PPT voltage is 224volts so I would suggest the split pitch panel array and inverter are not well matched, although edwink describes the two strings going into the one isolator, we don't know whether they have connected as two parallel strings or series as this will effect the voltage into the inverter.

edwink

Martyn1981 wrote: »

No probs Ed, hopefully we're both learning here. I had great fun playing with Sunny Design (I really need to get out more).

Did you chose the hybrids to allow for a bigger system, as you get more size (kWp) for the same size roof area? Be ken to know how you get on long term. As prices fall, they're probably the future.

Do you have any kind of monitor at the moment. Just a thought, but as my system is similar to yours (30 and 20 deg pitches), and I'm now getting sustained peaks of about 60% of max, 2.2kW against 3.6kWp, then that might be handy for you if you get a really sunny day. See what your system peaks at and holds. That may give a guesstimate at how it's doing.

Regardless, it's working, and at worst is a little low, so by mid March should have a month of numbers to crunch and compare.

Are you having fun yet?

Thanks Albyota, just doing ma job sir, just doing ma job!

Mart.

Hello Mart and all that are helping us

We chose the hybrid panels as aparently they have a higher generation output. We were told up to 15%.

We do not have a monitor. We just read the generation meter every morning and again in the evening to see what has been generated. Thats is a lie actually we look at it about 20 times a day. Look at the panels whilst working on the veg plots about 40 times a day. Now my neck hurts!!! My hubbie even gets up early to see if Rita the meter has started flashing. rude boy!!!

ED - OH AND A HUGE THANKS TO YOU ALL!!!

Brian99_2

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Brian, total sense. Hands up you got me. Does the defence, I was rushing and not proof reading properly count!

Glad somebody is checking what I say.

Mart.

No probs Mart ; I have great respect for your postings

But Cazarol with the E-W roof question, has vanished !!