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

old_grouser

Cardew,
I've been reading your knowledgeble posts since I decided to acquire a solar pv system. I'm now on the verge of getting a 3.29kWp system (14 Sanyo 235s); BUT the tender includes a SMA 3000TL inverter, which is (so far as I understand it) below the maximum rating for the panels - and the roof faces due South on the Sunny South Coast - and summer is icumen in...
So will I have smoke coming out of the inverter before long, and should I insist on a bigger one, or should I just trust the installer and the technology?

themaverick1953

You better be quick - more 11 more days and nights will be drawing in!

John_Pierpoint

Sharon, there is loads of stuff on UTube.

I don't think I know how to search it by "author"

ChrisJD

old_grouser wrote: »

I'm now on the verge of getting a 3.29kWp system (14 Sanyo 235s); BUT the tender includes a SMA 3000TL inverter, which is (so far as I understand it) below the maximum rating for the panels - and the roof faces due South on the Sunny South Coast - and summer is icumen in...
So will I have smoke coming out of the inverter before long, and should I insist on a bigger one, or should I just trust the installer and the technology?

I should go with the installer's choice. The periods when the panels could generate their rated output are quite short. The inverter will not suffer, it simply limits the power output to its own rating. The benefits are twofold - the inverter costs less, and for the rest of the time when output is less, the power losses will generally be slightly lower for a smaller inverter, so it will be more efficient.

Regarding panel output, whilst full sun is good, when the panels heat up, their performance falls slightly.

Sharon1985

old_grouser wrote: »

Cardew,
I've been reading your knowledgeble posts since I decided to acquire a solar pv system. I'm now on the verge of getting a 3.29kWp system (14 Sanyo 235s); BUT the tender includes a SMA 3000TL inverter, which is (so far as I understand it) below the maximum rating for the panels - and the roof faces due South on the Sunny South Coast - and summer is icumen in...
So will I have smoke coming out of the inverter before long, and should I insist on a bigger one, or should I just trust the installer and the technology?

Ive just ran that system via sunny design & the 3000TL is correct size inverter:money:

Sharon1985

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Sharon, there is loads of stuff on UTube.

I don't think I know how to search it by "author"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWFIGsAeyN4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxqpQ6Rhc7Q&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL


bring on the spam comments !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

zeupater

old_grouser wrote: »

Cardew,
I've been reading your knowledgeble posts since I decided to acquire a solar pv system. I'm now on the verge of getting a 3.29kWp system (14 Sanyo 235s); BUT the tender includes a SMA 3000TL inverter, which is (so far as I understand it) below the maximum rating for the panels - and the roof faces due South on the Sunny South Coast - and summer is icumen in...
So will I have smoke coming out of the inverter before long, and should I insist on a bigger one, or should I just trust the installer and the technology?

Hi

My belief is to always look at trying to match the inverter rating as closely as possible to the panel output in order to maximise production on days with sunny/cloudy intervals, which most 'good' days seem to be .... it works for me. However, 3.29kWp of panels places you in a position where you have the option of a Sunnyboy 3300 or the 3000TL in the SMA range ..... between the two I'd probably sacrifice the possibility of a few more electrons in sunny weather for the added efficiency of a transformerless inverter whenever it's light and therefore agree with your installer's choice.

I take it that the Sanyo panels are being specified in order to maximise the generation capacity on the roof space available ?

HTH
Z

John_Pierpoint

Sharon1985 wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWFIGsAeyN4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxqpQ6Rhc7Q&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL


bring on the spam comments !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

Thanks, I''l give them a look

old_grouser

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

I take it that the Sanyo panels are being specified in order to maximise the generation capacity on the roof space available ?

HTH
Z

Thanks very much for your answer about inverters.
The Sanyo panels are being chosen for the best fit, but also because my socking great south-facing roof also has a socking great south-facing gable which will cast a morning shadow before 9am. Sanyo panels are supposed to be more tolerant of shading problems - or so I've heard. (Oh - and because the best deal happened to come with Sanyo!)
Now to turn mimesis into praxis, as Aristotle almost said...

zeupater

old_grouser wrote: »

Thanks very much for your answer about inverters.
The Sanyo panels are being chosen for the best fit, but also because my socking great south-facing roof also has a socking great south-facing gable which will cast a morning shadow before 9am. Sanyo panels are supposed to be more tolerant of shading problems - or so I've heard. (Oh - and because the best deal happened to come with Sanyo!)
Now to turn mimesis into praxis, as Aristotle almost said...

Hi

If the issue is partial shade before 9am and you have enough roof space for more panels than currently considering you have an alternative option ....

The next transformerless inverter in the SMA range has two MPPTs, which effectively allows the system to perform efficiently with arrays facing in different directions ... or, as in your case, conditions where partial shading exists before a certain time of day. The only problem is that to specify the inverter (SB4000TL) you'll need a few more panels.

Sanyo hybrid panels may perform better than most others in low light conditions and may also perform better in high temperatures, however, I would personally reserve judgement on their claims to how much benefit this provides considering the precise wording of their marketing literature on this subject. What you have described is a partial shading condition which has nothing to do with low light performance, therefore the solution is to address the shading not the panel performance. This can best be done through designing the system with appropriate inverter(s) and string configuration.

HTH
Z