How do I tell my panels are working at full efficiency

hollie.weimeraner

Ok I have just installed a 4Kw Solar PV sytem and didn't expect any shading issues as I have a south facing roof with no trees in the area. However I do have an Easterly facing gable end wher my TV aerial is mounted and a neighbour has told me that it is shading a couple of panels early morning so my panels may not be working at full efficiency.

Is there any way to check if they are working at full efficiency - I've had no issues with the system and best output so far has been above 27Kwh this week with a peak power at 3740 on the monitor. (15 Canadian solar 265w panels with a sunny boy 3600tl inverter)

I will be ringing the installers as well

WestonDave

3740 doesn't sound too bad bearing in mind panels aren't at their best when hot so the best peaks tend to be on cool clear days rather than the sweltering days we've had this week.


Whether the morning shading is significant really depends on how long they are shading for - most panels start on a fraction of their peak generation and if you are losing say 10% of them working at 10% then its not going to amount to much.

hollie.weimeraner

Spoke to the installers who said the amount of shading from a TV aerial is so negligible it's not worth the expense of having it moved.

zeupater

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Spoke to the installers who said the amount of shading from a TV aerial is so negligible it's not worth the expense of having it moved.

... depending on how the shadow crosses the panels, the orientation of the panels, how the strings run and the shade management capabilities of the installed inverter (if it's switched on!), maybe, but as a generalisation my initial reaction would be .... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

HTH
Z

zeupater

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

... Is there any way to check if they are working at full efficiency - I've had no issues with the system and best output so far has been above 27Kwh this week with a peak power at 3740 on the monitor. (15 Canadian solar 265w panels with a sunny boy 3600tl inverter) ...

Hi

On a daily basis you can check your production against nearby systems of similar orientation etc on PvOutput ....

If the inverter is SMA, then the 3600TL will have two MPPTs - If the installer has installed on two strings with one on each MPPT you'll be able to see whether there's a panel issue on one string, you won't be able to see which panel, just which string. To do this you'll need to download SMA's SunnyExplorer software (free/PC), link via Bluetooth (should be enabled on inverter) and compare the DC power on the two MPPT strings ... divide this by the number of panels on the applicable strings will give a spot output/panel, which should match (within a few percentage points) .... that's how I check our SB4000TL .....

HTH
Z


#Edit - Note, you'll find a 100m Bluetooth connection (USB?) will work better than the standard 10m if there any walls between your laptop(?) and the inverter ...

tunnel

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Ok I have just installed a 4Kw Solar PV sytem and didn't expect any shading issues as I have a south facing roof with no trees in the area. However I do have an Easterly facing gable end wher my TV aerial is mounted and a neighbour has told me that it is shading a couple of panels early morning so my panels may not be working at full efficiency.

Is there any way to check if they are working at full efficiency - I've had no issues with the system and best output so far has been above 27Kwh this week with a peak power at 3740 on the monitor. (15 Canadian solar 265w panels with a sunny boy 3600tl inverter)

I will be ringing the installers as well

Is the aerial at the top of the roof?
If it is then there's nothing wrong with the system if it's hit 27kWh on a hot sunny day, that's about as good as it gets for summertime unless its only 10C outside with a brisk wind.

pinnks

If you have any shade then use Sunny Explorer to check Global Optitrac is turned on. It really does make a difference.


Also look at this thread re shading https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5188307= I know my aerial is slightly excessively large but moving it was worthwhile even if my wife did produce kittens as a result of seeing me 8m up a ladder...

hollie.weimeraner

pinnks wrote: »

If you have any shade then use Sunny Explorer to check Global Optitrac is turned on. It really does make a difference.

Global Optitrac is turned on

hollie.weimeraner

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

On a daily basis you can check your production against nearby systems of similar orientation etc on PvOutput ....

If the inverter is SMA, then the 3600TL will have two MPPTs - If the installer has installed on two strings with one on each MPPT you'll be able to see whether there's a panel issue on one string, you won't be able to see which panel, just which string. To do this you'll need to download SMA's SunnyExplorer software (free/PC), link via Bluetooth (should be enabled on inverter) and compare the DC power on the two MPPT strings ... divide this by the number of panels on the applicable strings will give a spot output/panel, which should match (within a few percentage points) .... that's how I check our SB4000TL ......

I've got it connected to an ethernet cable via a set of homeplugs. Currently finding my way round Sunny Explorer but although I can see that there are 2 strings set up I can't see how to view the individual string output:( It's driving me daft keep looking through the menu to try and find it

pinnks

I have SMA inverters. As far as I am aware, 2 years in, you cannot see individual strings in Sunny Explorer, or Sunnyportal.com, or Sunnyplaces.com. if you find a way, please let me know...

EricMears

In 'Sunny Explorer', you can certainly click on the 'spot values' tab then select 'DC side' and it will tell you what current and voltage is being generated by each string.