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dirty solar panels, warm weather, lower power output?
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Mikeyboy01443
Posts: 207 Forumite


hi guys,
had solar installed about a month ago - at points i have seen my solar generate as high as 7.5kw at any one moment, but at the moment the highest i have seen them hit is about 5.7kw - clear skies, is the warmer weather affecting my output?
or we also had some kind of dust / sand storm and everyones cars look filthy, my panels look a bit dirty and dusty too, would this also be affecting output? have you guys noticed any difference in performance?
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Comments
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It is almost certainly not dust. Some people report never having cleared their panels for many years without a significant reduction.
The warm weather will affect output but it seems unlikely that the effect would be as large as reported for only a <10 degree variation in ambient temperature - are you sure it was the same time of day? What was the wind like as the heat will build up a lot more on a windless day? are you currently under hazy sunshine?
You can get largish spikes where the panels have been under cloud all day (so cool) and the sun peaks out from behind a cloud. I presume that was not the case when you recorded the previous maximum(?)
There is the slight possibility that one of your strings has gone down to the inverter. Do you have multiple strings of panels going into the inverter?
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thanks for the reply - it could have been a spike when it hit the max, and then dropped down, whereas last few days it has been generally clear skies so i've had a consistent curve of PV power generation... i can post up some example outputs, it could just be normal but im definitely not seeing as high as some othe peaks i have hit before...i doubt it is one of the strings down as i would presumably lose everything on that string? so would be half my output rather than just a bit lower? its hard to know what the weather was like as often i am not home, im just looking at the app / web portal to see output....it has only been in a month so i am still learning what is normal behaviour...
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Mikeyboy01443 said:thanks for the reply - it could have been a spike when it hit the max, and then dropped down, whereas last few days it has been generally clear skies so i've had a consistent curve of PV power generation... i can post up some example outputs, it could just be normal but im definitely not seeing as high as some othe peaks i have hit before...i doubt it is one of the strings down as i would presumably lose everything on that string? so would be half my output rather than just a bit lower? its hard to know what the weather was like as often i am not home, im just looking at the app / web portal to see output....it has only been in a month so i am still learning what is normal behaviour...
You are right about the strings unless you have a string with only a few panels on.0 -
At this time of year the best instantaneous readings I see are usually about 3/4 of maximum. Once in while, at the right time of day, cool air and perhaps a passing cloud to help I'll see something around max. Note, my split system (I'm only referring to my first installation as I don't have any monitoring on the additional) has a part to play in this, so maximums are expected to be rare for me.Install 28th Nov 15, 3.3kW, (11x300LG), SolarEdge, SW. W Yorks.
Install 2: Sept 19, 600W SSE
Solax 6.3kWh battery2 -
Today's temperature, intense sun (at least where I am) and lack of a cooling breeze will have an impact on output. Typical solar panels have a temperature coefficient of -0.25 to -0.5% per degree centigrade. They could easily be 20 degrees hotter today than when there is a cool breeze or intermittent sun. That equates to between 5% and 10% reduction in output. As mentioned above, intermittent cloud can also result in higher spikes in output due to edge of cloud effect.
6.4kWp (16 * 400Wp REC Alpha) facing ESE + 5kW Huawei inverter + 10kWh Huawei battery. Buckinghamshire.1 -
Sorry, but reading this just makes me cringe as I hate solar panels as they make the area look run down as do wind turbines, dirty or not.
I'm same with those tv dishes.
Re the sun pannels, watch out for the dead pigeons under them or roof leaks as it cost lot more to get the roof seen to etc.0 -
diystarter7 said:Sorry, but reading this just makes me cringe as I hate solar panels as they make the area look run down as do wind turbines, dirty or not.
I'm same with those tv dishes.
Re the sun pannels, watch out for the dead pigeons under them or roof leaks as it cost lot more to get the roof seen to etc.
I assume you do live in a cave somewhere ?
NE Derbyshire.4kWp S Facing 17.5deg slope (dormer roof).24kWh of Pylontech batteries with Lux controller BEV : Hyundai Ioniq52 -
Don't know where he lives but he pays around £300 a month for his energy. Probably because he hasn't got solar panels (with or without dust) cos then he might only be paying £100.Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Solar PV 5.25kWp SW facing (14 x 375) Lux 3.6kw hybrid inverter installed Mar 22 and 9.6kw Pylontech battery
Daikin 8kW ASHP installed Jan 25
Octopus Cosy/Fixed Outgoing3 -
diystarter7 said:Sorry, but reading this just makes me cringe as I hate solar panels as they make the area look run down as do wind turbines, dirty or not.
I'm same with those tv dishes.
Re the sun pannels, watch out for the dead pigeons under them or roof leaks as it cost lot more to get the roof seen to etc.
Or are you doing this for every thread mentioning solar panels?3 -
diystarter7 said:Sorry, but reading this just makes me cringe as I hate solar panels as they make the area look run down as do wind turbines, dirty or not.
I'm same with those tv dishes.
Re the sun pannels, watch out for the dead pigeons under them or roof leaks as it cost lot more to get the roof seen to etc.
Install 28th Nov 15, 3.3kW, (11x300LG), SolarEdge, SW. W Yorks.
Install 2: Sept 19, 600W SSE
Solax 6.3kWh battery2
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