solar optimisers - what are they?

JC_Derby

Are these like the voltage optimisers that solar panel installers were trying to sell?

QrizB

As I don't know what you're referring to by "voltage optimisers that solar panel installers were trying to sell" it's quite hard to answer your question.

Optimisers attach directly to the panel (or, occasionally, are integrated into them). They're designed to boost the current from a shaded panel, at the expense of voltage, so that all the other panels in the string can continue to output their unshaded current.

I've never taken one apart but I guess they work similarly to a MPPT solar regulator with a buck-boost circuit.

There's an article here that might help:

https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/complete-guide-to-power-optimizers

Merlin139

This is my thread from 2016 about Voltage Optimisers.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70573413#Comment_70573413

I have Solar Optimisers fitted to my SolarEdge system but I suffer from shading issues. If you don't have shading issues then I doubt you need optimisers.

Screwdriva

Gary does a good job explaining this. Optimizers offer far more than shading protection. They effectively protect from system aging and allow for panel level monitoring.