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[Sticky] Solar Power Output – Let’s Compare Generation Figures

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(@andris)
Reputable Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 112
 

@irmartini That looks great! What is your set up look like?

16kw Samsung TDM ASHP. 8.4kw PV, power optimizers 20×420watt panels 6kw SolarEdge inverter.


   
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(@irmartini)
Estimable Member Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 73
 

@andris 

Its a 11.4 kW array

28x 400W panels 

14x WSW (front)

14x ENE (Rear with shading so these panels have optimisers)

They feed 2x 5kW inverters (each has a 7x panel string from the front and rear so the inverters are balanced)

“Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.”


   
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Transparent
(@transparent)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 2370
 
MPPT 13 44c

Does anyone else here actually monitor the incoming solar?
Or are you all happy to report what the inverter says it's handled?

I mention this because I had one inverter with a faulty MPPT input.
MPPT = Maximum Power Point Tracking

It would go through bouts of 'forgetting' how much current to draw from the panels.
Ie it was no longer able to find the knee of the curve where maximum power was achieved.

MPPTgraph

 

That resulted in a self-imposed reset.
The current dropped to zero, and the MPPT algorithm re-started.

This video clip shows two such MPPT resets in close succession.

I was probably losing 5% to 15% of power input to that particular inverter, depending on how many resets there were in a day.

This post was modified 4 weeks ago by Transparent

Save energy... recycle electrons!


   
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(@irmartini)
Estimable Member Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 73
 

@transparent 

I have no way of monitoring that or rather I don't know how to or what would be required to and so reply on what my inverters report.

However as they are new and so assuming they working fine so far, I have lots of graphs and totals right from install I would like to think I could spot an issue like that over time. (hopfully 🤔 ) 

“Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.”


   
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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 3143
Topic starter  

Posted by: @transparent

Or are you all happy to report what the inverter says it's handled?

Solely believe the SolarEdge app.

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Transparent
(@transparent)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 2370
 

That's fine @irmartini and @editor
but let's keep this issue in mind for the future.

If we get someone arriving here on the Forum who says their inverter(s) are reporting less output than their solar arrays should be capable of,
then a faulty MPPT input port is a possibility.

In my case that inverter was new. 😥 

A DC Energy-Meter like this costs about £10 from China incl VAT & shipping

image

or £23 from Amazon UK.

I can assist with installation guidance if anyone here wants it.

This post was modified 4 weeks ago by Transparent

Save energy... recycle electrons!


   
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(@andris)
Reputable Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 112
 

This will be a record month if it goes like this. Already at 484kw.

This post was modified 2 weeks ago by Andris

16kw Samsung TDM ASHP. 8.4kw PV, power optimizers 20×420watt panels 6kw SolarEdge inverter.


   
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(@tim441)
Prominent Member Contributor
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 281
 

@andris I'll blame you for the clouds for next 2 weeks!

Listed Grade 2 building with large modern extension.
LG Therma V 16kw ASHP
Underfloor heating + Rads
8kw pv solar
3 x 8.2kw GivEnergy batteries
1 x GivEnergy Gen1 hybrid 5.0kw inverter
Manual changeover EPS
MG4 EV


   
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(@andris)
Reputable Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 112
 

@tim441 I know forecast doesn't look great.

16kw Samsung TDM ASHP. 8.4kw PV, power optimizers 20×420watt panels 6kw SolarEdge inverter.


   
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(@old_scientist)
Reputable Member Member
Joined: 11 months ago
Posts: 151
 

Posted by: @transparent
MPPT 13 44c

Does anyone else here actually monitor the incoming solar?
Or are you all happy to report what the inverter says it's handled?

@transparent I have an Emlite ECA2 MID-approved meter fitted which records solar generation (available for around £40). The meter records slightly higher daily values than those reported by the inverter app.

 

This post was modified 2 weeks ago by Old_Scientist

Samsung 12kW gen6 ASHP with 50L volumiser and all new large radiators. 3.645kWp solar (south facing), Fox ESS inverter.
Solar generation completely offsets ASHP usage annually. We no longer burn ~1600L of kerosene annually.


   
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(@ianmk13)
Reputable Member Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 194
 

I have three  CT monitors on my solar output via the microinvertor controller, the Battery Management System (using a mid-approved meter) and my EV charger. They only roughly correlate with each other.  At the end of the day, though, it's only the electricity company's meter that matters.


   
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Transparent
(@transparent)
Illustrious Member Moderator
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 2370
 

Posted by: @old_scientist

I have an Emlite ECA2 MID-approved meter fitted which records solar generation

I've looked up what that is.
It must be on the AC output of your inverter.

Having such a MID certified meter is a requirement for exporting to the grid.

But a meter on the inverter output would not have spotted the problem I'd discovered.
It only records what the inverter has successfully handled.

Save energy... recycle electrons!


   
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