How can I tell if my PV solar system is working optimally?
Owning
a PV System is great! It saves you money, there is less reliance on
fossil fuel generated energy, and we get a greener earth as we use
power. Like any useful item be it mechanical, electrical or even
software, it requires periodic maintenance to work optimally. This article will give a
quick read on how to upkeep and monitor your PV solar system efficiently
and how to troubleshoot when necessary.
Check the electrical mains meter
If
you want to know how well your PV solar system is working, you can look
at the installed mains meter that connects to the grid and your
inverter to monitor the amount of energy being generated. Unfortunately
the solar generation power recorded is total power less the preventable
yet undetected losses are not reflected nor made known.
Check the data regularly
Don’t
rely on the electricity bill to tell you if your system is working
properly as sometimes the grid steps in to provide electricity when the
modules don’t work properly. Checking your system’s data regularly can
help you to know if your system is performing optimally.
Check the inverter
Normally,
you do this during the day when the system is running. In case you see
any fault lights on the inverter, you should look for an error code on
display. You should also call an installer to check on the system.
Again similar to the mains meter, the kWh energy generated data gives
you the actual power generated or drawn from the grid but not accounting
for the preventable or undetected power losses.
Regular maintenance
It
is essential to clean your solar modules regularly - at the least two
or three times a year. Dirt on the modules or shading around the system
can also affect production of the electricity.
Hence, with these checks and maintenance carried out regularly, this will ensure that your PV solar system is in tip-top condition.
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