Solar PV Hints, Tips & Troubleshooting

Does it make sense that far side of main west roof would be last to get sun so I would be better put 6on small west roof above sliding door and 6 on nearside of main west roof rather then 12 on main west roof?

Got a strange one going on…..

Recently installed a Solis S5-EH1P(3-6)K-L 5kw.

System seems to be performing as expected however, when decently generating, e.g. above 3kw, there seems to be a click or a sudden tick noise that happens every now and then. Edit (noticed it does this when its on battery also, e.g. night time 3kw load.)

It appears to happen more frequently when im generating above 5kw, every 5-10 minutes.

Its coming from inside the invertor. Any ideas what this could be?

The fan is very noticeable, so i dont think its that. If its a relay, its slapping the contacts very hard.

It almost sounds like those lighters that has the electric spark. Actually, it sounds like an electrical ark.

They make a bang/clunk rather than a click.

yup, this is like a loud spark.

AFAIK Dyness are warrantied to 90% dept of discharge but just double check the model of your batteries on their website to be certain.

Is the time clock on car charger, solis inverter and ESB meter the same?

The inverter doesn't appear to support NTP (internet source time) for it's timekeeping, so you'll need to check that time clock reasonably often. That in adding in buffers of a few mins so that the car stops charging a few mins before the change-over of the smart meter to the new tariff, etc.

Is the inverter on ? got batteries?

Hmm, from the charts I'd agree with you that it looks like a shading performance profile. But the chart he included from March (which would have the same general sun orientation as now Sept) doesn't seem to have it. So I'm inclinded to think that it's not from that point.

Unless there's been some recent addition which causes shading, perhaps the neighbour has installed a new satelite dish (or something you get the idea)

@viewofthehill what's the size and orientation of both your arrays?

Normally voltage climbs very early on when the panel starts up, it should get up to between the panel's stated Voc and it's Vmpp, then the current starts climbing after that and voltage stays relatively stable. If all of the panels are in full sun when this condition occurs (that being the voltage hovering around 100v DC) then I'd wonder if the panels are going into a bypass state, but normally this would be triggered by by a low-light condition. Are the panels clean of dirt and definitely not in shade when that condition occurs?

Not a clue. I'd forward those images of the voltage and power for both strings onto the installer and see what they make of them. But keep us posted please.

It is two years since our install. I was looking forward to decent hot water via Eddi today after dull past days but it is misbehaving or the whole system is? no power going to water or anywhere according to the Myenergi app.

Can anyone recommend a 'consultant' to check over the system. I never felt we got properly set up by installer and have no faith to chase him down at this stage.

Inverter seems to give decent info… nearly 3 from solar and over 2 going to house (wash machine just turned on) . Eddi says 'waiting for surplus'. I did look at it and it needed some update so did that and also turned it off for 10 minutes. I was able to do a 'boost' to manually heat water. Myenergi app is showing no activity and 'waiting for surplus'. Bright sun since dawn so expected decent tank of hot water by now.

No activity on Eddi screen and 'waiting for surplus'. Myenergi app now showing 3.7 going to grid.

No zappi. All readings on Eddi are 0%…. have installed updates as requested today..