Solar panels are an excellent option for those who are concerned about their environmental footprint and their electricity bill costs.

The installation of solar panels is only the beginning, though. Constant evaluation is required to guarantee they are producing the expected amount of energy. 

By reading this article, you learn more about solar panel performance monitoring and how to pick the best monitoring system for your needs.

The Importance Of Monitoring Solar Panel Performance

The efficiency of your PV system may be tracked and reported on with the help of a solar monitoring system. It covers how much energy your home uses and produces, how to maximise your energy efficiency, and what to do if your solar panels are damaged.

You should monitor your setup to know if your solar panels are performing at peak efficiency.

For example, you can see if there have been any noteworthy shifts in performance with a monitoring system.

Most solar energy providers will install monitoring hardware and special software to connect it to the inverter.

Currently, the most common method is through applications, which are built into most of your devices and can use cellular data on a mobile phone or tablet, keeping your data accessible even if your Wi-Fi goes down.

During regular business hours, you can also use a PC with Wi-Fi.

While solar panels are extremely long-lasting and need little in the way of upkeep, other system components could suffer damage or malfunction. Maintaining peak system performance requires regular monitoring.

What Are Solar Panel System Components?

A solar panel system consists of six major components: the panels themselves, the inverter, the racking, the optimisers, the electrical metre in the house, and the energy monitoring equipment.

Battery storage is the seventh component of a solar energy system and is not necessary for its operation but can be useful in an emergency. Let’s have a look at these solar components.

Modules

Solar panels use the sun’s rays to create electricity. Therefore, the choice of the panel has a significant bearing on the panel’s visual appeal and functional efficiency. 

Inverter

While your home uses alternating current (AC), solar panels generate direct current (DC).

The “inverter” that comes with your solar power system is the brain that converts DC into AC power for your home’s appliances.

The inverter manages the power from the panels and ensures the correct voltage flows into your home or back to the grid, among other critical tasks.

Racking

The mounting or racking system for solar panels keeps them in place. Racking for a roof-mounted system might be installed at the time of building or later on for an existing home. 

Optimisers

Each solar panel has an optimiser attached to its rear to increase its output when another panel is blocking the sun or covered in bird faeces. 

They aid performance monitoring by revealing each panel’s operational status, facilitating the detection and resolution of manufacturing faults. Power is cut off automatically by optimisers when the system fails. 

Meter

After installing your solar panels, the utility company will replace your current metre with a more advanced bi-directional one.

The new metre will ensure you receive full credit for the solar power you export to the grid.

Energy Monitoring

Finally, one of the most crucial parts is keeping an eye on the sun.

You can see how much electricity your panels produce and how much energy you use thanks to the monitoring systems that are standard with most installations. 

Batteries

Your home’s batteries can store the excess energy your solar system generates for later use.

With battery storage, you can power more of your home with clean solar energy during daylight hours or have energy security to keep the lights on during power outages. 

What Is The Process Of Solar Monitoring?

The inverter for a solar energy system usually also incorporates a monitoring system.

While standalone modules are an option, all monitoring tools communicate with the inverters in the system. 

The solar monitoring system records production and power level data when the inverter transforms DC (Direct Current) from the solar panels into AC (Alternating Current).

This information is transmitted to a cloud-based monitoring system and associated apps or platforms.

Then you can use your phone or another device to learn more about the solar system around you. It is also possible to set up monitoring equipment right there on the premises.

If you need access to data stored in the cloud but don’t have Wi-Fi (or other internet connectivity), a system with cellular capabilities can be set up. Some solar panel monitoring systems, however, require constant access to Wi-Fi.

Different Types Of Solar Panels Performance Monitoring

Several readily available tools can track solar energy generation, consumption, and efficiency. The following are examples of solar power monitoring techniques:

Real-Time Monitoring Or Pc 

Free monitoring software is available for download from the manufacturer’s website for installation on a personal computer.

Then, either use Bluetooth to link your computer to the Inverter or connect the two devices using a CAT5 cable.

This is a low-cost, effective solution when data logging is a priority.

Mobile Connection Monitoring

You can use your phone’s Bluetooth connection to access the data and modify the inverter’s profile settings.

This system enables solar energy monitoring without the need for wiring.

Additionally, data can be seen remotely via an internet connection or text messages (SMS), depending on your preferences and the services you have enabled.

Monitoring Of Displays For Unit Connections

This may have been one of the first methods to track information from a solar array.

Using this technology, data can be gathered from a single or more inverter networked using Bluetooth or CAT5 cable and then displayed on a central device.

This technique also gathers data via Bluetooth or a CAT5 cable.

Monitoring Internet-Based 

Simply inserting a card into your inverter and linking it to a router will get the data online and into the public domain.

The information is then made available to the user remotely via an internet portal or specialised website.

This approach has certain benefits, but the inverter and card will have some added costs.

The daily operations, outputs, and consumption of solar panels can be tracked using monitoring devices. It also aids in revealing where energy is being wasted and if the investment made was worthwhile.

Functions Of Pv System Tracking Software

Platforms for PV monitoring may or may not have the following capabilities:

Analyses And Calculations

Solar photovoltaic (PV) system description and ambient factors input into a computer model to provide data interpretation.

Performance Measurement Reports

Reports on platform availability and performance ratio are useful features of monitoring tools. Reports can be made available on platforms’ websites or emailed to stakeholders.

Financial Calculations

Platforms can estimate economic revenue or utility cost savings connected with the recorded energy delivery based on the time of day and seasonal fluctuation in utility rates. In addition, the downtime or decreased output cost could also be factored into economic evaluations.

Alarms And Errors 

Operators can be alerted to any errors or abnormalities via monitoring tools. In addition, email and SMS messages can be sent as platform alerts.

Maintenance Tickets Issued And Monitored

Users of a monitoring platform can create trouble tickets to report issues and monitor their progress as they are resolved.

Connect To A Larger Or More Useful System.

Platforms for monitoring can send information back to the utility provider when necessary, and they can also receive signals from the utility to adjust the PV system’s parameters as needed. 

Methods To Increase Solar Panel Efficiency

Maintaining Solar Panels is minimal for a well-installed solar system. However, here are a few preventative care tips to keep in mind for your solar array’s longevity.

After a solar energy system has been established correctly, there is little to do to keep it running efficiently.

An efficient solar panel system should last for at least 15 years.

Solar panels have a 25-year performance guarantee. With proper maintenance, you can count on a high productivity rate for a long time.

Maintenance Of Solar Panels

Cleaning solar panels is a simple yet time-consuming process.

It makes sure the solar cells get plenty of light without any obstructions. In addition, solar panels produce more electricity if they are kept clean.

The glass on the panels may be easily cleaned and should be done as often as necessary to prevent grime buildup.

First, use a gentle cloth, washrag, and environmentally-friendly soap to clean the panels. Then, spray dust from the panels with water from a hose to remove dust from the panels.

Keep The Light In!

If you thoroughly analyse the site before installing it, you won’t have to worry about shading.

However, after installation, you’ll want to look for new shade sources like tall trees that could cut into the panels’ output.

Trees can be trimmed rather than removed to prevent the shading of the panels.

Keep An Eye On Our Solar System

Daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly checks are the only method to identify a systemic issue. 

Regular Solar Panel Cleaning

In order to make sure the inverter is functioning properly, it is recommended to check the display every day to see if the green light is on.

In addition, to track performance over time, keeping a log of the system’s output daily is helpful. The monitoring software on the most up-to-date inverters will accomplish this automatically.

Solar Panel Checkups Once Every Month And Every Three Months

Monthly and quarterly inspections should include looking for dust and debris under and around the PV array and making sure the panels themselves are clean.

The complete system should be checked for appropriate operation once a year as part of routine maintenance.

Regular Solar Panel Inspections

• Annual maintenance for solar systems typically consists of the following:
• Reviewing the system’s daily performance statistics in search of significant shifts in output is a good first step in performing a general performance assessment.
• Verifying that the solar panels have not been damaged in any way (this includes cracks, scratches, corrosion, moisture penetration, or browning) and that they are clean.
• It is important to double-verify the wiring and ensure the string voltage is within the acceptable range.
• Verifying the mounting hardware’s integrity and the earth connection’s continuity.
• Inspecting junction boxes for signs of water buildup and faulty lid seals, connections, or clamping devices.
• Inspecting circuit breakers for wear and making sure isolation devices are functioning properly.
• Fuse boxes must be inspected for water damage and faulty solder joints.
• Verifying the DC voltage entering the inverter, looking for signs of damage, and testing for resistive joints on connections.

Conclusion

Solar panels are a great choice for people who care about the environment and their energy bills.

However, they must be monitored on a regular basis to make sure they are generating the desired amount of energy.

How to monitor solar panel performance and choose the best monitoring system for your needs is the focus of this essay.

The solar panels themselves, the inverter, the racking, the optimisers, the home’s electrical metre, and the energy monitoring equipment are the six main parts of a solar panel system.

The seventh part of a solar energy setup is batteries for backup purposes.

When an inverter converts the DC power from solar panels into AC power, a monitoring system is typically included to keep track of production and power level.

This data can be used to monitor solar energy production, consumption, and efficiency, and it is sent to a cloud-based monitoring system and any linked apps or platforms. 

Tools for tracking the production, consumption, and efficiency of solar energy vary depending on the type of solar panel being used.

Real-time or PC monitoring, mobile connection monitoring, monitoring of displays for unit connections, internet-based monitoring, analyses and calculations, performance measurement reports, financial calculations, alarms and errors, and maintenance tickets issued and monitored; are just some of the methods for keeping tabs on solar power.

When logging data is crucial, but the budget is tight, monitoring displays for unit connections is a great option. When data logging is critical, but the budget is tight, Internet-Based Monitoring is a great option.

Issues can be reported and tracked via the platform’s trouble ticketing system. It can communicate with the utility company to relay data and receive instructions on how to fine-tune the PV system’s settings.

For a well-installed solar system, maintenance of the panels is simple; however, there are some precautions to take.

Preventing dirt buildup on solar panels requires a simple but time-consuming process: cleaning. After the panels have been installed, keep an eye out for fresh shade sources, such as nearby trees.

The only way to detect systemic flaws is to conduct daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly checks, and trimming trees that cast a shadow on solar panels is one option.

To keep the inverter in good working order, solar panels should be cleaned on a regular basis.

Cleaning the panels and checking for dust and debris under and around the PV array should be part of your regular monthly and quarterly checks.

A solar system’s annual maintenance should include checking the system’s daily performance statistics, ensuring that the solar panels are in good condition, double-checking the wiring, ensuring that the mounting hardware is secure, checking the junction boxes for signs of water buildup and faulty lid seals, checking the circuit breakers for wear, and checking the fuse boxes for water damage and faulty solder joints.

Content Summary

• Solar panel monitoring is necessary to ensure that the panels are producing the expected amount of energy and performing at peak efficiency.
• Solar monitoring systems track and report the efficiency of the PV system, energy usage, and production, and help to detect damages or malfunctions.
• Most solar energy providers install monitoring hardware and software to connect it to the inverter.
• Solar panel systems have six main components: solar panels, inverters, racking, optimisers, the electrical meter in the house, and energy monitoring equipment. Battery storage is the seventh component.
• Solar panels use the sun’s rays to create electricity, and the panel choice impacts visual appeal and functional efficiency.
• Inverters convert DC into AC power for home appliances and manage the power from the panels.
• Racking systems keep the solar panels in place and can be installed during or after the building.
• Optimisers attached to the rear of each solar panel increase output when another panel is blocking the sun or covered in bird faeces.
• Meters record how much electricity the solar panels produce and how much energy is used, and they ensure full credit for solar power exported to the grid.
• Energy monitoring systems are standard with most installations, and they help to keep an eye on energy usage.
• Batteries can store excess energy generated by solar systems for later use or to provide energy security during power outages.
• The solar monitoring system records production and power level data when the inverter transforms DC into AC and transmits it to a cloud-based monitoring system and associated apps or platforms.
• Different types of solar panels performance monitoring include real-time monitoring or PC, mobile connection monitoring, monitoring of displays for unit connections, and monitoring internet-based.
• Free monitoring software is available for download from the manufacturer’s website for installation on a personal computer.
• Bluetooth connections can be used to link your computer to the inverter or to access the data and modify the inverter’s profile settings on a mobile phone.
• Data can be seen remotely via an internet connection or text messages (SMS), depending on your preferences and the services you have enabled.
• Inserting a card into the inverter and linking it to a router will get the data online and into the public.

FAQs About Solar Panels

How Often Should I Monitor My Solar Panels?

It’s recommended to monitor your solar panels at least once a month to ensure they are producing the expected amount of energy. However, you may want to monitor them more frequently if you notice a sudden drop in energy production or suspect that there is an issue with the system.

How Accurate Are Solar Panel Monitoring Systems?

The accuracy of solar panel monitoring systems can vary depending on the type and quality of the system. Generally, high-quality monitoring systems can provide accurate readings within a few percentage points of the actual energy production.

Can I Monitor My Solar Panels Remotely?

Yes, most modern solar panel monitoring systems can be accessed remotely through a web-based or mobile app. This allows you to monitor your solar panels’ performance from anywhere, at any time.

How Much Does Solar Panel Monitoring Cost?

The cost of solar panel monitoring systems can vary depending on the type of system and the features included. DIY monitoring systems can cost as little as a few hundred dollars, while professional systems can cost several thousand dollars. However, the long-term savings from monitoring your solar panels’ performance can outweigh the initial investment.

Can I Use A Third-Party Monitoring System For My Solar Panels?

Yes, many third-party solar panel monitoring systems are available on the market. However, it’s essential to ensure that the system is compatible with your solar panels and meets your monitoring needs before making a purchase.