Conducting a bi-annual survey of the installation site is a good idea. Keep in mind that a solar systems lasts for more than 25 years and trees grow over time. Ensure that there are no trees around and that the solar panels are not blocked by shadow at any time during the day. This is possibly the most common cause of low voltage. The factors that could contribute to a low power problem are: Shading This is the most common type of problem and a few, quick, troubleshooting steps will help you find the source of the problem. If your solar system is not delivering sufficient power for which it is rated for, the resulting situation is called a low power situation. As the pv modules are connected in series, one failing pv module will shut down the entire system. It’s also possible that one solar panel in your pv array failed. Zero output is a common problem and in nine out of ten cases, it is due to a faulty inverter or charge controller. These two conditions which may require troubleshooting are: There are two failure modes which the solar system maybe experience. Two common problems that require troubleshootingĪs mentioned above, most of the problems are caused by the inverter and charge controller.

However nearly every pv manufacturer has seen defects in solar panels over the past years, and I’ll also describe common quality issues that might shut down a pv module. For that reason, it’s most likely that a problem is caused by a defect in system components other than the panels, such as the solar inverter, charge controller, wiring or batteries. Quality solar panels are built and guaranteed to produce power for 25 years. Troubleshooting a solar (pv) systemīelow I will describe basic steps in troubleshooting a PV array. Common issues are zero power and low voltage output. This article describes how you can troubleshoot a solar system in basic steps.

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