I have a 4kw pv solar panel system fitted 5 years and the company who fitted it got on to me about its 5 year service. Is it normal to get them serviced? What will they do on the service (I didn't get asking them yet going to ring them Monday). I wash the panel a couple of times a year myself.
Solar panel service
- Thread starter Sheeps
- Start date
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
If you have them serviced, they will most likely decide you need an inverter upgrade.
Its called income stream , cleaning is the only thing they need provided the inverter is still working.
It is probably correct changing the inverter may give you a very marginal increase in output, but it will never pay for itself .
if the inverter fails many can be repaired for small money , but if not that is the time to consider the different types
Its called income stream , cleaning is the only thing they need provided the inverter is still working.
It is probably correct changing the inverter may give you a very marginal increase in output, but it will never pay for itself .
if the inverter fails many can be repaired for small money , but if not that is the time to consider the different types
- Location
- Northumberland
Do you monitor your panels output ? If they are running at similar levels to the same month last year there is no need to have anyone trying to get you to spend more money. IMO
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
While this is right, there can be more than 20% difference in output in a given month. I would prefer to see annual. Figures and even then 10% is little to be concerned about. However a consistent fall over several years, particularly if they have been washed Should be looked into!
- Location
- Northumberland
Of course you are right about variations
Point I was making is if you read your meter regularly & keep a record you will have a better idea of the health of your panels than someone who turns up every 5 years. I try to read the meter every week & given the weather over the previous 7 days I can usually accurately guess what the output is.
Couple of times when the online system is down I have rung B G with the quarterly reading. Their system gives a % of expected output. Last time the lady said it was 104% . Another tool is to compare annual output with the installer's prediction. A healthy set of panels should perform better than the prediction
All info that tells me I don't need to spend ££££ on new kit
Point I was making is if you read your meter regularly & keep a record you will have a better idea of the health of your panels than someone who turns up every 5 years. I try to read the meter every week & given the weather over the previous 7 days I can usually accurately guess what the output is.
Couple of times when the online system is down I have rung B G with the quarterly reading. Their system gives a % of expected output. Last time the lady said it was 104% . Another tool is to compare annual output with the installer's prediction. A healthy set of panels should perform better than the prediction
All info that tells me I don't need to spend ££££ on new kit
Last edited:
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
I just run a spreadsheet, every month I put my figures in and it gives me an instant comparison. What I find very interesting is the difference in outputs even a few metres apart. You would have thought such arrays would be very close but there can be 2-3% in then
- Location
- South Wales UK
On the subject ,the experts on here may or may not know the reason talking to another farmer the other day and said Solar Park joining him engineers said as part of their inspections needed to run to 2 shoe lace thick type cables from installation at right angles to each other for atleast 1km and take several readings at intervals?
What's all that about as may be roundabout way to do surveys, expansions etc etc.
Few Land Agents that deal with Solar Parks not heard of this? Yet?
What's all that about as may be roundabout way to do surveys, expansions etc etc.
Few Land Agents that deal with Solar Parks not heard of this? Yet?
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
I guess they are looking for earth leakage
- Location
- South Wales UK
Don't know.
Have you or others carried it out on other sites?
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
It is becoming a perceived issue. Partly through new industry standards asking for more than was required when the arrays were built
- Location
- South Wales UK
Why so long cables and NOT on Solar installations site???
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
I honestly dont know, perhaps others know more?
Not seen this done here... as yet.
- Location
- South Wales UK
What about bird scarers use on Solar parks also.
Solar "Green image ",etc. etc .but with these blasting out bird distress all day , frightening all wild life away on Solar park by here too?
Solar "Green image ",etc. etc .but with these blasting out bird distress all day , frightening all wild life away on Solar park by here too?
Why, what's the problem that they need bird scarers for? Don't know of any around here.
- Location
- South Wales UK
Not certain ,just going all the time.
Strange.
I remember being told by an anti, about how large numbers of ducks were dying as a result of them landing in solar parks, thinking they were lakes. All I can say on that, is I have yet to find a dead duck in ours...
- Location
- South Wales UK
No reason or problem here.
Not by any landfill ,Coast ,lakes, or other feeding areas?
- Tags
- leakage