Power Production This Time of Year!

[timselectric]

Mine will stay hidden for a while. They are under multiple layers of both ice and snow. And the Forcast is for more near 0°F temperatures, for the next several days. The ice layers are the problem. Otherwise I would be clearing them.

 

[42OhmsPA]

The ice layers are the problem.

Not anymore.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Took the M18 blower to the ground mounts a bit after 9:30.
Debating going to rake the roofs but coffee and forum sounds a lot better.

 

[timselectric]

This is a once every 10 years situation for my area.
Just have to wait it out.
Just another good reason for expanding the storage capacity.

 

[Zwy]

As I walked to the shop, I looked at the panels and no snow on them, even the OCD array which hasn't been turned on yet.

All this talk about clearing snow off panels, is that a thing?

 

[42OhmsPA]

Let's just say the dumbass that designed my first ground mount didn't factor in the slope of the ground; so when it's at full tilt one corner hits the ground... No I can't dig it out, it right on the edge of the septic tank...
The 2nd mount had already cleared itself minus a couple panels that were stubborn.

 

[timselectric]

As I walked to the shop, I looked at the panels and no snow on them, even the OCD array which hasn't been turned on yet.

All this talk about clearing snow off panels, is that a thing?

It is for roof mounted. It won't be for the future ground mounted arrays. Since I decide the angle for them. The roof is perfect for 90% of the year. Luckily the snow only comes at the time of the year when production already sucks, anyway.

 

[timselectric]

Let's just say the dumbass that designed my first ground mount didn't factor in the slope of the ground; so when it's at full tilt one corner hits the ground... No I can't dig it out, it right on the edge of the septic tank...
The 2nd mount had already cleared itself minus a couple panels that were stubborn.

I think that I might know that dumbass's brother from another mother.

 

[yodamota]

As I walked to the shop, I looked at the panels and no snow on them, even the OCD array which hasn't been turned on yet.

All this talk about clearing snow off panels, is that a thing?

I didn't see any on my panels either! What are these folks talking about

 

[Recovering EE]

I see the thread topic mentions power production at this time of year ... well being down under it's kinda different to what you guys are facing. I know our turn is coming in a few months so I'm definitely not gloating.

We have 19kW of panels but for the last couple months all but 3kW are turned off. Occasionally if a morning is overcast and I wonder if it will clear or not, I may turn on another bank of 3kW ... but we can't really use the power anyway.

The pool pump and the pool heater pump have run overtime for weeks but still lots to spare. I'd love to find something to make use of all the potential we have here. Maybe I should empty the pool and fill it with sand for a sand battery.

Makes those one and a halfs off the board a little jarring, though!

 

[wattmatters]

Well I could change the charge current but there are 4 of them feeding the battery in parallel. I'd have to change all four and it gets messy.

It's a very crude system to what you guys are used to and a lot of the control is manual.

Takes me 5 seconds to look at the SOC, the current charge rate and to think about what the weather conditions are ... then flick a switch on if I think it might need extra ... otherwise I leave it alone and it does look after itself.

Got it. It works for you. I personally prefer to have a system not reliant on manual intervention for safe operation.

I'm amazed you can run a pool and pool heater with only 3 kWh of PV, but I guess it's summer and not a lot of heating is necessary. What part of down under are you located?

I really want to throw up a bunch more PV that I have in the shed (have another 24 x 275 W panels and rails sitting there wanting to do some work) but alas we are planning on moving home so those projects are on hold.

 

[timselectric]

Just got back from running some errands around town.
You can tell which houses have good insulation, by the amount of snow remaining on their roof. And since I know where all of the solar systems are (I assume that the same goes for everyone here), they seem to be the houses that also have good insulation. In other words, it seems like all of the solar panels in my area are playing hide and seek very well. lol

 

[GRMRC]

Just got back from running some errands around town.
You can tell which houses have good insulation, by the amount of snow remaining on their roof. And since I know where all of the solar systems are (I assume that the same goes for everyone here), they seem to be the houses that also have good insulation. In other words, it seems like all of the solar panels in my area are playing hide and seek very well. lol

Kind of a paradox. Good insulation reduces energy consumption for heating but reduces energy production because the good insulation keeps the snow from melting on the roof panels.

 

[rogerdw]

Every situation, and system is different.
This is why I ask questions. I want to know why people do what they do.
Sometimes I can help them improve their system. And sometimes they help me improve mine.
Every part of my system is designed to just work, without any attention. Just like being on the grid, only better. (No threat of an outage, and more available power)

Yep agreed, and that's why I spend a lot of time here reading to learn ... and the occasional question for clarification.

Got it. It works for you. I personally prefer to have a system not reliant on manual intervention for safe operation.

Yep it does work for me so far ... though it is perfectly safe whether I leave all the mppts connected and running or just switch back to what's needed. It's not something that I do multiple times a day ... it's only been several times in three months.

I fix electronics for a living and my belief is the best way to extend its life is to have it off if it's not needed. I know, totally unnecessary, but old habits die hard. And besides, I built them so I could easily repair them if they did fail.

I'm amazed you can run a pool and pool heater with only 3 kWh of PV, but I guess it's summer and not a lot of heating is necessary. What part of down under are you located?

Yeah, this time of year we run on next to nothing for the home and workshop and the pool pumps are the only big loads. The pool heater is a solar setup with a big collector on the roof of the shed ... and it only needs a pump to circulate the water. I think the filter pump is 1.5hp and the heater pump 1hp.

Any other big loads like ovens or cooktop etc are only short term and we have a big battery so that carries us over without any trouble. Lots of sun this time of year ... llloooottts of sun!

We're an hour out of Adelaide in Sth Australia, on the river.

I really want to throw up a bunch more PV that I have in the shed (have another 24 x 275 W panels and rails sitting there wanting to do some work) but alas we are planning on moving home so those projects are on hold.

Wow, that's a bummer. You've put a massive amount of work into your system there. Don't tell me you have to start all over again.
As I said above, I read a lot and have followed your build from way back in the whirlpool days.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Just got back from running some errands around town.
You can tell which houses have good insulation, by the amount of snow remaining on their roof. And since I know where all of the solar systems are (I assume that the same goes for everyone here), they seem to be the houses that also have good insulation. In other words, it seems like all of the solar panels in my area are playing hide and seek very well. lol

I might bump the thermostat up a few degrees when snow is forecast with the thought that I'll melt it off the panels quicker (house isn't very well insulated).

Last year I may have left the diesel heater running in the garage overnight with the outlet aimed at the ceiling where the panels are to see if it would make a difference.

 

[Recovering EE]

Kind of a paradox. Good insulation reduces energy consumption for heating but reduces energy production because the good insulation keeps the snow from melting on the roof panels.

Roof mounts should be around 4" off the roof itself. I'm not sure how much snow-melting warmth is going to cross that air gap.

 

[timselectric]

I fix electronics for a living and my belief is the best way to extend its life is to have it off if it's not needed.

To play a little devils advocate.
Following that thought, you are shortening the life of the panels that you keep "on" longer than necessary. By forcing them to do all of the work.

 

[timselectric]

Roof mounts should be around 4" off the roof itself. I'm not sure how much snow-melting warmth is going to cross that air gap.

Any available warmth should, since it's all trapped under the envelope of snow (insulation).
I might be wrong, but it's making sense in my head.

 

[OffGridForGood]

Roof mounts should be around 4" off the roof itself. I'm not sure how much snow-melting warmth is going to cross that air gap.

and if it does ! wow, maybe there are bigger problems than lack of solar due to snow...

 

[rogerdw]

To play a little devils advocate.
Following that thought, you are shortening the life of the panels that you keep "on" longer than necessary. By forcing them to do all of the work.

Haha, very good. Maybe I should rotate them then ... let them take turns and even it out.

Now if we just had some snow ... to cover the ones I'm not using ...

 

[OffGridForGood]

we can send you all the snow you want - you just need to pay the shipping...

 

[timselectric]

I would recommend express shipping, unless you want to receive water.

 

[rogerdw]

we can send you all the snow you want - you just need to pay the shipping...

I would recommend express shipping, unless you want to receive water.

Haha thanks, and the grandkids would love some. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I've never even seen snow in person. Led a very sheltered life.

 

[OffGridForGood]

There is snow in parts of Australia - even skiing ! {I mean in addition to the kind of skiing on water}

 

[Crowz]

I guess one nice thing about Alabama and snow is you can wait it out.

They are starting to emerge from the snow