• Have you tried out dark mode?! Scroll to the bottom of any page to find a sun or moon icon to turn dark mode on or off!

diy solar

diy solar

What is the "normal" average output from a 2.2kw array in November?

I shamefully should add that the days I was seeing that 300-600w were on partially overcast days

Don't sweat it. You learned a couple things:

1) don't rely on a "summary" value when troubleshooting an issue that is comprised of multiple components.
2) PV production in overcast/partially overcast or shaded/partially shaded conditions is butt.
 
Well I feel a little ashamed, sorry to have everyone scrambling to get an answer with incomplete specs. I just checked each mppt.

Current reads 11:40 on a
semi-sunny day.

Mppt#1 12.5a@34v
Mppt#2 19.5a@32.4v
Mppt#3 10.6a@32.7v
Mppt#4 23.4a@29.8v

No shame ever in asking anything :).

What state are you in (what's temp there today)?

Where did you get those current (Amperage) readings from?
I suspect those are going to batteries @ 12.8V and not from your solar modules.

Numbers below are what I think you are getting. The Module numbers should be a bit higher since it 98-99% efficient, but kept same to compare easily.

Mppt 1 and 3 are the shaded ones? The module V of these also gives a hint how long they were/still are in full/partial shade.

Mppt#1 12.5a@12.8v = 160W
Mppt#2 19.5a@12.8v = 250W
Mppt#3 10.6a@12.8v = 136W
Mppt#4 23.4a@12.8v = 299W

Module#1 4.7a@34.0v = 160W
Module#2 7.7a@32.4v = 250W
Module#3 4.2a@32.7v = 136W
Module#4 10.0a@29.8v = 299W


Mppt#1 12.5a@34v = 425W
Mppt#2 19.5a@32.4v = 632W
Mppt#3 10.6a@32.7v = 346W
Mppt#4 23.4a@29.8v = 697W
 
Thank you everyone! Always so helpful here!
Don't sweat it. You learned a couple things:

1) don't rely on a "summary" value when troubleshooting an issue that is comprised of multiple components.
2) PV production in overcast/partially overcast or shaded/partially shaded conditions is butt.
This about sums it up, I got so used to everything just working in unison as a whole. It's easy to forget that I set all this up and should have known to check individual components.

Probably about time to go around with a wrench and screwdriver to ensure everything is nice and tight still.

Thank you all for the real world examples of what yall are getting in November, I think things are working as expected, I just jumped the gun thinking something was up.

By the way, my morning shadow should be on panels 1,2, and 3 and recedes in order of
3-2-1. I'm not sure why 1 and 3 were showing lower numbers. I checked on them with my drone last week, but probably time to put up a ladder, and make sure I'm all good up there as well.

Again, thanks everyone
 
Numbers in November can be impressive. Yesterday my #1 array achieved 7.1kWh from 1600W worth of panels. I saw a couple of times it was peaking at 1400W. Sunny and cold is just about ideal. It helped that my batteries were down to 20% and had plenty of room to accept power.
 
Numbers in November can be impressive. Yesterday my #1 array achieved 7.1kWh from 1600W worth of panels. I saw a couple of times it was peaking at 1400W. Sunny and cold is just about ideal. It helped that my batteries were down to 20% and had plenty of room to accept power.
After I posted them cc numbers I did see a couple spikes that were peaking around 1.9kw. Maybe she just wanted a little attention after all😅

By the way I'm in Michigan, not the most ideal location for solar but I'm working with what I have
 
For the vast majority of MI Lake Michigan also throws a wrench in things with generating cloud cover. We frequently only get a few sunny days in November, December and into January. Things usually start to clear up towards the end of January when the lake finally gets cold enough and freezes over enough to quit throwing so much moisture into the air.
 
For the vast majority of MI Lake Michigan also throws a wrench in things with generating cloud cover. We frequently only get a few sunny days in November, December and into January. Things usually start to clear up towards the end of January when the lake finally gets cold enough and freezes over enough to quit throwing so much moisture into the air.
Not to mention the intentional spraying out artificial clouds from airplanes that creates a thick cloud cover quite a few times a month🤬
 
Just checking. Was hoping it was a Victron Smartshunt. One of the benefits of the Smartshunt is it logs the last 46 days of data, which gives you a more accurate history of performance.
That sounds very useful, does it work independently? Meaning I don't need to go buy more blue things to get them readings?
 
That sounds very useful, does it work independently? Meaning I don't need to go buy more blue things to get them readings?

The smartshunt is a standalone device that tracks your battery's voltage, current and state of charge. When accessed through the bluetooth interface on your phone/tablet, it will report the last 46 days of values it tracks.

1731085068310.png

The smartshunt bluetooth range is not great - 10-15'.
 
Hi all its been a while. I have a 2.2kw array facing south. I tend to get 350ish and no more than 600ish watts during high production. Is that normal expectations?

This site has what you need. Set up your system and then play with the loss factor. It will match up nicely.


Then, you can go here to get specific forecasts and nowcasts on actual production in your local weather.

 
Hi all its been a while. I have a 2.2kw array facing south. I tend to get 350ish and no more than 600ish watts during high production. Is that normal expectations?

I'm getting 2050 right now from a nominal 6 kw. It should peak at about 2500 watts. These panels are laying flat and a little dirty.

The sites I posted are extremely useful when you are trying to check or forecast production.
 
I'm getting 2050 right now from a nominal 6 kw. It should peak at about 2500 watts. These panels are laying flat and a little dirty.

The sites I posted are extremely useful when you are trying to check or forecast production.
Thank you, so 40% can be expected.
The smartshunt is a standalone device that tracks your battery's voltage, current and state of charge. When accessed through the bluetooth interface on your phone/tablet, it will report the last 46 days of values it tracks.

Thank you!
I wanna get one of these shunty mcshunts now!😁
 
My 14 kW of panels are producing 500 watts right now in the overcast, and have rarely done better for the last two days. November is a bad month here for solar generation.
Jip.

800 watts here and just have total 150watts hour on a day
Lol.

Winter always sucks
And no use to set some small windturbines.
Thare is no wind lol.
 
40% can be expected.

Please do not draw that conclusion. You have to calculate this based on
- angles of your panels
- latitude and longitude
- date and time of day
- cloud and haze cover
- temperature of the panels
- dirtiness of the panels
- load (do you have sufficient load to maximize energy transfer out of the panels)
- a fudge factor to cover panel age, wiring loss, conversion loss, all other loss

Do this the very hard way, or fill in your info on the two sites I gave you. They are a real gift to us.
 
Last edited:

diy solar

diy solar
Back
Top