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Valdemar said:
My new 9kW DC system is up, producing more than 60kWh/day this time of year on a good day, over 12 months estimating about 90% offset but on SoCal Edison TOU plan I should be able to erase most if not all of my bill. Here is my public monitoring portal.
Thanks and congratulations on your new system! That's the first SolarEdge system portal that I have seen.

A couple of thoughts:

- It's cool to see per-panel production information from a string-based array!
- Did your installer get the layout correct on the website? The reason I ask is the two panels which are underproducing the rest of the array are not near the cutout where I would expect to find them (next to the cutout). Also, it seems like the numbering is somewhat random: They do not seem to be organized in order like I would expect.
- It appears that SolarEdge provides some data on their external portal that Enphase no longer does, including individual panel production information.
- Do they provide more data if you login? For instance, can I see daily production curves for each panel when logged in?
- Can you monitor temperature?
 
RegGuheert said:
Valdemar said:
My new 9kW DC system is up, producing more than 60kWh/day this time of year on a good day, over 12 months estimating about 90% offset but on SoCal Edison TOU plan I should be able to erase most if not all of my bill. Here is my public monitoring portal.
Thanks and congratulations on your new system! That's the first SolarEdge system portal that I have seen.

A couple of thoughts:

- It's cool to see per-panel production information from a string-based array!
- Did your installer get the layout correct on the website? The reason I ask is the two panels which are underproducing the rest of the array are not near the cutout where I would expect to find them (next to the cutout). Also, it seems like the numbering is somewhat random: They do not seem to be organized in order like I would expect.
- It appears that SolarEdge provides some data on their external portal that Enphase no longer does, including individual panel production information.
- Do they provide more data if you login? For instance, can I see daily production curves for each panel when logged in?
- Can you monitor temperature?

Yes, it is pretty cool. I have access to per-panel telemetry data, such as current, power, energy, voltage, and optimizer voltage, with the ability to draw overlayed curves so I can compare panel performance.

I didn't watch over their shoulder but hope they mapped out the optimizers right, after all it is as much in their interest as it is in mine if not more since they'd performing warranty work on the system if something goes wrong (and their company is still around). The under-performing panels (1 and 11) in the portal correlate with the shade from the nearby vents, so that's a good sign. In retrospect they should have put these 2 panels in a different location but too late now, I'm estimating 0.5% loss overall which is not too bad with better aesthetics. The installer didn't do a good job of creating a logical layout that's why the panel numbers appear to be random, also all panels show up on one string in the logical layout view I have access to while there are actually 2. I'm not too happy about it but given the optimizer locations are actually correct it is not that big of a deal. Panel #30 has a bad optimizer or some other issue, the installer will come out to take care of it, hopefully soon.

As for temperature reporting, for the inverter it is available through the API but not visible in the portal, unsure if it is reported by individual optimizers.
 
Valdemar said:
Yes, it is pretty cool. I have access to per-panel telemetry data, such as current, power, energy, voltage, and optimizer voltage, with the ability to draw overlayed curves so I can compare panel performance.
That's nice! Overlaying different results is something that Enphase does not allow me to do (at least I have not figured out how to do it). Do you have the ability to overlay results from the same panel, but from different days?
Valdemar said:
The installer didn't do a good job of creating a logical layout that's why the panel numbers appear to be random, also all panels show up on one string in the logical layout view I have access to while there are actually 2. I'm not too happy about it but given the optimizer locations are actually correct it is not that big of a deal.
Yeah, I figured you had two strings in your system. Too bad they didn't make the logical assignments, well, logical.
Valdemar said:
Panel #30 has a bad optimizer or some other issue, the installer will come out to take care of it, hopefully soon.
O.K. I was thinking that result was from shading, but I hadn't realized I could do playbacks, so I didn't see the odd behavior. I agree that the shading you do have on a couple of units is so minor that its a don't care. I have quite a bit more shading than you do!

You'll have to start an MTBF thread for SolarEdge! ;) (Not really, that is considered an infantile failure, so it doesn't impact MTBF.) But hopefully SolarEdge will keep this data public so that we can see failures if/when they do occur.
Valdemar said:
As for temperature reporting, for the inverter it is available through the API but not visible in the portal, unsure if it is reported by individual optimizers.
Temperature is not overly critical, but I find that it does help me to understand why some "perfect solar" days produce more than others. I would think SolarEdge would want to know the temperature as much as anyone else, just to understand the environment better. But perhaps they decided that was just one more thing that could break and lower the MTBF.

I see some of your panels producing over 270W. That's a lot for this time of year (and more than any Enphase inverter will ever produce). So I guess you have 300Wp panels (9kW/30=300W)?

Again, very cool! Thanks for sharing!

ETA: I just discovered the "Collapse" feature. It looks like this might do something I've been asking Enphase to allow me do: to monitor on a per-subarray basis. In the SolarEdge case, it appears to sum up results based on logical grouping, which could be by string but also could be done by subarray.
 
RegGuheert said:
Do you have the ability to overlay results from the same panel, but from different days?

Doesn't look like this is something you can do. You can create 2 charts but not overlay 2 days of data from the same panel on one.

RegGuheert said:
I see some of your panels producing over 270W. That's a lot for this time of year (and more than any Enphase inverter will ever produce). So I guess you have 300Wp panels (9kW/30=300W)?

Yup, 300W LG panels. I was hoping for more than 270W with 0.96 efficiency! Hoping the numbers will be higher during winter.
 
Our system just went online this month. We are also using a SolarEdge inverter and optimizers with SunPower 327kW panels. Public link to the portal in my signature. I'm also pushing the data into PVOuput: http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=41929&sid=38287" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
jlv said:
Our system just went online this month. We are also using a SolarEdge inverter and optimizers with SunPower 327kW panels. Public link to the portal in my signature. I'm also pushing the data into PVOuput: http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=41929&sid=38287" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Congratulations! That's awesome!

Thanks for the links! The one in your post works fine, but the one in your signature does not work for me. Perhaps there is a setting you need to change to make that page public?
 
RegGuheert said:
Thanks for the links! The one in your post works fine, but the one in your signature does not work for me. Perhaps there is a setting you need to change to make that page public?
It's fixed. I had changed the name and that turned off it being public.
 
jlv said:
Our system just went online this month. We are also using a SolarEdge inverter and optimizers with SunPower 327kW panels. Public link to the portal in my signature. I'm also pushing the data into PVOuput: http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?id=41929&sid=38287" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting, looks like your 327W panels peak at about 275W on average, which is about the same what I get in California with panels rated at 10% less output. Must be because you're further North or due to non-ideal array tilt, or both. Any particular reason you went with SunPower?
 
The SunPower panels were an option on two of the quotes I was given. My roof has a smaller SSE face and a larger WSW face, so I wanted the maximum I could generate in the small space. I thought in general Southern CA got 10-20% more output than up here in MA.
 
For those who might be contemplating a vertical mount of PV panels...results of our "unconventional" layout:

Production 2 January/15 (commissioning of 3.5kW grid-tied system at lat. 45 deg. N) to summer solstice 21June/15.......1.7MWh.

NSPI power bill total cost (after credit for surplus PV production sent out to grid) for April 13 to June 8…....................$56.63CAD
(includes small amount of April electric space heating, all other household electrical needs, and charging Leaf for 1299.7 Km driving
during that time period).
 
June was a bit below average since the wet May weather continued through the first week, before the usual warm, dry weather kicked in. Then monsoon season started a bit early making for some cloudy weather the last few days.
Code:
Results for June for the last seven years:
                Old panels   Old+New panels
               (700 Watts)   (2170 Watts)
June 2015         117 kWh       333 kWh
June 2014         122 kWh       349 kWh
June 2013         124 kWh       356 kWh
June 2012         120 kWh
June 2011         134 kWh
June 2010         117 kWh
June 2009         101 kWh

Annual production:
2015      1663 kWh (so far)
2014      3217 kWh (= an average of 4.06 hours x panel wattage per day)
2013      3327 kWh (4.20 hours x panel wattage per day)
2012      1409 kWh 
2011      1203 kWh (4.71 hours x panel wattage per day)
2010      1132 kWh (4.43 hours x panel wattage per day)
2009      1165 kWh (4.56 hours x panel wattage per day)
2008       232 kWh (partial year)
 
June 2015 was rainy and hot resulting in lower PV production and higher consumption for air conditioning. PV production was almost 500 kWh lower than May and the utility meter only went backward approximately 100 kWh last month. Production was just slightly higher than last June, which was the month just prior to the addition of 29% more DC production capacity.

The new additional capacity has now been in place for one year, with production during that time coming in at approximately 18.2 MWh.

Below are all our numbers for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 along with the PVWatts predictions for the old array (PVW42: good through June 2014) and the new array (PVW54: good starting with July 2014):
Code:
Month    PVW42   2011   2012   2013   2014   2015  PVW54  Units
---------------------------------------------------------------
January    916    669    869    822    857   1006   1229   kWh
February   702    158   1085    866   1054   1361    915   kWh
March      965      0   1350   1152   1113   1547   1240   kWh
April     1465      0   1465   1495   1338   1737   1899   kWh
May       1583      0   1477   1491   1457   2069   2074   kWh 
June      1268      0   1478   1368   1521   1585   1666   kWh
July      1448    595   1395   1406   1880          1902   kWh
August    1442   1347   1447   1333   1794          1875   kWh
September 1209    910   1295   1414   1577          1555   kWh
October   1304    931    981   1034   1258          1713   kWh
November   864    949   1041   1018   1227          1154   kWh
December   820    803    612    669    812          1108   kWh
---------------------------------------------------------------
Totals   13986   6362  14495  14068  15888   9305  18330   kWh
Since installation, our system has produced 60.118 MWh as of the end of June 2015.

Net grid consumption since July 2011 (when PV was turned on permanently) has been 13.3 MWh. Solar production during this period was 59.3 MWh. Total consumption equals 72.6 MWh. Solar has accounted for 82% of that total.
 
Production from my 33 230wDC SunPower Panels via Sunnyboy (SMA) 7000US Inverter (7.59kW DC)
Pre-Solar Average Monthly Electric Bil - $250, prior to recent price increases

2015 AC Production/Electric Bill (APS)
Jan 863 ---------- $76.96 (old rate plan)
Feb 1060 -------- $9.90 (new rate plan)
Mar 1333 ------- $9.30
April 1441 ------ $9.30
May 1447 ------- $9.62
Jun 1329 -------- $9.93

2014 AC Production
Jan 1048
Feb 977
Mar 1347
Apr 1438
May 1476
Jun 1413
Jul 1346
Aug 1368
Sep 1242
Oct 1193
Nov 1053
Dec 844

2013 AC Production
Jan 910
Feb 1105
Mar 1328
Apr 1444
May 1474
Jun 1447
Jul 1284
Aug 1230
Sep 1280
Oct 1050
Nov 955
Dec 1005

2012 AC Production
Mar 1228
Apr 1217
May 1416
Jun 1325
Jul 1189
Aug 1168
Sep 1118
Oct 603
Nov 970
Dec 851

Link to my Solar Production - http://pvpwrev.webs.com/
 
dgpcolorado said:
I pretty much nailed my output when I expanded my array after getting the LEAF. The last two years of production have been 104% and 103% of the electricity needed to fuel my LEAF and run my house. Our power co-op limits net-metering to 120% of usage. More than that and they want to negotiate a wholesale power purchase agreement.
Yeah, I might as well use it up, burn it up.. charge other EV'ers up, etc then give it back if they don't want to roll it up or pay it out on the water/trash side.

I just cleaned the panels and WOW! :shock: probably powering the whole block now :lol:

Interesting PDF everyone here should check out if you're an energy mongol.

http://saudi-sia.com/wp-content/upl...-from-PV-power-plants-in-the-US-desert-v5.pdf

If wash (with water and brush) a few panels and then just blast off with high-pressure the rest in the evening..... then the next morning and throughout the day watch on the Enphase what those panels do...

The brushed panels put out more compared to the sprayed off ones.

I like power... and data and metrics! :mrgreen:
 
JasonA said:
...If wash (with water and brush) a few panels and then just blast off with high-pressure the rest in the evening..... then the next morning and throughout the day watch on the Enphase what those panels do...

The brushed panels put out more compared to the sprayed off ones.

I like power... and data and metrics! :mrgreen:
How interesting. My panels are at 15º now and I just "wash" them with the monsoon season rains. Wet, spring-like, snow is also good for washing panels. But I wouldn't have guessed that spraying isn't as good as wash + brush. (On the rare occasions I wash my panels I also dry them with a towel because I have hard water here.)
 
I do the same and we also have hard water but once I wash down the panels, I use this as a final rinse.
http://www.amazon.com/Windex-Outdoor-Glass-Patio-Cleaner/dp/B000V9QN1A

And the panels are spotless. If you have R/O water and a way to pressurize or siphon, you can do that (I've seen that on the solartalk and PVtalk forums) but that's too much work and fuss.

This way is easier :D

Lowes and HD have it cheaper..
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Windex-32-oz-Outdoor-Glass-Cleaner-040132/202872010
http://www.lowes.com/pd_33146-1260-40132_0__?productId=3126451

P.S. I have tried using this as a main rinse with dirty panels... let it foam... then rinse with decent results.. gets most of the dirt off and of course... no spots...

but nothing beats physical scrubbing!
 
Production from my 33 230wDC SunPower Panels via Sunnyboy (SMA) 7000US Inverter (7.59kW DC)
Pre-Solar Average Monthly Electric Bil - $250, prior to recent price increases

2015 AC Production/Electric Bill (APS)
Jan 863 ---------- $76.96 (old rate plan)
Feb 1060 -------- $9.90 (new rate plan)
Mar 1333 ------- $9.30
April 1441 ------ $9.30
May 1447 ------- $9.62
Jun 1329 -------- $9.93
Jul 1354 --------- $9.62

2014 AC Production
Jan 1048
Feb 977
Mar 1347
Apr 1438
May 1476
Jun 1413
Jul 1346
Aug 1368
Sep 1242
Oct 1193
Nov 1053
Dec 844

2013 AC Production
Jan 910
Feb 1105
Mar 1328
Apr 1444
May 1474
Jun 1447
Jul 1284
Aug 1230
Sep 1280
Oct 1050
Nov 955
Dec 1005

2012 AC Production
Mar 1228
Apr 1217
May 1416
Jun 1325
Jul 1189
Aug 1168
Sep 1118
Oct 603
Nov 970
Dec 851

Link to my Solar Production - http://pvpwrev.webs.com/
 
July 2015 was pretty average. Toward the end of the month it finally got hot around here, resulting in extra consumption for air conditioning. PV production was about 60 kWh below last July, but that was completely due to some panels being disconnected for a while as I sold off four of the M190s (and then replaced them with M250s).

The peak production day last month was July 16 at 80.4 kWh, which was just shy of last year's July record on July 25, 2014 at 80.7 kWh.

Below are all our numbers for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 along with the PVWatts predictions for the old array (PVW42: good through June 2014) and the new array (PVW54: good starting with July 2014):
Code:
Month    PVW42   2011   2012   2013   2014   2015  PVW54  Units
---------------------------------------------------------------
January    916    669    869    822    857   1006   1229   kWh
February   702    158   1085    866   1054   1361    915   kWh
March      965      0   1350   1152   1113   1547   1240   kWh
April     1465      0   1465   1495   1338   1737   1899   kWh
May       1583      0   1477   1491   1457   2069   2074   kWh 
June      1268      0   1478   1368   1521   1585   1666   kWh
July      1448    595   1395   1406   1880   1823   1902   kWh
August    1442   1347   1447   1333   1794          1875   kWh
September 1209    910   1295   1414   1577          1555   kWh
October   1304    931    981   1034   1258          1713   kWh
November   864    949   1041   1018   1227          1154   kWh
December   820    803    612    669    812          1108   kWh
---------------------------------------------------------------
Totals   13986   6362  14495  14068  15888  11128  18330   kWh
Since installation, our system has produced 61.941 MWh as of the end of July 2015.

Net grid consumption since July 2011 (when PV was turned on permanently) has been 13.0 MWh. Solar production during this period was 61.1 MWh. Total consumption equals 74.1 MWh. Solar has accounted for 82% of that total.
 
July was cloudy and slightly wetter than average and had the lowest solar production for the month in the seven years I have been tracking it.
Code:
Results for July for the last seven years:
                Old panels   Old+New panels
               (700 Watts)   (2170 Watts)
July 2015          96 kWh       268 kWh
July 2014         105 kWh       295 kWh
July 2013         103 kWh       290 kWh
July 2012          97 kWh
July 2011         108 kWh
July 2010         105 kWh
July 2009         112 kWh

Annual production:
2015      1931 kWh (so far)
2014      3217 kWh (= an average of 4.06 hours x panel wattage per day)
2013      3327 kWh (4.20 hours x panel wattage per day)
2012      1409 kWh 
2011      1203 kWh (4.71 hours x panel wattage per day)
2010      1132 kWh (4.43 hours x panel wattage per day)
2009      1165 kWh (4.56 hours x panel wattage per day)
2008       232 kWh (partial year)
 
Production from my 33 230wDC SunPower Panels via Sunnyboy (SMA) 7000US Inverter (7.59kW DC)
Pre-Solar Average Monthly Electric Bil - $250, prior to recent price increases

2015 AC Production/Electric Bill (APS)
Jan 863 ---------- $76.96 (old rate plan)
Feb 1060 -------- $9.90 (new rate plan)
Mar 1333 ------- $9.30
April 1441 ------ $9.30
May 1447 ------- $9.62
Jun 1329 -------- $9.93
Jul 1354 --------- $9.62
Aug 1358 -------$9.62

2014 AC Production
Jan 1048
Feb 977
Mar 1347
Apr 1438
May 1476
Jun 1413
Jul 1346
Aug 1368
Sep 1242
Oct 1193
Nov 1053
Dec 844

2013 AC Production
Jan 910
Feb 1105
Mar 1328
Apr 1444
May 1474
Jun 1447
Jul 1284
Aug 1230
Sep 1280
Oct 1050
Nov 955
Dec 1005

2012 AC Production
Mar 1228
Apr 1217
May 1416
Jun 1325
Jul 1189
Aug 1168
Sep 1118
Oct 603
Nov 970
Dec 851

Link to my Solar Production - http://pvpwrev.webs.com/
 
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