The rise of renewable energy has brought about the need for effective solar system monitoring that plays a pivotal role in ensuring that your solar system is in good working condition.
The most important benefit of system monitoring is the peace of mind it will give you. Your system can be checked on at any time online. Solar system monitoring will generally show you how much electricity your solar panels are producing and also record the total amount of solar power your solar PV system has generated.
This may help you monitor the performance of your solar panels by comparing previous readings to track any variation in generation from one period of time to another.
SOLAR SYSTEM MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Some solar inverters have a built-in production monitoring function and many also have a downloadable mobile application so you can track your solar power production from wherever you are. At Hauler Engineering we have a wide range of smart solar inverters that offer this incredible solar system monitoring option with advanced inverters such as Sunsynk, Palitron, Growatt, and many more. Contact us and order your smart inverter at a discounted price.
Some inverters will also include basic electricity consumption monitoring – although many don’t. Consumption monitoring features allow you to see whether you are using the solar power your solar PV system is generating or whether it is being exported to the grid. This can help you track your solar power production and consumption and adjust your consumption habits based on the best time of day to use electricity with solar panels.
If your solar inverter doesn’t include consumption data, or you’d like access to more in-depth data, you could consider investing in a solar inverter wifi dongle or an advanced solar power monitoring system that integrates with your inverter, providing increased data and information allowing you to learn even more about your solar power production and usage.
Having a reliable internet source for your solar system is a must if you want monitoring capabilities. An unreliable internet connection will limit the data you’re able to capture. There is no way to monitor your system remotely if the system is not connected to the internet.
REASONS TO MONITOR YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM
- Optimal Performance: Regular tracking ensures that the system is performing at its peak, leading to maximum energy generation and reduced electricity bills.
- Early Detection of Issues: Through continuous monitoring, issues such as shading, inverter malfunctions, or panel defects can be identified early, reducing the risk of more significant damages or losses.
- Safety and Compliance: Monitoring helps ensure that the system adheres to safety regulations and complies with local grid requirements.
- ROI Assurance: For investors and stakeholders, monitoring is a testament that the solar installation is yielding the anticipated return on investment.
BENEFITS OF SOLAR SYSTEM MONITORING
Early detection of abnormalities in solar power production
You could learn when your solar PV system isn’t producing power as expected and take action to rectify the issue faster. Advanced monitoring tools provide preemptive alerts for potential issues, allowing for timely interventions.
Increased solar power self-consumption
To make the most of your solar PV system it’s important to maximize your self-consumption of the solar power it generates. A good solar power monitoring system should alert you to the best time of day to operate energy-intensive appliances like your washing machine to help you use more of the solar power generation from your panels rather than drawing electricity from the grid.
Understanding fluctuations in your electricity costs
if you receive an unexpectedly high electricity bill, your first thought might be that your solar panels aren’t working properly. While that may be the reason, it could also be a number of other factors including consuming more electricity, changes to your tariff or electricity prices, or potentially even a billing error. A solar power monitoring system may be able to help pinpoint the reason for fluctuations in your electricity costs. If the cause of the fluctuations in your electricity costs is within your control, the information provided by your solar power monitoring system could assist you in identifying what action you could take that could help you manage the cost of your electricity bill.
Prolonging system lifespan.
A well-maintained solar system lasts longer. By facilitating remote interventions, monitoring systems can prevent minor issues from escalating into major problems that could reduce the system’s lifespan. Moreover, by identifying areas of concern like shading, panel degradation, or inverter malfunctions, monitoring solutions enable timely corrective actions, adding years to a solar system’s operational life
Hauler Engineering SOLAR SYSTEM MONITORING SERVICE
Hauler Engineering installs high-quality solar systems with monitoring options that can give you easy access to useful information about the generation of solar power and your electricity use. our solar technicians will set up your monitoring software to give you and our team visibility into the system’s performance and health. Our technicians will also set up alerts that will notify our team if your system isn’t producing as expected.
Depending on which kind of system you choose, these solar power monitoring systems could help you to measure:
- Your electricity consumption
- Your solar power generation
- How much solar power you have exported to the grid
- How much electricity you have drawn from the grid
- Your battery charge and discharge power, if you have one
- You could discover which appliances you might be able to start using in the daytime so they use solar energy if its available instead of grid power, increasing your self-consumption ratio. For example, you might switch to using your washing machine, dishwasher or, other large appliances during the middle of the day, when your solar PV system is likely to be generating the most electricity. If you’re not usually home during the day, you may be able to use a timer feature on your appliances to tap into the solar power your solar PV system generates.
Using your solar data can help you make the most of the solar power your solar PV system generates. At Hauler Engineering we assist our clients to monitor their systems online and assist when they need any technical advice at no extra cost.