Solar Panels Installed on South East - Low Output

LZeezoo on 23/06/2022 - 14:43
Last edited 23/06/2022 - 15:20 by 1 other user

Hi all, I need some help with the recently Installed solar System - Any Solar experts if you can kindly give your input

With growing electricity price in mind, Just installed a 13.2 KW system with 30 X 440 Jinko Tiger Pro P type Panels with a 10KW SunGrow Inverter for $7K after STC rebates. When the quote was provided the installer did a fit on my North -West Side of Roof and I was quite fine with it as they were able to show that using these panels, they would install all 30 Panel on North West Side.

On the installation day, after climbing the roof they discovered they cant fit all 30 on 1 side and they need to fit at least 8 panels on the opposite South East Side. I wanted them to fit it on my West roof but they told me it would not fit and I will have same power loss as on the South Side. Eventually ,We ended up installing 2 strings of 11 X 440 on North West and 1 string of 8 X 440 on the South East Side.

Now 3 days later I am checking the performance, it appears quite poor from the south side. Not like a small percentage loss as they suggested. The southern string is producing very low current, less than 1 Amp after 12 in the afternoon. As it's quite sunny in South West Sydney, link to snapshot of production, at various times today and orientation of property on compass. Yesterday was also sunny for the most part and my solar output from this 13.2 KW system stands at 31 Kw

Does it seem a decent output from a newly installed solar system of this size? Is the direction here a major issue? What are your thoughts? What can be done to fix /improve this potential output issue as I am yet to pay the installer?

Home & Garden Solar Energy System

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 23/06/2022 - 14:51
    +1

    We are getting 20-22 a day from our 5.4kw system at the moment. North coast NSW. 8 panels facing north 12 west.

  • CyberMurning on 23/06/2022 - 14:57
    -5

    buy new house install new solar
    report back

    done.

  • AndyC1 on 23/06/2022 - 14:57
    +1

    Can you produce a graph with hourly reads with the X axis the TOD and the Y axis the KW being generated at the TOD.

    You need to do this over a number of days to ensure that one cloud does not cause issues, but also be aware that cloudy days and sunny days will skew the results one way or the other.

    • derrida derider on 23/06/2022 - 19:01
      +1

      Not only that, but an hourly graph will probably show you are getting very healthy output in the morning from those southeast panels that will at least partly compensate for their low afternoon output. It is not surprising that a southeast facing panel produces little output in the hours when the sun is in the northwest part of the sky!

  • djkelly69 on 23/06/2022 - 15:02
    +5

    I got 8kwh total out of my 6.6kw system in CBR yesterday on a sunny day, so doesn't seem too bad for the day with literally the least daylight of the year?

    • Gratt on 23/06/2022 - 18:28

      I got 7,5 kWh on my 6,6 KW system in Brisbane yesterday. I get a lot of shade this time of year. I figure the trees are probably doing a better job of CO2 reduction anyway. It's not all about power bills.

      Those South facing panels will be getting shade from the house. I expect that would change heaps in Summer. During winter you may wonder why you installed them. You will get a huge boost from them in Summer. Thats when that string will pay itself off.

      • Zeezoo on 27/06/2022 - 12:33

        thanks mate

  • Porker on 23/06/2022 - 15:02
    +2

    If the panels couldn't be fitted to the west side, what more would've you wanted them to do?

    Perhaps should've just stopped the work at that point and speak to supplier to only pay for the panels installed. But agreeing to move the remaining panels to the southern side means you'll also be needing to pay for them

    • Zeezoo on 23/06/2022 - 15:37

      I actually wanted them to limit it to 2 strings of NW Side only which would've been a 9.7 KW system but as I said they told me that even on South I wouldnt have any major issue . and the loss would be negligible whereas it seems the out put is roughly 25% of what each string on North Side is producing. No Questions about paying them for the work and supplies .

      • Porker on 23/06/2022 - 15:46

        Ahh.. k… To say that the southern side will be as efficient as the northern side would be inaccurate. ie. Northern side will always be more direct than southern for our part of the world.

        Presumably you got nothing of their promises in writing such that I think you're out of luck with trying to either recover costs or try to obtain a system which is as efficient as a northern facing one.

  • lgacb08 on 23/06/2022 - 15:03
    +2

    Your south east string is fine, i have south west panel in Melb and on a clear sunny day, peak current on that string only reach 3-4 amp deep in winter. My summer output can be 47kwh but a similarly clear day at winter solstice was only a measly 13kwh.
    what surprised me is the dip current in string 2 in the middle screenshot as string 1 and 2 should be at similar voltage and current if they're on the same roof side, it may be just instantaneous thing or you have some sort of shading?

  • freo on 23/06/2022 - 15:21

    Minor hijack - can all solar systems produce this awesome analysis page?

    Mine is 10 years old admittedly, but the ONLY thing I can see on the LED display is the live Output (and total per day/month)

    I have no way of knowing whether all my 24 panels are even plugged in. For all I know, a pigeon could have disconnected 23 of my panels one day and I've had a single panel ever since …

    • Porker on 23/06/2022 - 15:24

      The default app software for my system showed jack all. I ended up installing the fusion home app (can't remember exactly) which showed a whole lot more information and what each string was generating etc.

    • scottishdave on 23/06/2022 - 15:25

      How long do solar panels last? Mine were installed in 2008 and their output seems to have dropped a fair bit.

      • Pascal on 23/06/2022 - 20:35

        Might wanna give them a clean

      • Euphemistic on 24/06/2022 - 15:54

        Usually would have a 25year warranty

  • brad1-8tsi on 23/06/2022 - 15:26
    +1

    6.6kw system 5kw inverter. 12 panels East. 8 panels West. Sydney

    Peak output in summer is 4.4kw but starts early and finishes late.

    On winter solstice yesterday it was 2.36kW peak and total output of 10.6kWh total. In summer it's regularly 35kWh +. You won't get great outputs this time of year (IMO)

    • JDMcarfan on 23/06/2022 - 17:10

      that seems kinda low compared to my outputs. Im guessing an old system/shade.
      My system is about 20% bigger but makes double yours and made 35kwh right after it was installed in April, so would expect 50-60 in mid summer.
      Panel placement of yours though does contribute to a slightly lower total output (albeit with higher generation when its most likely to be used)

      • lgacb08 on 23/06/2022 - 18:21

        he got split east west system so the production curve will plateau for longer, not like a typical bell shape. Over longer term his system has greater usage as you can have greater duration of self-consumption and reduce import from grid.

        • JDMcarfan on 23/06/2022 - 18:48

          Yep and that’s something I wish I was told when getting my install. I would much rather a smooth line over the bell curve
          Installers usually want to focus on max output and say that north facing will cover you for afternoon use but in winter it certainly does not.
          Having some solar at 4 would be much better than quite an excess at 12.
          Still does seem that the output overall is quite a bit lower than it should be. Installers mention that going e/w vs north is about 5-10% less overall production

    • brad1-8tsi on 26/06/2022 - 13:35

      Im guessing an old system/shade.

      Installed 2018. It's what I'd describe as entry level "good". No shade.

      As Igacb08 says, it starts early and finishes late. In summer it's producing meaningful amounts by about 6.30am and goes through to about 7.30pm. Most days in Summer it will produce 25kwh-35kWh daily with a monthly total of 750+kWh.

      Ideally you would over-panel a bit more but it's already at the max legal 30%.

  • Euphemistic on 23/06/2022 - 15:58
    +1

    You’ll get more out of south east facing panels in summer, but right now is literally within a few days of the worst time of year for them.

    • Zeezoo on 23/06/2022 - 17:05

      Thanks that sounds promising

      • Euphemistic on 23/06/2022 - 19:21

        It also depends on the pitch of the roof and actual direction it faces. Too steep you’ll get very little. Facing east a bit and you’ll get some morning sun but not afternoon.

        You should be able to check the specs of the panels and compare it to the local solar angle and roof pitch to work out how much power you should get. Your supplier may even be able to do his for you.

        Our south facing roof is steep and would receive virtually zero solar power in winter. But it would get a little late arvo sun in summer.

  • mctubster on 23/06/2022 - 16:07
    +1

    Im just south of the Sydney CBD with 6.7KW of panels facing North. There was sporadic cloud cover (for me at least). Output for 22/6 was 22.6KW/h.

    Be aware that any shading on a string will have a massive impact on the output of that string. Even just a little shadow from a TV antenna or Roof Finial can have a massive impact unless the panels have bypass diodes.

    There are websites where you can calculate your Insolation (theoretical max) based on location, angle to north, panel pitch for time of year.

  • JDMcarfan on 23/06/2022 - 17:06

    Western Sydney (Just outside Parramatta) and have a recently installed 7.8kw system (6kw Inverter) - 1/3 Eastern Roof (kind of wish I picked western instead to match peak usage period), 2/3 Northern Roof.
    Production on sunny Winter Solstice (21st/22nd June) - 23.4kwh
    Peak of 5.4kw, and above 3kw between 9:15 and 1:30

  • GordonD on 23/06/2022 - 18:04

    This time of the year, mid winter, when the sun doesn't rise very high in the northern sky, is when the output of panels pointing south is going to be worst. It'll be better in the summer when the sun is much closer to directly overhead. But the output from panels pointing south is never going to be good. And the only way to fix it is to point them north.

    North is the best direction to point panels. West is the next best, because that way they generate power in the evening when load is highest. East is next worst. And on an angled roof pointing south so they generate virtually nothing in winter is just plain silly. You're just wasting the money it cost to buy and install them.

  • Hiroko on 23/06/2022 - 19:43

    Panels installed on southern-biased roof will pretty much be useless throughout the cool season as the sun rises and sets at an angle and not directly overhead.
    The sunlight is also less intense in winter.
    You will see an increase in production from those panels once we head into the warmer months.

  • jay9 on 23/06/2022 - 20:52
    +1

    Are any of the panels shaded at all? A string has panels wired in series - the lowest output panel will limit the output of the entire string.

    Sounds crazy right? Basically if you have something like a tree / chimney blocking 50% of one panel in a string, the entire string's output is limited to 50%.

    This is one reason why people pay for expensive micro inverters in specific use cases.

    • Euphemistic on 24/06/2022 - 15:56

      Can vouch for that. Our western string had a tv aerial that would ‘shade’ one panel. There was nothing else shading the roof. Could see the dip in output. Made a big enough difference that I moved the aerial and now get a constant curve output.

  • Bad Wolf on 23/06/2022 - 22:38

    Your south east panels will catch morning sun and allow you to use more of your own power at that time.

    Our north facing 13.2KW yesterday
    No roof space for any east/west panels it’s dead before 8am and at 4pm winter
    Summer 6pm about 2kw and 7.30pm 0

    • Zeezoo on 23/06/2022 - 22:44

      Thanks ,can you please tell your system size as well as suburb? If that's also a 13.2 KW system it puts our generation to shame

      • Bad Wolf on 23/06/2022 - 22:49
        +1

        Yeah it’s 13.2 further south then south west Sydney.
        Think near Winton or 30minutes south of Campbelltown

        That’s an answer to your orientation question.
        All panels are full due north.

        If you can see a graph you can see when power is produced. That dip was just some giant clouds.

        23/6 47
        21/6 33

        • Zeezoo on 24/06/2022 - 14:50

          Mate, I discussed this with my installer . He doesn't believe that one can produce 47 KW for any day in June on 13.2 System. Can you take a sceen shot of your yesterdays production and post here if it isnt difficult for you.

          Per my Installer 30 KW production in June for 13.2 Kw system is a great result

          • Bad Wolf on 24/06/2022 - 16:24

            @Zeezoo: Just remember these are all north panels.

            tue 21 33
            wed 22 53
            thu 23 47

            2021 June
            Lowest 5.7
            Highest 57
            Average 37

            2022 June we’ve had great weather, equal production to the recent rainy March and April
            Lowest 21
            Highest 60
            Average 48

            • Zeezoo on 27/06/2022 - 12:32

              @Bad Wolf: Thanks Mate, sent that to Installer and now he is coming up with funny theories.

              Anyways much appreciated

    • Euphemistic on 24/06/2022 - 15:58
      +1

      Your south east panels will catch morning sun and allow you to use more of your own power at that time.

      They may catch morning sun depending on the angles of roof and actual direction of the roof. If it’s more east than south there should be some output.

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