Re: Solar Data
Reply #29 –
Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents worth. Have solar on the roof, but not on the coach. 32 250 watt panels wired in 2 groups of 16 panels each. 4000 panel watts on each side of the roof ridge line, 8000 total. If you look at my profile you can see the arrangement. Some of the panels may face the sun directly for a moment depending on the time and day of the year, but that is rare if it even happens. The inverter is equipped to deal with 2 groups and has a readout that can display several things, and it also records some of the maximum values. If one had a panel and could point it at the sun, output can vary even on sunny days as some sunny days are more sunny than others. A panel is rated for X number of watts at a set temperature, if the panel temperature is lower it will produce more than the rated watts and less if it is hotter. The amount of sun striking the panel can also vary due to moisture or dust/smoke in the air. There is also a thing I will call solar boost that occurs on days with some clouds, like a thin cloud cover and there is an opening that the sun can shine though. Under this condition the panel will produce more watts than with just a clear sky. The effect usually doesn't last long. Most of the time output is well below the panel rating with a non-moveable installation. With a partly cloudy sky output jumps up and down as the clouds pass by. My panels on a clear day will start producing 3 or 4 watts, even before sunrise and continue until after sunset. With just a couple of panels though one might not even notice some of the things I mentioned. Max output (from the electric bill, some months longer or shorter) 1305 kwh Jul 2015; min output 311 kwh Feb 2015. Average per month over 5 years Jan 578, Feb 615, Mar 806, Apr 895, May 907, Jun 1070 Jul 1198, Aug 985, Sep 870, Oct 752, Nov 494, Dec 460. Total per year 2013 - 10117kwh, 2014 - 9974, 2015 - 9166, 2016 - 9501, 2017 - 9425. Total output from Nov 20, 2012 to today Mar 30, 2018 at 5:30 pm CDT, 50,512 kwh . Dollar value at end of Feb $5,441.41.
Topic: Solar Data