The Importance Of System Monitoring
Once a solar energy system is installed and powered, customers have the ability to monitor their system’s production. Some customers may not think to monitor their system’s production if their appliances and electronics are working properly, but customers could be missing out on key information about their system. Key information includes output of solar panels, panel output history in different seasons, hardware defects, and energy consumption. System monitoring lets customers troubleshoot any issues with their system, and see which hours of the day their system is producing the most energy. Customers interested in monitoring their solar energy system should first be familiar with their system’s inverter.
Understanding Inverters
A complete solar energy system comes equipped with an inverter. Inverters convert direct current (DC) energy from the sun into alternating current (AC) energy that can be used in the home. On top of energy conversion, inverters track panel health and can communicate which panels need maintenance due to substandard production. Some of the main inverter manufacturers that Renu Energy Solutions installs include Enphase, SolarEdge, and Tesla. These three manufacturers have their own app; the Enphase Installer Portal, mySolarEdge app, and Tesla app.
Optimizing Your Energy Use
Keeping a close track of your energy usage lets you know when the peak hours of production are, and when your appliances use the most energy. For example, if a customer has an electric vehicle charger that’s hooked up to the internet, the system monitoring software can find when the peak hours of energy are. Once those peak hours are identified, the customer can schedule their vehicle to charge during that time.
Another way to take advantage of system monitoring involves combatting your utility companies Time-Of-Use billing policy. Time-Of-Use billing charges customers a premium for their electricity at most popular hours of the day. These times include the afternoon and evening when families return from work or school. Knowing this, customers can find out when the most expensive hours of use are and charge their vehicles and energy storage units during the cheapest hours.
Maintain Your Investment
Next time you check your solar system’s monitoring, take a closer look at module health and energy production history. If you have a few panels that are lagging behind or a system that isn’t producing as much energy that it’s supposed to, it may be time for maintenance for your solar system. Sun Service Specialists can troubleshoot any solar energy system issue and provide you solutions to get your system running as good as new!
