Are My Solar Panels Working?

Your panels are installed and ready to go, but the stressful idea that your panels will stop working and you won’t have any idea can’t stop creeping into your mind. You’ve heard how little maintenance they require, but since you don’t know what signs to look for when they stop working, you don’t know what constitutes as “little maintenance.” You’ll definitely want to keep track of your solar panels and make sure they’re working properly. Keep reading to find out exactly how to do that.

The Inverter is the Brain of the Solar System

Your inverter is what turns the DC energy your panels produce into AC energy, which is what actually powers your home. You’ll want to inspect your inverter before anything else to see if it’s functioning okay. This will give you full insight into whether your solar panels are functioning properly.

First, you’ll need to figure out which type of inverter you have. Either a micro-inverter or a string inverter. A micro-inverter is a system attached to the back of your solar panels. A string inverter is much larger and usually placed on the side of the home. Knowing which type of inverter you have will help you explain any issues you have if you do discover a problem.

Usually, you’ll receive monitoring software for your inverter. If they don’t, however, and you have a micro-inverter, you’ll need to request an app or website to keep track of your inverter, as it will be placed beneath the panel itself.

You’ll need to keep track of your system for a while to find out if your current solar production is vastly different than usual or not. If you look at your monitoring system and it looks like it’s producing at the same rate it has since you had the panels installed, there’s likely no issues. However, if you’re experiencing sunny, viable weather and your panels aren’t producing at a rate in line with what they usually produce, that means there’s most likely an issue. If, however, it’s been unusually cloudy or snow has been building up on your roof, this would explain the problem.

What do I do if I discover a problem?

The first thing to keep in mind is that you’re probably not an electrician and climbing onto your roof to find the problem is extremely unsafe. However, there are other steps you can take on your own.

One step is to see if any debris is covering your panel, like leaves covering a large portion of the panel.

Another thing to check for is if you have more shade than usual. A cause of this would be something like a tree sprouting up that wasn’t there before.

If you have debris, your panel could use a simple wash.

If you have a huge new tree in the way, the next step would be trimming it if possible or talking to your neighbor if it’s theirs.

I can’t find the problem!

If you can’t figure out the problem, you’ll need to call your solar provider to help you out. If something serious is wrong with them, your warranty should cover it.

Just remember to relax. Your solar panels are unlikely to have any serious issues until they’re into their 20’s.

Want to learn more about bringing solar energy into your life? Check out the HahaSmart blog!

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