Challenges Of Home Solar Power System During Winter Time



If you have invested a large amount of money on a home solar power system with multiple Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof, there are few things that bother you as much as seeing the counter showing reduction in power output. Solar panels work most effectively and efficiently when the sun is giving out strong light but as soon as the quality of light reduces, the power output will start to fall.

After all, if you paid $20,000 or more for the solar system, even when government rebates are available, you want to maximize the electricity they produce to get the best Return On Investment (ROI).

Consider this, if your home solar energy system has a 10% drop in productivity, this will become a big problem over time. The drop in energy production by the PV panels means you are wasting money. Who would want that?

For those that live on a farm or in the block of bush in the hills, this is less of a drama. Living in the hills, the solar system is likely to be used for other purchases such as barn lighting or for pumping water from a well. If batteries are not charged today, then tomorrow.

For those that live in the suburb, a reduction of energy output from a solar system has to be addressed quickly. A 10% power output reduction today will become 25% or 40% six months down the road. Can you imagine what will happen in years to come?

The Challenges of Home Solar System In Winter

In winter, overcast skies can be a problem. Falling snow on the solar panels is something you need to look out for. Solar panels work perfectly well in northern climates, assuming your array has good exposure and a good number of sunny days spread over the rest of the year.

But shorter days in winter, resulting in fewer hours of sunlight for the panels to do its job. Interestingly, in the cold and when the light is good winter, the solar panels actually work more efficiently. This is the opposite problem where the weather is hot because the PV panel cannot dissipate heat properly.

When conditions are too hot, solar cells are less efficient thus creating lower power output, but in winter, this is not such a big issue. In addition, in snowy conditions, there are a lot of reflected light in a somewhat lack of direct light.

Thus, in winter, if you live in the suburbs and have a solar energy system, get a snow rake and put a nice soft brush strip on the bottom, rather than risk damaging the expensive panels. On a clear winter’s day, once you have removed most of the snow from the roof solar panels, it will start working again and you will see an improvement in the power output.

Powermeter Google – Helping You Save Your Home Energy Cost




Google is a household name today the world over for the reputation it has built bringing in novel ideas and applications that are quite user friendly; the name spells magic in the field of various internet related applications.

However Google has come out with solutions relating to home energy systems too! Yes; its product PowerMeter Google bears ample testimony to its noteworthy presence in the area of home energy systems. Such a large customer base, Google has built can well be exploited by it to make a grand entry into any field where customers are in need of innovative gadgets and appliances.

There is no doubt that integrated technology is the key when it comes to picking various gadgets for carrying out multifarious functions in modern homes. This is where the enormous base of loyal users who consider Google as the panacea for solving any issues they face comes in handy to lap up Google’s innovations.

Google PowerMeter is, in fact, an API or software tool that links measuring domestic power consumption to your computer. It thus certainly makes keeping a tab on power consumption at home or office on an ongoing basis a reliable reality.

Once, consumption has been linked to your computer, the day is not far when you will access the meter reading with your web enabled mobile phone anytime from wherever you are. Doesn’t it sound magical?

A Smart Meter or electrical device first needs to be installed at your home; this is meant to provide real-time info about the power consumption to the Google PowerMeter device. You can thus keep yourself abreast with the actual usage all the time.

At the moment, there are not many countries that possess the technical resource to bring in integration of smart metering; but a lot many of them are already seeking ways and means to provide it at the earliest.

Google is already testing the process in association with utility services in United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and India. The concept has enormous potential.

To start with, utility companies are being given free access to the application and the power consumers too are not being charged a penny. The application is enabled to be used with existing power monitors.

Those of you who do not have a Smart Meter installed at your homes, you can easily find devices for electrical monitoring that can be tagged on to the supply cable without any modification to the existing electrical circuitry. The power consumption data is transmitted by these devices in real time that can be read by you.

The fact that by using the PowerMeter Google application you can access the power consumption at your home on a continuous basis is so very unique; that too in real time!

Of course, this means that you get a reliable assessment of the electrical gadgets installed at home that draw higher power. Cost of power has already gone up substantially and this can be reduced by shifting the usage of gadgets to non-peak hours by studying the consumption pattern.

12 Ways To Troubleshoot A Faulty DIY Home Solar Power System




A home solar power system or a Photovoltaic (PV) system normally includes a series of solar panels consisting of a set of interconnected solar cells, an inverter, a battery and interconnecting wiring. Solar panels can be easily constructed at home as a Do It Yourself (DIY) exercise.

However, sometimes the solar electrical system installed at home does not function properly. Nothing can be more irritating than finding, when one gets up in the morning, the solar panel indicating low pressure even when there is a bright sunshine.

It is even more exasperating to find that the batteries are weak. It is extremely difficult to identify the problem, especially if someone is outside his home and is in a shed on a mountain or in a farmhouse, where additional power from the solar electrical system is absolutely essential.

If assembled properly, solar cells and arrays are highly dependable and can withstand extreme weather conditions and even hailstones, solar panel systems are, luckily, very durable and generally, trouble-free. However, on some occasions they, too, develop some faults.

If such a situation arises, the faults should be located and rectified without any delay; otherwise the other components can also get damaged because of excessive power loads on them. Let us assume that the solar arrays have been functioning efficiently for quite some time and that the lower power generation due to malfunctioning of the solar system occurred all of a sudden and is an unforeseen development.

Unfortunately, this post cannot devote any space to deal with topics on tips to rectify the faults of either controller or inverter. If the solar array system was a purchased one, it may be better to go through the instructions manual and read the troubleshooting tips offered in the diagnostic chapter of the manual.

Alternatively, it is also advisable to contact the dealer or the manufacturer who supplied the system. They would be able to answer all the queries relating to the problem and offer solutions.

On the other hand, if the array is a Do It Yourself (DIY) project, the fault can be easily located and it may not be difficult to get the system back in operation.

However, before checking and rectification work is initiated, taking proper precautions is absolutely essential as the solar array generates electricity. If one is not confident, it is always advisable to seek the services of a professional for assistance.

Troubleshooting A Homemade Solar Energy System

The following guidelines may help to sort out the problem:

1) Take out the power isolation switch or even better, disconnect the terminals of the battery.

2) Inspect the panels to ensure that they are free from dust and leaves. It is a common feature to find heaps of leaves on the surface of solar panel in autumn, particularly if it is a farmhouse or a house on the hills.

3) Verify if there is any new electrical appliance in the house that consumes more power than anticipated.

4) Make sure that no equipment in the house is defective. If an appliance is not working efficiently, it is bound to drain out more power.

5) Ensure that there is no physical damage to either the surface of the solar panel or their configuration.

6) Ensure that the terminals of the battery are not corroded.

7) Make sure that controller and inverter are functioning efficiently and that the connections are intact.

8) Verify the power leads and ensure that wiring is not damaged.

9) Make sure that there are no tree branches on the cables and that entire wiring is intact without any breaks or worn out insulation.

10) Take a look at the roof and ensure that there are no electrocuted animals that may have damaged internal wiring.

11) Ensure that panel output leads are properly connected and are not affected due to corrosion.

12) Finally, disconnect the panels and find out, in bright sun, whether they are generating almost optimum level of electricity.

After checking all the essential parts of the solar electrical system, it is necessary to check the functioning of the panels. For this, the array should be disconnected to find out whether electricity is passing through the output lead properly.

After ensuring that that power supply is good, the performance of controller and inverter should be confirmed, besides checking carefully in-house wiring and various appliances in the house.