May Solar Results

[Justme]

This is my performance results for May.

 

As previous results you need to know that the panels are not correctly inclined or orinentated to the sun & have shade at both ends of the day. But to my mind my install prob quite closely matches the real world results that you can expect with a solar install on a boat that is moving as you cant choose the alingnment to the sun or avoid all shading plus are limited on the inclination angle.

 

Solar array is 800w (10 x 80w) wired into 2 x 5 panels strings.

 

day amph, kwh, volts peak, kwp, amp peak,

31-May 175 2.1 105 0.47 39.1

30-May 171 2.1 104 0.49 37.9

29-May 154 1.9 105 0.44 35.3

28-May 75 0.9 106 0.38 31

27-May 51 0.6 108 0.19 16

26-May 127 1.5 114 0.46 36.8

25-May 110 1.3 106 0.4 30.9

24-May 149 1.9 105 0.36 28.8

23-May 80 1 113 0.51 39.8

22-May 28 0.3 88 0.08 6.5

21-May 139 1.8 110 0.47 37.7

20-May 57 0.7 108 0.52 42.6

19-May 81 1 106 0.49 39

18-May 112 1.2 112 0.67 48

17-May 59 0.7 110 0.36 28.6

16-May 134 1.7 116 0.66 52.1

15-May 50 0.6 102 0.31 26.2

14-May 29 0.3 104 0.14 11.5

13-May 48 0.5 109 0.22 18.3

12-May 166 2.1 111 0.45 35.6

11-May 168 2.1 112 0.5 38.2

10-May 95 1.1 109 0.38 31.1

09-May 112 1.3 114 0.54 44.1

08-May 118 1.5 116 0.61 47.1

07-May 128 1.5 116 0.63 51.3

06-May 69 0.8 113 0.47 37.7

05-May 22 0.2 98 0.05 4.8

04-May 27 0.3 96 0.07 5.8

03-May 184 2.3 113 0.61 46.9

02-May 134 1.7 113 0.58 44.9

01-May 46 0.6 107 0.51 37.2

TOTAL 3098 37.6 3349 13.02 1030.8

AV 99.94 1.21 108.03 0.42 33.25

 

 

The results are slightly down on April which I can put down to a few bad days & that the shading has increased due to the new leaves on the trees. I am planning on trimming them over the next day or two.

 

Justme

 

 

PS can we insert a table as the formating of the above just wont stick.

Edited May 31, 2009 by Justme

[Justme]

Forgot to add that the winds total was a paltry 43 ah

 

 

Justme

[Yoda]

Thanks, good result.

[Chris Pink]

day		   amph, kwh, volts peak,   kwp,   amp peak,
31-May		175	2.1	105			0.47	39.1
30-May		171	2.1	104			0.49	37.9
29-May		154	1.9	105			0.44	35.3
28-May		75	 0.9	106			0.38	31
27-May		51	 0.6	108			0.19	16
26-May		127	1.5	114			0.46	36.8
25-May		110	1.3	106			0.4	 30.9
24-May		149	1.9	105			0.36	28.8
23-May		80	 1	  113			0.51	39.8
22-May		28	 0.3	88			 0.08	6.5
21-May		139	1.8	110			0.47	37.7
20-May		57	 0.7	108			0.52	42.6
19-May		81	 1	  106			0.49	39
18-May		112	1.2	112			0.67	48
17-May		59	 0.7	110			0.36	28.6
16-May		134	1.7	116			0.66	52.1
15-May		50	 0.6	102			0.31	26.2
14-May		29	 0.3	104			0.14	11.5
13-May		48	 0.5	109			0.22	18.3
12-May		166	2.1	111			0.45	35.6
11-May		168	2.1	112			0.5	 38.2
10-May		95	 1.1	109			0.38	31.1
09-May		112	1.3	114			0.54	44.1
08-May		118	1.5	116			0.61	47.1
07-May		128	1.5	116			0.63	51.3
06-May		69	 0.8	113			0.47	37.7
05-May		22	 0.2	98			 0.05	4.8
04-May		27	 0.3	96			 0.07	5.8
03-May		184	2.3	113			0.61	46.9
02-May		134	1.7	113			0.58	44.9
01-May		46	 0.6	107			0.51	37.2
TOTAL	3098 37.6	3349		   13.02	1030.8
AV		   99.94	1.21	108.03	0.42	33.25

 

 

bored now - the drastic difference between 21st and 22nd of May illustrates the frustrating non-linear nature of solar PV output, it might have rained but it wasn't that different in light terms surely?

Edited June 1, 2009 by Chris Pink

[Justme]

Thats better thanks. Let me know how so from next month I can do the same.

 

Yeh odd how the output changes so much. Mind we are coastal so do get misty days with no direct sun.

I have removed the shading from one end (morning end) & will be doing the same for the other end soon (was doing it today but both my chainsaws decided that today was a good day to die).

 

I will also be posting my genny run hours starting from next month.

 

At least I had no none production days & the low output days never went over 3 in a row.

 

Even after removing all the shaders that I can I will still have some shade on one panel in the morning as the flue pipe shadow just cuts across one corner. I did think about mounting a mirror to get round it.

 

Justme

[Chris Pink]

Thats better thanks. Let me know how so from next month I can do the same.

 

Yeh odd how the output changes so much. Mind we are coastal so do get misty days with no direct sun.

I have removed the shading from one end (morning end) & will be doing the same for the other end soon (was doing it today but both my chainsaws decided that today was a good day to die).

 

I will also be posting my genny run hours starting from next month.

 

At least I had no none production days & the low output days never went over 3 in a row.

 

Even after removing all the shaders that I can I will still have some shade on one panel in the morning as the flue pipe shadow just cuts across one corner. I did think about mounting a mirror to get round it.

 

Justme

 

Could the difference be anything to do with not having bypass diodes in the array so one shaded panel stops the output from all?

 

like this

 

for the table;

 

The code tags use a monospaced font and then i tweaked it (until bored)

 

perhaps Jon could switch on the BB code [table] tag and then it's easy.

[Justme]

The panels have bypass diodes but you still loose all the output from the shaded panel (as its voltage is lower than the rest) & I think it also drags the others down just like a duff cell / battery would in a bank of batteries but have no proof of that.

 

I did some checking the other day & one string was doing 18 amps & the other just 7. That was with one panel slightly shaded so you would have expected 14.4 amps (4/5's not the 2/5's it actualy was).

 

Justme

[Justme]

Well the partial trimming has done its job.

Hit 3kwh for the first time ever today with the same weather as yesterday.

 

 

Justme

[Justme]

I would like you all to raise a glass & join me in a toast to my solar panels.

 

We use 3kwh per day. About 2kwh during the day for fridge, freezer & laptops etc & about 1kwh at night for tv & lights.

 

Today we made 3.6kwh so the 2kwh day usage was covered but also the night 1kwh & the charging losses were also covered so today was are first truly totally off grid day WOOHOO

 

edit to add

 

I have also done the partial trim on the pm shade. We now get full sun from 9 till 4 or later.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Justme

[Justme]

Here are June's results

 

1st of June I removed the am shade

14th June pm shade

25th June increased array by 400w to 1200w

 

	
Here are June's results

1st of June I removed the am shade
14th June pm shade
25th June increased array by 400w to 1200w

[code]	day		amph	kwh	volts peak	kwp	amp peak
30-Jun		282	3.8	102			 0.9	66.3
29-Jun		295	4	 102			 0.92	68.8
28-Jun		296	4	 103			 0.87	61.3
27-Jun		270	3.6	107			 1.03	79.8
26-Jun		270	3.6	107			 1.03	79.8
25-Jun		135	1.7	103			 0.82	57.2 extra 400w
24-Jun		273	3.7	108			 0.59	43.3
23-Jun		302	4.1	107			 0.53	39.7
22-Jun		282	3.5	106			 0.74	57.9
21-Jun		268	3.4	106			 0.66	51.6
20-Jun		59	0.7	107			 0.17	13.8
19-Jun		127	1.6	110			 0.83	62.9
18-Jun		194	2.5	110			 0.83	65.5
17-Jun		164	2	113			 0.71	56.5
16-Jun		66	0.8	105			 0.64	49.7
15-Jun		279	3.6	109			 0.72	55.8
   14-Jun		234	3	 108			 0.7	54.8 PM shade removed
13-Jun		155	2.1	112			 0.69	49.2
12-Jun		179	2.2	106			 0.69	54.9
11-Jun		67	0.8	102			 0.18	14.9
10-Jun		237	3	109			 0.56	42.9
09-Jun		93	1.1	109			 0.52	40.2
08-Jun		101	1.3	111			 0.54	42.7
07-Jun		121	1.5	111			 0.55	43.6
06-Jun		87	1	 110			 0.35	27.7
05-Jun		28	0.3	108			 0.09	7.9
04-Jun		190	2.4	111			 0.59	45.9
03-Jun		234	2.9	107			 0.51	39.7
02-Jun		215	2.7	108			 0.5	38.4
01-Jun		234	3	 105			 0.47	36.2 AM shade removed

	TOTAL	5737	73.9	3222	18.93	1448.9
	AV	191.23	2.46	107.40	0.63	48.30

 

 

Wind did 1ah total all month

The genny was on for 33 hours most of which was for running power tools (but would also be topping up the bats at the same time)

No engine running / charging

Edited June 30, 2009 by Justme

[bramley]

are they good results then??

 

all looks like lottery numbers to me

[Justme]

are they good results then??

 

all looks like lottery numbers to me

 

 

Well lets put it this way.

 

If it was on a boat you would not need to ruin the engine to charge the bats all month assuming you are about average in your elec consumption.

 

The average ah per day of 190ah (so about 150-160ah into the bats) is roughly what most people are saying they are using per day.

[Nickhlx]

Well lets put it this way.

 

If it was on a boat you would not need to ruin the engine to charge the bats all month assuming you are about average in your elec consumption.

 

The average ah per day of 190ah (so about 150-160ah into the bats) is roughly what most people are saying they are using per day.

 

 

Seems pretty good to me ( envious actually !) What area do the panels cover and your approx location / latitude ?

 

Thanks,

 

Nick

 

Edited June 30, 2009 by Nickhlx

[Justme]

About 10m2

 

If I have done this right then

 

Lat: 52.929605N Long: 4.462325W in Great Britain

[Bro]

About 10m2

 

If I have done this right then

 

Lat: 52.929605N Long: 4.462325W in Great Britain

 

I'm pleased that results justify installation for you and you are happy. At 10 sq m it would be to much of an external adornment for my taste so I shall continue to monitor solar and should it ever become a sizewise acceptable and all/most year round practical solution (winter performance?) I would certainly consider it strongly.

 

For my purposes (not live aboard and the boat is connected to mains battery charger when in marina) the jury is still out, but I'm open to persuasion.

[Justme]

I'm pleased that results justify installation for you and you are happy. At 10 sq m it would be to much of an external adornment for my taste so I shall continue to monitor solar and should it ever become a sizewise acceptable and all/most year round practical solution (winter performance?) I would certainly consider it strongly.

 

For my purposes (not live aboard and the boat is connected to mains battery charger when in marina) the jury is still out, but I'm open to persuasion.

 

 

Then I doubt that you will ever in your life time get solar. In winter there is just not enough power available to collect. Performance would have to go from the 14% ish currently to nearer 80 or 90%

 

If you have mains available then that will be the cheapest & easiest option for a long time yet.