Check performance of multiple string inverters
PowerWatch™ enables you to compare inverters on a size-adjusted (normalized) power output basis, ensuring an accurate performance assessment across all inverters. Under identical solar conditions, power output from each inverter should closely align. If issues such as a bad string connection, blown fuse, or faulty panel occur, they become immediately apparent by reviewing the daily power graph.
Scroll over the inverter graph to identify each inverter by ID, then use tools like the ANALYZER - Inverter Status to pinpoint the cause of any discrepancies.
When systems with multiple string inverters develop issues, detecting low output from a single inverter using only the power meter can be challenging, as it may represent only a small percentage of the total output. Left undetected, however, the lost revenue can be significant.
How to use 30 day log?
Note: The energy ratio is a metric, expressed as a percentage, that highlights the performance difference between the best and worst-performing inverters.
Using the 30-day PowerWatch™ log helps identify hard-to-find intermittent issues, such as grid dropouts or shading effects. Additionally, PowerWatch™ can support warranty claims with the inverter OEM for faulty equipment.
Compare the output of each inverter under varying solar conditions by observing metrics like the energy ratio (shown in the % column) and full sun hours (shown in the kWh/kWac column). Higher values indicate sunnier days, resulting in a more accurate energy ratio %.
PowerWatch™ Energy Ratio Email Alarms
The illustration below outlines the necessary steps to help you maximize the benefits of PowerWatch Energy Ratio email alerts.
Let SolarVu® automatically detect and alert you to potential issues. Each night, SolarVu® analyzes the daily energy output of each inverter, calculating the energy ratio between the highest and lowest outputs. Ideally, this ratio should be 100% if all inverters are perfectly balanced. The PowerWatch Energy Ratio email alarm can be enabled to alert you if any inverter falls below the optimal range, eliminating the need for manual graph checks when everything is running smoothly.
For more information on alarms, follow this link to the Understanding Alarms Product Guide page.
Find bad strings
Access PowerWatch™ from the Analyzer tools and start using it to locate hard to find problems on your SolarVu® site. Watch the video showing an example of using PowerWatch™ on a 250kW site with 25 inverters showing how to find a bad string.
