New solar panels poor performance, can't contact solar company! Apolo solar.

[Gavin A]

ok input 1 isn't working properly, given your max figure, my suspicion is they haven't set up the dual tracker / parrallel tracking system correctly as IIRC 2.4kW is the peak output from one side by itself.

but I'm a bit confused by the voltage reading on Vin1

it will be simple enough to fix probably, unless there's another issue with string 1 developed as well

 

[jojitsu]

ok input 1 isn't working properly, given your max figure, my suspicion is they haven't set up the dual tracker / parrallel tracking system correctly as IIRC 2.4kW is the peak output from one side by itself.

but I'm a bit confused by the voltage reading on Vin1

it will be simple enough to fix probably, unless there's another issue with string 1 developed as well

Ok, that sounds slightly reassuring, I only wish I'd have pushed the issue with the fitters soon after getting them fitted!
How would you suggest I would go about getting the problem fixed?

Again, thank you so much for your advice!

 

[jojitsu]

.. Just to say, the max it had given out (Ppk) is actually 2502W, not 2.4kw as I wrongly said earlier.. Sorry for the wrong number..

 

[FB.]

The 240 (ish) Volts from the functional string suggests 8 x panels operating at an optimum of about 30 Volts (8 x 30 = 240V), so you probably have two strings of eight panels which is not unusual for a full-size 3.8-4kW, 16-panel array.

If your panels are nearly South-facing they will probably produce real-world peak power a bit higher than their nominal value, which probably explains peak readings of 2.4-2.5kW which would be consistent with one string of eight panels operating a bit above their nominal rating of 2kW in perfect conditions (mid-day, late spring/early summer, sunny, cool, breezy, shortly after rainfall has just cooled and cleaned the panels).

As said earlier: it looks like one of the two strings isn't working at all. Basically your 'engine' is only firing on two cylinders.

Probably a very simple fault on the 'dead' string of panels; either not being connected properly or the inverter not set to receive from two strings.

 

[SolarCity]

142v is not enough for the MPPT to operate, assuming the inverter has been left in its default setting.

The inverter needs 200v before it will start which is why there is zero amps showing. The voltage start up can be lowered, but there appears to be something wrong which i causing the low voltage.

What kind of a layout are the panels in? I wonder whether one of the strings has a couple of panels wired back to front? Possibly due to an incorrectly installed fly cable, perhaps around the velux window?

 

[Earthstore]

That could explain it ^^^^
Install looks quite tidy though, nice to see cables nicly clipped too, after some of the carp that customers post on here..

 

[Gavin A]

actually my previous post is not quite right, the limit per tracker is 3kW not 2.4, but there's something odd with the inverter as the 3.6 should have 2 x pairs of inputs on input A, and yours only has 1 pair.

 

[jojitsu]

142v is not enough for the MPPT to operate, assuming the inverter has been left in its default setting.

The inverter needs 200v before it will start which is why there is zero amps showing. The voltage start up can be lowered, but there appears to be something wrong which i causing the low voltage.

What kind of a layout are the panels in? I wonder whether one of the strings has a couple of panels wired back to front? Possibly due to an incorrectly installed fly cable, perhaps around the velux window?

Please excuse my childlike, not to scale sketch, but this is the layout..

 

[SolarCity]

What do those numbers represent?

 

[jojitsu]

What do those numbers represent?

Nothing. Ignore them.. Just the 16 panels, just in case it wasn't obvious..

 

[SolarCity]

In that case I would say that the incorrectly terminated fly lead is looking a likely cause. I would expect 6 panels wired correctly and 2 panels wired with incorrect polarity to produce a Voc of around 140v.

Surprising if this is the cause as it doesn't appear to be a badly installed system.

 

[jojitsu]

Well that all sounds like it may, hopefully be a not too big of a job, but it also all sounds a bit like a foreign language to me! I have managed to contact a local fitter who seems to know what he's on about, and has been in the business for a long time, with a good rep. He is coming to my place tomorrow afternoon to run some test.. Again, I can't thank you enough for the time and input you guys have given me! Tomorrow I'll definitely be showing the guy this thread! I just hope he doesn't try to rob blind my already empty pockets!.. I imagine he will give me a quote for the fix, based on electricians rates.. Hopefully without scaffolding! At the moment the wife is really annoyed that I came up with the idea of getting panels fitted!

 

[SolarCity]

With a bit of luck it may be possible to repair it from the velux window.

 

[jojitsu]

[QUOTE solarCity;906237]With a bit of luck it may be possible to repair it from the velux window.[/QUOTE]

I really hope so!.. Just my luck that they are giving crap results! I still love the idea of the panels, but as it stands they are such a poor place to put the money! I could understand that with living up north they may peak at about 3.5 to 3.7kw or so, but not 2.5!.. What do you think could be expected on a perfect sunny day in Manchester with a 4kw system?.. As it stands they will produce about 1400kw or so over the year, with the best summer in my memory! So about £240 ish!

 

[SolarCity]

I reckon you should expect to see 3,000kWh plus annually, depending on shading etc.

 

[jojitsu]

I reckon you should expect to see 3,000kWh plus annually, depending on shading etc.

In that case, roll on the fix, and the summer months!

 

[jojitsu]

Ok, so I've had a trusty, local solar fitter around today to test my system, and as suspected, one of the 2 string are doing nothing! This was even backed up by the original install certificate documents: line 2 is looking fine and the original fitter has written that its putting out 264 Voc, and 2.3 Isc (?), but, line 1 is at 145 Voc (but was actually even less when tested today!), and Isc 0.1!!! This should have been sorted at the install, surely! Its all a bit of a foreign language to me, but it sure ain't correct!

So the bad new is I have probably lost about £700 worth of lecky in FIT and bill reduction (my panels clocking up about 1400 all year, whilst the fitter who came today has the same settup with a garden facing the same way, in the same town and produced 4600kw over the last 12 months), and unfortunately all the panels need taking off and testing, with the use of scaffolding!

Good news is that we are insured through IWA, so they should pay for the fix, touch wood!

 

[jason121]

ps Apollo solar and Apollo energy tech ltd seem to still be trading.

Not if the company is still trading

 

[jojitsu]

Not if the company is still trading

Also just found out (the wife is doing most of the investigation) that they are about to be struck off/go into liquidation..

 

[jason121]

just had a quick look he did have 7 companies, solar company cease trading. He now runs Kovco Holdings Ltd and scaffold 4 ltd