Solar Performance Spreadsheet - Analysis and data sharing

ECO_Mental

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120126110#Comment_120126110

I have the same set up as you 6kW south facing system and a regular 6kW Solis inverter. I to had the same problem as you as I couldnt see how much I was exporting or using, the Solis app also is not that great. I decided to go down the Home Assistant route to log and monitor my system.

I put in a ShellyEM to log my main ESB incomer and my PV feed. This will show you how much you are importing and exporting and also having it on the PV feed will give you live data on your PV. HA also has a dedicated energy dashboard that gives you good data. IF you want to get into the details than you have Grafana in HA as well that can you you fancy graphs like below

Abromavich

Amazing this gives me way more confidence to go for the Shelly setup! I'm going to order one today. Any reason to go for the pro version over regular, only €10 in price difference:

https://www.shelly.cloud/en/products/shop/pro-3-em

https://www.shelly.cloud/en/products/shop/shelly-3-em-1

The pro version says 'Photovoltaic ready'. Prob just sales pitch though

minnow

I added a sheet for 2023, hope that's ok.

jumpin jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753062#Comment_119753062

Hi there,

With such a shallow angle is your winter production greatly decreased, is there an online calculator one could use?

Many thanks.

HotSwap

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120882583#Comment_120882583

https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html

with 10 deg slope we do about 250 kWh per month in Dec and Jan. And about 1250 in May / June / July.

if it was a 35 deg slope system it would be about 375 - 400 kWh in Dec and Jan and about 1200 (maybe a bit less) in the summer months.

but assuming you don’t have unlimited space the trade off is that you can fit more panels in the same area using a 10 deg slope Vs 35deg due to having to avoid the shadows that the panels cast.

there are some tools like:

https://pvsol-online.valentin-software.com/#/

or

https://helioscope.aurorasolar.com/pricing/

But they are expensive. Just add as many panels as you can / need and get the system up and running rather than overthinking it.

plasticfish

there don't seem to be any spare rows left, would it be possible to add some additional ones please?

twitcherdub

Hi, I registered a few months ago, but I seem to be stuck trying to login, when I reset my password the new password isn't accepted. Any ideas? I get the reset PWD email, but I've tried a few times this month and last month and can't login

plasticfish

added a sheet for 2024, i find the information here really useful. I just wished I saw it before I accepted a quotation!

idc

Didn't even realise this spreadsheet was still operating, I had switched to https://www.pvstats.eu/ website instead but that is now closing down! Might throw in my figures for the last year or two see how i compare. It probably doesn't accurately handle upgrades - ie adding extra panels!

irishchris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121701915#Comment_121701915

The PVStats site has been renewed for another year

mp3guy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121710398#Comment_121710398

PVStats? Completed it mate.

irishchris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121711277#Comment_121711277

? Not sure I follow. Just explaining the PVStats.eu site that was due to finish next month had been renewef to allow further use for another year

mp3guy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121712591#Comment_121712591

It was a joke, I guess a swing and a miss.

irishchris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121712817#Comment_121712817

Sorry got lost on me

ELCAT2009

Any chance the mods could edit the spreadsheet to add a tab do a comparison between 2022-23, and another comparing 2023-24, like the existing 2021-22 comparison? PV production seems lower in 2024 so far and hoping its not just my system!

DC999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122327284#Comment_122327284

I bet….in 2021 and 2022 there were way less people expanding their systems. A lot of the early adopters here have expanded more than once. So getting like for like would be hard.

I'd suggest review the more recent monthly thread and you'll see people generally calling out output that is lower than last year. Here's a snip of just some of the ones on the last page - each line is a different poster

Not quite as good as last year, but no surprises as it was such an overcast month.
May was poor in Roscommon too, the worst since (my) records began
Last years May was better - 780kWh
Not great. Hoping for a far better June, July and August than last year!
Let's remember that the end of May and the beginning of June last year set a record for many, I believe.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058050685/solar-pv-performance-thread-post-your-monthly-output

newtosolar

Hello All,

New to the board. Anybody any opinion. Something new that I've not seen anybody trying to do. Which probably speaks for Itself. I'm retired DIYer.

I have a set up of 9 420Watt bifacial Panels on a concrete bank. My Intention mainly Is to pre heat my Central heating system with whatever I can draw from the said panels. I had a temporary 2, 3 string 48V DC system with 8 AGM batteries and Vevor 3 KW Charge Controller working. Preheated the Central heating water and even slightly heated my hot water cyclinder. My main expense like many Is heating.

The problem with the DC system some posters may know Is the Arcing problem. Too hard to make/Purchase a safe Thermo for DC. So what I've decided to do Is go for a 230 AC system with the least gear as possible. Not bothered about FIT etc or connecting to the Grid. Anybody with a simple System In their head with the least amount of gear that may suit me. What make Inverter etc. Thanks to all.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122400221#Comment_122400221

Sunsynk/Deye would be what I'd be looking for

Ditch the lead acid and get some LiFePO4 too.

newtosolar

Thank's Grae.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122400350#Comment_122400350

One feature that you may find useful, Is on the Aux input (which also you could connect a generator), There is an option as an output,, It is turned on when the battery is above a certain % and off again when it drops below a %.

newtosolar

Thank's Grae,

I want to keep It as simple as possible with the least amount of gear. Can you tell which of the Sunsynk/Deye Inverters would you believe would suit me best and Is It capable of grid connection If a change of mind. I accept It's only your opinion.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122401209#Comment_122401209

The sunsynk is a deye under the hood, but are sold as sunsynk in UK & Ireland. Would be a bit more on the expensive side of things.

If wanting to maybe grid connect, (and have the right forms and certs for the nc6)

https://www.itstechnologies.shop/products/sunsynk-ecco-5k-on-off-grid-hybrid-solar-wind-inverter

newtosolar

Thank's again Grae.