Solar generation in rain/cloudy conditions

Been troubleshooting my one array for some time now after it was relocated. Was producing drastically less than the other 9 panel string (both north facing albeit slightly different angles).

A set of 2 panels had slight shading cast by the forward 3 panels but google seemed to think this wouldn't have caused such a big difference in generation.

After looking into a lot of options to troubleshoot, I just decided it's not that hard to push back the bracket slightly to remove the shadow and would be the easiest first step. Did that on Sunday and the 2 strings are now very closely aligned. Broke 7kw generation yesterday which is a first for the setup since purchase.

Not that it's not a known fact but shade, even very little, can have quite a big impact
 

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acidrain said:
Been troubleshooting my one array for some time now after it was relocated. Was producing drastically less than the other 9 panel string (both north facing albeit slightly different angles).

A set of 2 panels had slight shading cast by the forward 3 panels but google seemed to think this wouldn't have caused such a big difference in generation.

After looking into a lot of options to troubleshoot, I just decided it's not that hard to push back the bracket slightly to remove the shadow and would be the easiest first step. Did that on Sunday and the 2 strings are now very closely aligned. Broke 7kw generation yesterday which is a first for the setup since purchase.

Not that it's not a known fact but shade, even very little, can have quite a big impact
Click to expand...
Yup shade has a massive effect, especially on panels in series
 
acidrain said:
Been troubleshooting my one array for some time now after it was relocated. Was producing drastically less than the other 9 panel string (both north facing albeit slightly different angles).

A set of 2 panels had slight shading cast by the forward 3 panels but google seemed to think this wouldn't have caused such a big difference in generation.

After looking into a lot of options to troubleshoot, I just decided it's not that hard to push back the bracket slightly to remove the shadow and would be the easiest first step. Did that on Sunday and the 2 strings are now very closely aligned. Broke 7kw generation yesterday which is a first for the setup since purchase.

Not that it's not a known fact but shade, even very little, can have quite a big impact
Click to expand...
Now if you rotated the panels 90 degrees then the bypass diodes would work.
 
wingnut771 said:
Now if you rotated the panels 90 degrees then the bypass diodes would work.
Click to expand...
Reading up on the JA solar panel layout it makes sense now why the portrait was causing such a loss. Seems with the vertical column of cells, the horizontal shadow was essentially cutting off the entire 2 panels.

In hindsight, having known this though I probably would have resorted to it only after moving. Also doesn't appear that they left enough cable to do such a change and I've heard playing with mc4 connectors during full sun is risky business.
 
acidrain said:
Reading up on the JA solar panel layout it makes sense now why the portrait was causing such a loss. Seems with the vertical column of cells, the horizontal shadow was essentially cutting off the entire 2 panels.

In hindsight, having known this though I probably would have resorted to it only after moving. Also doesn't appear that they left enough cable to do such a change and I've heard playing with mc4 connectors during full sun is risky business.
Click to expand...
The manuals of those panels I am sure state correct mounting methods. Shading from other panels is a known problem and the installer should have known better.
 
denmendez65 said:
The manuals of those panels I am sure state correct mounting methods. Shading from other panels is a known problem and the installer should have known better.
Click to expand...
The installer did mention to me while I was at work that there would be shading. At the time I accepted it for what it is given those were the only locations available.

On arrival at home I found these 2 panels slightly more forward than I originally expected them to be. To the companies credit though he was probably only giving me feedback from what he was told by his staff and at the end of the day it was easier and quicker for me to just move them than to call them back.
 
I got some crazy cloud edge today with this kak weather. On a 10.4kWp array.
Still generated 24kWh so far today.
 
W@P said:
I got some crazy cloud edge today with this kak weather. On a 10.4kWp array.
Still generated 24kWh so far today.
Click to expand...
I see today wasn’t too bad. The main inverter didn’t get full but seems it’s good enough to last till the morning.
 
Cloud edge is high today again. With a High UV day my inverter maxed at 5kWh a couple of times today
 
IMG_2322.jpeg

Weirdest graph I’ve seen. It was like power. Then cloud. Power. Then cloud. Etc. Peaks are still only 50% of the system potential. But it’s better than the 35% give or take in winter.
 
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