Solar generation in rain/cloudy conditions

There were two large leaves on the panels hosed them off and it suddenly shot up to the right generation.
Apparently panels in series if a few cells can be blocked by leaves can drop generation down to almost 10%.
My previous setup was in parallel so it was less of an effect.
 
Lupus said:
There were two large leaves on the panels hosed them off and it suddenly shot up to the right generation.
Apparently panels in series if a few cells can be blocked by leaves can drop generation down to almost 10%.
My previous setup was in parallel so it was less of an effect.
Click to expand...
Latest panels have 4 bypass diodes afaik. In other words, panel is split into 4 sections so the section the leaf is on can be bypassed.
 
wingnut771 said:
Latest panels have 4 bypass diodes afaik. In other words, panel is split into 4 sections so the section the leaf is on can be bypassed.
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Yup, these were my old panels and with some portions still shaded plus those leaves it seems it was just enough to basically not generate any current.
Washed them off and boom it sky rocketed to normal. Now the primary string is generating more which in winter it doesn't until almost 10am, seems in summer they switch roles.
 
Basically in JHB Spring is the best solar generation and summer and winter are pretty much the same
 
No mains power supply since around 12:45 yesterday coupled with rain and cloud means our batteries are at 31% and slowly declining :rolleyes: I have switched off as much non-essential as I can, hoping for some sun today, will have to run the generator to heat geysers and maximise whatever sun there is to charge batteries. It is going to be a long day and night...
 
Neuk_ said:
No mains power supply since around 12:45 yesterday coupled with rain and cloud means our batteries are at 31% and slowly declining :rolleyes: I have switched off as much non-essential as I can, hoping for some sun today, will have to run the generator to heat geysers and maximise whatever sun there is to charge batteries. It is going to be a long day and night...
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Im upgrading my 4pm slot to 6pm seeing it’s summertime.
 
Neuk_ said:
No mains power supply since around 12:45 yesterday coupled with rain and cloud means our batteries are at 31% and slowly declining :rolleyes: I have switched off as much non-essential as I can, hoping for some sun today, will have to run the generator to heat geysers and maximise whatever sun there is to charge batteries. It is going to be a long day and night...
Click to expand...

Been running the generator for a few hours, it's not a @wingnut771 approved LPG fuelled fuel sipperer but has allowed us to get the batteries charging up and still run the house including our two geysers.
 
Neuk_ said:
Been running the generator for a few hours, it's not a @wingnut771 approved LPG fuelled fuel sipperer but has allowed us to get the batteries charging up and still run the house including our two geysers.
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The joys of a backup to your backup :). We had it last week Saturday and Sunday no power from 4pm Sat till 2pm Sunday.
Luckily didn't need the generator as heat pump supper efficient.
The sun is slowly shining through on my side though pushing batteries from 52% this morning to over 90% now.
 
Lupus said:
The joys of a backup to your backup :). We had it last week Saturday and Sunday no power from 4pm Sat till 2pm Sunday.
Luckily didn't need the generator as heat pump supper efficient.
The sun is slowly shining through on my side though pushing batteries from 52% this morning to over 90% now.
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Yeah, I still haven't managed to get the SunSynk inverter to accept the generator feed, so I manually start the generator, let it get past it's start up sequence, have it's changeover switch automatically changeover, then change the triple pole isolator on the inverter DB to feed from 'Mains', isolate the inverter from feeding the house main DB and then let the inverter use all available PV to charge batteries while the house runs off the generator. Glad to have the generator as a backup, CP is busy fault finding and todays forecast PV is not great, so can at least get the batteries charged and run big appliances before relying on batteries overnight.
 
Neuk_ said:
Yeah, I still haven't managed to get the SunSynk inverter to accept the generator feed, so I manually start the generator, let it get past it's start up sequence, have it's changeover switch automatically changeover, then change the triple pole isolator on the inverter DB to feed from 'Mains', isolate the inverter from feeding the house main DB and then let the inverter use all available PV to charge batteries while the house runs off the generator. Glad to have the generator as a backup, CP is busy fault finding and todays forecast PV is not great, so can at least get the batteries charged and run big appliances before relying on batteries overnight.
Click to expand...
That is odd, I've actually not tested the luxpower with the generator either to be honest.
On the axpert it was just let the inverter be set to apl vs ups mode and suddenly it worked as the generator pushes out 50 to 53hz :(
 
Lupus said:
That is odd, I've actually not tested the luxpower with the generator either to be honest.
On the axpert it was just let the inverter be set to apl vs ups mode and suddenly it worked as the generator pushes out 50 to 53hz :(
Click to expand...
I would recommend testing it before you have to suddenly use it desperately one day.

The way I got mine to connect reliably and consistently is through a 10kVa online UPS without batteries. The generator just starts and the inverter latches on, job done.
 
Lupus said:
That is odd, I've actually not tested the luxpower with the generator either to be honest.
On the axpert it was just let the inverter be set to apl vs ups mode and suddenly it worked as the generator pushes out 50 to 53hz :(
Click to expand...

Yes, it is odd, it recognises there is AC power but refuses to close the internal islanding relay to be able to use it, despite me setting the inverter up to 'see' the generator via the main AC input and relaxed the voltage and frequency tolerances. I plan on getting our electrician out some time to have a look, hoping to not have to rewire to feed the generator in to the Gen port of the inverter as it would be quite a job. Anyway, mains power is back, hopefully for quite some time...
 
Düber said:
I would recommend testing it before you have to suddenly use it desperately one day.

The way I got mine to connect reliably and consistently is through a 10kVa online UPS without batteries. The generator just starts and the inverter latches on, job done.
Click to expand...
That's actually not a bad idea.
 
Düber said:
I would recommend testing it before you have to suddenly use it desperately one day.

The way I got mine to connect reliably and consistently is through a 10kVa online UPS without batteries. The generator just starts and the inverter latches on, job done.
Click to expand...

Could you explain how this works for you? I have an idea in my head but the connection of our house is a little more complicated than most...
 
Neuk_ said:
Could you explain how this works for you? I have an idea in my head but the connection of our house is a little more complicated than most...
Click to expand...
The UPS would act in away to clean the signal from the generator.
 
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