New MCS MIS3002 and PV Guide

[The Solar King]

From my experience PVSol is not the greatest with micro inverters either. There are times when it shows no gain or even a lesser output than a conventional inverter when this should clearly not be the case. I have even dis-assembled a micro inverter array in the software making it individual panels on different parts of the roof. The sum of the individual panels comes out the same as the array, which is clearly incorrect. It seems the software cannot show the advantages of micro inverters where there are shading issues.

Having said that, the shading model in PVSol is excellent for general use. The 3D animation allows you to look at panel placement to optimise output, and also the effect of cutting the tops off conifers to lessen the impact!

 

[SolarCity]

I agree SK. PV Sol does seem to struggle with micro inverters and I can't really work out why - or if there is something that I'm missing.

 

[The Solar King]

I suspect PVSol is falling behind a little and not keeping up with technological advances. It was only in the last update that it became possible to do an East-West arrray. I didn't buy that update as I feel it is a bit cheeky to be asking one to pay for things the software should do anyway. Dr Valintine and the Solar Design Company will need to pull something pretty spectacular out of the bag to persuade me to part with yet more money at a time when prices for equipment and the amount one gets for a job are falling.

 

[SolarCity]

The way that PV Sol deals with split arrays - and for different strings on different MPPTs with different shading issues - seems to be spot on, so I don't see why it should be any different with the micro inverters. Surely it is effectively the same thing?