PV system not generating, common ideas

[grandfortune]

HI all,

put a PV system in 4 yrs ago, business didn't take off due to the tarrif drop fiasco , so out of the loop on these things

i've popped round tonight just to see if it was something simple but its not, going back to investigate more Saturday.

was just wondering if there is something common that may go wrong with it, that i can check before going in depth.

panels are the sanyo ones ( best at the time) and a SMA inverter, AC looks fine and all rotary switches on, power at the inverter, panel lights up but not generated anything today , 2.5 kw system, haven't been on the roof yet so don't know about the panels or connectors.

just asking a bit of advice as i don't know where to start investigating the inverter.

Thanks
Grand

 

[Leesparkykent]

you checked/tested the DC side?

 

[john wheeler]

Hi Grand.

Sounds silly but was the 'power on' from the PV or the main 230V ie grid side?
If the panels are banging power down from the roof then it can only be the Inverter?
A little more info please?

 

[grandfortune]

Sorry , haven't got test gear to check the DC side , all switches on, upon looking it does seem like the inverter, I'll dig out the paperwork , I assume she just rings up Sma and goes from there ?.

ill see if I can find a local form that might lend me a tester to make sure the panels are producing

cheers
grand

 

[Worcester]

Has it tripped the dedciated MCB / RCD / RCBO that it's on?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Sorry , haven't got test gear to check the DC side , all switches on, upon looking it does seem like the inverter, I'll dig out the paperwork , I assume she just rings up Sma and goes from there ?.

ill see if I can find a local form that might lend me a tester to make sure the panels are producing

cheers
grand

Do you not own a multimeter?

 

[dansk]

And no she doest phone sma you do.

 

[grandfortune]

Yeah got an multimeter, will get paperwork and look into it, RCD ok

 

[grandfortune]

will my probs fit down in the connectors for me to check the panels?

 

[dansk]

Yes they should

 

[grandfortune]

very strange, turns out it was a connection plug come apart, asked her if anyone has been up in the loft and she said no, i try;d to unplug the one next to it and it was very hard, oh well, all working now

thanks
for the help guys
Cheers
Grand