Shading and Solar Edge

[Eco Deal]

yes with sma you can have sunny explorer but you can not monitor the indivdual solar panels , which I really like.

dont forgot every property is diffrent so you can not really compare unless you set up experiments etc.

 

[Worcester]

@MEP thats precisely why these two systems are set up alongside each other... As per an earlier post the reason we choose to use the solaredge was becasue of the fact that we have mixed panels. So the choice was Solaredge, Tigo, Enecys, Enphase or Involar. Tigo threw their hands up and said theirs wouldn't work, of the rest Solaredge was the cheapest....

 

[gr7]

I'm glad I read this thread. We were about to quote on a system using solaredge to get around seasonal shading from an adjacent property. Given the results Worcester has provided, I think I'll stick with SMA.

@worcester - can you tell me whether OptiTrac was enabled on the SMA please?

 

[Eco Deal]

as you know I still prefer a solar edge system over sma any day any situation not just for indivdual MPPT's

warrantys
mixing panels
online monitoring (each panel)
safe dc voltage
remote fault finding is possible to.

down side as I said 16 more items that could fail

 

[gr7]

Whilst I understand these benefits I am still concerned about your earlier post stating that you have had 2 power boxes go down. Accessing and removing a panel to change a power box would be time consuming, expensive and awkward on most installations.

 

[Worcester]

Re optitrac, no it isn't! So we may get even better performance.

as MEP Elec says, module based power management has its place and we will always consider it as an option.

 

[gr7]

It would certainly be interesting to see how your systems compare with optitrac turned on.

The shading on this job will only affect the array between Nov-Feb anyway so I may as well go for the SMA3000TL-21 with the lower panels on a separate tracker.

 

[SolarCity]

Regarding the OP, is that General Sherman that you're planning on installing alongside? That tree is enormous!

 

[finchy]

We're doing our first solar edge soon due to partial shading at different points of the day. I like the future proof option with solar edge and the plug and play monitoring as standard.

 

[Worcester]

I can see in 5 years or so a simple panel add on that will work with any panel and you dial in the required parameters to match your replacement panel to your existing ones. Probably cost no more than £25 then. Either that or a 'universal panel' with the same technology built into the junction box on the rear.

 

[Eco Deal]

I do place the power optimizers on the Top rails or lower rails so they are only at arms length away to replace .

It took about 20 mins to replcae WITHOUT moving the panel or scaffold using ladders and cat ladder only.

So it not too bad the problem is if the install is a fair distance.

one of the Power boxes had bugs inside which I have spoke about before . the bugs where half scottish and half isreali !!!