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pdavis

Testing actual solar gain in a location (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/solardiy

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Im considering installing a small - Maybe 1Kw set of panels into a location but I would like to get an idea of what their actual performance would be like before I do the installation. Its a strange location with some over hanging trees and some shading by neighbours fromntine to time but it could help provide some redundancy. Understanding of it could produce enough or whether a mains powered UPS is required would help before I pick and buy a solution.

Im wondering what is a cheap way to test out what Im actually going to be able to capture?

I was thinking of putting a small panel in place for a year and seeing how it performs. But I realised I might need a controller amd logger as well as and something to dunp the energy captured.

What would be the simplest / cheapest way to do this?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

You're right, you'd need a load for the panel to actually produce anything. If there's nowhere for the electricity to go, it's just a fancy looking piece of glass.

My only solar right now is on my shed, and it's only 2x100watt panels, which charge a 12v battery. I started with a single 100w panel, and it wasn't enough. It would frequently be shaded and total production wasn't very good. I added the 2nd panel next to it, wired in parallel. The total output more than doubled, which tells me the 2nd panel, even though it's right next to the other one, with the same big trees nearby, gets less shade overall.

So basically, you're not going to get good data from a single panel. A physically larger array will be more efficient unless you get really lucky with the placement of the single panel.

What do you mean by a mains powered UPS? Do you plan on charging a large battery with the panels and having the ability to run the house off the battery?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

My alternative is to have a small UPS plugging in to the mains supply. Im not looking to riun a house off solar but a few devices, routers and other bits. Because im not sure what kind of Watt Hours I would get and what performance would be like I am hesitant to 'invest'.

I am happy to accept that 'actual results may differ' but an idea of potential would be useful. I was thinking a small 30watt panel with a usb logger plugged into a usb fan or cup warmer or something as a test.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I would like to get an idea of what their actual performance would be like before I do the installation

PVwatts and similar models are quite useful for estimating harvest in a given time/place.

Its a strange location with some over hanging trees and some shading by neighbours fromntine to time but it could help provide some redundancy

Partial shading is brutal on solar harvest. It will be the tail that wags the dog in this scenario.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah thats why I would like to try somehow...before I buy lol.

[–] wattbuild 1 points 2 weeks ago

Are you looking to do ground mount or roof mount?