4 Ways to Monitor Your Solar System’s Performance
You had your solar system installed on your property but wonder why your solar panels aren’t producing as much energy.
There are many factors that could impact your solar system’s energy production. A good example would be the weather.
In this article, you will see 4 ways to monitor your solar system’s energy production and what can be done when encountering an issue.
Pay Attention to the Weather
As quickly as the weather changes, so will your solar energy production. On rainy and cloudy days, your solar panels will most likely generate up to 25% of their rated capacity.
While you may notice the difference, it would still be enough to power your home and will not affect your overall return on investment.
Look at Your Inverter
An inverter is an important aspect of your solar system. When your solar panels are producing energy, the inverter converts that energy from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), which is what we use to power our homes.
A solar inverter is equipped with indicator lights such as green, red and orange. A green light is nothing to worry about. However, red and orange lights could be a sign that your solar system is experiencing a problem.
* If your indicator lights happen to be red, you should reach out to your solar company or manufacturer to troubleshoot the issue.
Check Your Solar Meter
A solar meter is a device used to measure the energy production of your solar system as it also shares information with your solar company.
You might see different screens being displayed on your meter. However, it’s important to focus on the one that shares information on your total kilowatt-hours produced by your solar panels.
Note that if your kilowatt-hours are increasing, it is a good indicator that your solar panels are working OK.
Analyze Your Electric Bill
The main purpose of solar panels is to significantly lower your electric bills. Your electric bills will lower depending on how much power your solar panels are generating.
However, you should expect to pay less than before to your electric company. In addition, you may also receive credits for the excess energy generated by your solar panels, which refers to net metering.
If your electric bills still happen to be high for the number of panels that were installed on your property versus how much they are supposed to be generating, your solar system may not be performing correctly.
