Solar Panel Maintenance Guide: Tips, Cost & Checklist
Published: November 4, 2024
Mumbai receives lots of sunshine and is an excellent location for pursuing solar energy. An installed solar system is a smart investment that can cut down on future electricity bills and help with sustainability, but maintaining solar panels is vital for long-lasting efficiency when owned. By performing maintenance on your solar panels, you are facilitating their ability to produce maximum power, enhancing the solar panel health and saving on future long-term solar panel maintenance costs in India.
In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the requirements to monitor and maintain your solar panels, including processes, tips for cleaning your panels, costs, and a methodical procedure for maintenance. Also, if you live in a society, you can check out Solar Panel for Housing Society with Zero Installation Cost through NoBrokerHood.
Solar Panel Maintenance Checklist
Below are the basic solar panel maintenance procedure steps that a company follows to analyse and solve the problems of your panel:
Visual Inspection
- Check for cracks or other signs of physical damage on the panels.
- Inspect the mounting system for any loose bolts or if there are structural issues.
- Examine the wiring and check for loose connections.
- Find if there are any signs of water damage such as leaks or pooling water.
Cleaning
- Remove dirt and debris from the panels using a soft brush or a specialised solar panel cleaning solution.
- Avoid the use of harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could damage the panels.
- Clean the inverter and other equipment.
Electrical Testing
- A qualified technician performs regular electrical tests to measure the system’s output and identify potential performance issues.
- Check the inverter for error codes or malfunctioning components.
- Test the wiring for continuity and proper insulation.
Performance Monitoring
- Track the system’s energy production and compare it to historical data.
- Look for any significant drops in output or unusual performance fluctuations.
- Monitor the system’s temperature and ensure it is operating within the recommended range.
Environmental Factors
- Check for any obstructions such as trees or buildings which may be shading the panels.
- Consider the impact of seasonal changes and weather conditions on the system’s performance.
Some Additional Services
- Inspect the roof where the panels are mounted for any signs of damage or deterioration.
- Check the condition of any shading devices or trackers.
- Update the system’s software if necessary to improve efficiency or address compatibility issues.
Solar Panel Maintenance Tips
Solar panel maintenance plays a crucial part in its efficiency. This is why you should also put some extra effort to ensure its peak performance. Check the below list of solar panel maintenance tips that you can follow to keep the solar panels in better shape and reduce your solar panel maintenance cost in India:
1. Inspect Solar Panels Regularly
Visual inspection as discussed in the earlier part plays a critical role. You should inspect the panels regularly or at least once a month.
2. Keep Solar Panels Clean
Maintain a regular cleaning schedule for the solar panels. Cleaning frequency is entirely dependent on the local environment.
3. Annual Inspection
A qualified technician should conduct electrical testing at least once a year. This will drastically lower the likelihood of a breakdown.
4. Remove Debris
This involves cleaning the surfaces of the panels using a dry cloth to wipe off debris such as leaves and branches.
5. Monitor the Performance
Check the energy production amount from your solar panel system regularly. Consider availing solar panel maintenance services in case of drastic drop in production.
Importance of Residential Solar Panel Maintenance
You can seek assistance from a certified professional for your solar panel maintenance. They can help you in various ways.
The following points will delve into the different reasons elements that makes regular maintenance critical:
1. Safety
Routine maintenance assists with reducing the chances of disasters by fixing any potential issue.
2. Environmental Effect
Solar panels at their peak performance reduce pollution and preserve fossil fuels. This is only possible by regular solar panel maintenance.
3. Property Evaluation
Solar panels that are maintained properly offer sustainability and efficiency which can increase the value of the property.
Can You Monitor Solar Panel Health?
Yes, with digital tools you can easily monitor your solar panel health by the following steps:
1. Solar Monitoring Systems
These systems offer actual data in real-time reflecting the performance of your solar panels, and consist of two common types.
- Inverter-Based Monitoring: The majority of inverters (SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA, etc.) will provide users with data reflecting power generation, voltage, temperature and related efficiency metrics.
- Module Level Monitoring: This type of monitoring system is a more sophisticated form of monitoring by being able to measure a single panel.
2. Monitoring Important Parameters
- Energy Output (kWh): Ability to compare your actual energy generation with your expected generation.
- Voltage & Current: A sudden drop in voltage or current may indicate a problem with the panel itself or related to wiring.
- Temperature: Excessive heating or extreme temperature may adversely affect efficiency or indicate shading, dirt or malfunction of the panel.
- Performance Ratio (PR): Measures the efficiency of your system. The PR measures efficiencies based on localized factors.
- Irradiance: Measures how much sunlight is hitting your panels; if irradiance and output do not match, it may also indicate an issue.
3. Remote Monitoring Options
In many cases, modern systems will include a smartphone app or online dashboard to help track performance. Many of these monitoring platforms can also provide:
- Daily/Monthly performance reports
- Any alerts about underperforming performance
- Alerts for actual fault detection (inverter fail, shading events, etc.)
Some of the more popular sources for monitoring the web include:
- Enphase Enlighten
- SolarEdge Monitoring Portal
- Fronius Solar.web
4. Physical Inspection and Maintenance
- Visual inspection of panels: This identifies cracks, dirt, bird droppings, and discolouration/yellowing of panels.
- Thermal imaging / thermal camera (334 F): It can detect possible hot-spots and/or failing solar cells shoot.
- IV Curve Tracing: This is a technical subject associated with the current-voltage characteristics of a solar panel to spot degradation.
5. Common Health Issues with Solar Panels
- Soiling (Dust/Debris)
- Micro-cracks
- PID (Potential-Induced
Impact of Extreme Weather Conditions on Solar Panels
1. Sun (Clear Skies)
- Effect: Maximum Power Output
- Details: Clear, direct sunlight means a solar panel will be operating at its ideal conditions of efficiency and peak performance, usually generating 100% to near peak level output.
2. Cloudy Skies
- Effect: Power drops 10% – 80%
- Details: Cloud cover blocks portions of the sun’s light, thereby lessening the solar radiation intensity received. Despite this, including partial sunlight, a solar panel can generate energy using diffuse light, just less energy than on sunny days.
- Fact: Some high-efficiency solar panels using advanced technology produce energy even when sunlight is low.
3. Rain
- Effect: Lowers output in wet conditions; May clean the panels
- Details: Rain suppresses solar generation because of moisture saturation, but cleans the panel, washing off dust particles, bird droppings, unwanted contaminants and pollutants from the panel surface, allowing for better efficiency later.
4. Snow
- Effect: Completely blocks sunlight with heavy snow
- Details: Clouds can block some sunlight but not all of it, cloudy and rainy weather can limit energy production. If a panel is covered in snow, you will not produce energy until snow is removed. However, if a panel is at an angle, snow generally falls off. Cold-weather with no snow cover may increase efficiency as temperature declines!
Final Thoughts
Solar panels are a great way to reduce your energy costs and help the environment. However, similar to other types of equipment, solar panel maintenance is crucial. It ensures that the solar panels are operating at their peak efficiency and reduces solar panel maintenance costs in India by providing you with many years of reliable service by following the tips in this article.
Complete guide to Solar Power:
| Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy |
| How Solar Panels Work | Complete Guide to Solar Energy |
| Here’s Why Your Society Must Consider Switching to Solar Energy |
| A Guide to Solar Panel Subsidy |
Other Solutions Provided by NoBrokerHood
FAQ’s
1. When should you clean the solar panels?
The recurrence of cleaning depends on your locality. A common principle is to clean them once in a month or two. But panels installed in polluted or dirty areas require regular cleaning every month.
2. Can you clean solar panels by yourself?
You can easily remove dirt and dust from the panels. Always use a soft brush to clean the panel and do not use any chemical on the panel
3. What is the cost of solar panel maintenance in India?
The maintenance cost of solar panels in India fluctuates relying upon the size and the area as well as the maintenance type.
4. How can I do visual inspection of the solar panels?
Start by checking the panel for cracks or debris. You should also look at the wiring and connections for any indications of damage.
5. What are the common solar panel maintenance issues that you must look for?
The most common issues are:
- Wiring issues
- Low Efficiency
- Panel Damage
- Water Damage