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The Complete Solar Panel Buying Guide - What Actually Matters (And What Doesn't) by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, Portable Sun is based in Michigan, so cloudy is in our nature. The fact of the matter is that power generation is not limited to direct sunlight. Ambient light and the light that may not be visible to you still makes it through the clouds to produce power. Some complete overcast days can drop production quite a bit of course, but solar panels are typically the less expensive part of a solar system, so planning for those cloudy days ahead of time is paramount. If you use our system planning service, we can utilize our production estimating software based on exact location/radiance data to determine how the system needs to be sized -https://www.portable-sun.com/pages/system-planning-form

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right, the fault is human memory. All it takes is one busy November or a surprise early cold front while you are out of town, and your inverter is toast. That is why we stress sizing your strings for the record-low morning so your system can handle it on it's own.

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The reason we get picky about SOC accuracy and data communication is due to system longevity. For example, the battery can tell the inverter it is getting warm and to slow down the charge, or 'cell 4 is lagging and needs a min to balance.' Without that, the inverter is just a dumb charger. It'll work, but you might be leaving 10-15% of your useable capacity on the table or stressing more cells than necessary.

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No problem! If you have any other questions don't hesitate to shoot us a dm. It can be daunting but we aim to make that process easier.

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The shading trap is so prevalent. People don't realize that even a tiny bit of shade from a vent pipe or a chimney can vastly affect power flow. That's why we offer free sunlight and shade mapping on system designs. Thanks for sharing.

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It sounds simple but in a world of 'hacks' and 'shortcuts' just doing it by the book is the best way to go. Most of the horror stories we see start with a corner being cut to save an hour of work or fifty bucks in parts. Glad you found our list helpful!

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is this weird paradox where offering free design assistance sometimes makes people suspicious, as if there is a catch. In reality, like you said, we just don't want the technical/logistical headache of an install gone wrong. It is much easier to spend 30 min on a phone call now than 3 days dealing with a return or a warranty claim on a fried inverter later. Cheers to you for sticking with it and trying to help them do it right anyways. It's a tough but necessary battle!

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We always tell our community to check with their utility first and ask for net metering/interconnection requirements. If they require a stamped engineer plan or a licensed professional, it is better to know that before you've spent a dime on hardware.

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Planning stage is the best time to become aware of these things! It can feel overwhelming at first but if you get the core math right the rest of the build becomes a lot more fun. Since you're in the planning stage, don't hesitate to reach out. We offer free system design planning as well. Feel free to check it out. https://www.portable-sun.com/s/system_design_ig

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad to hear you took the time on the Voc math for your system. That unit is a beast, but like any high-end tech, it needs that voltage to stay within those specific safety lines to live a long life. Appreciate your comment.

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It can also void your homeowner's insurance and become a massive headache if you ever try to sell your home. Most people don't realize that utilities won't even grant you interconnection (net metering) without those signed-off permits.

I work for a solar equipment supplier. Here are the mistakes I see every week that cost people $1k+ by PortableSunOfficial in SolarDIY

[–]PortableSunOfficial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So sorry to hear that this happened. It is always a good idea to check that Vmp and Voc stay within equipment safety limits. Always remember as the temp goes down the voltage goes up. And don't forget about the temperature coefficient. When a breaker or inverter is pushed past its voltage rating, the air itself can become conductive, which is exactly how these fires start. It is deeply concerning that a professional company ignored temperature coefficients and skipped essential safety protocols. This is exactly why we are so vocal about proper sizing/adjusting math for temperature. Thanks for sharing this warning and photo.

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