Monitoring individual solar panels

[jongood]

I'm planning on altering my solar setup a bit and wondering if I can fit anything that tells me which panels are producing most power.

I currently have 4 panels going through 2x 350watt votronic duo mppt regs with the power display and bluetooth, so I can see the total but not individual outputs. Just wondered if anyone else had done this?

 

[RogerIvy]

The only easy way to see individual output is to attach each panel to its own controller.

 

[CAB96]

Cover one at a time when the sun is shining? See what difference each makes?

Better get a move on, summer is nearly over!

 

[bigtwin]

wondering if I can fit anything that tells me which panels are producing most power.

Curiosity is a wonderful thing, but don’t let it get the better of you!

The only easy way to see individual output is to attach each panel to its own controller.

But, if it does, this is the way to do it.

Ian

 

[autorouter]

If you can get at the individual wires, you could use a clamp meter to measure the amps flowing from the panel. It's usually easy to measure the voltage if they are all in parallel. Then watts = volts x amps for each panel.

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[clanjones]

Not sure if this is applicable to motorhome panels but you can use TIGO optimisers on each panel which will then allow you monitor the output of each panel. That is what we have on our house system. They are also supposed to optimise output but the jury is out on that one!

About | Tigo Energy

Tigo is the worldwide leader in flexible module level power electronics (MLPE) with innovative solutions for monitoring PV systems and energy production.

www.tigoenergy.com

 

[Flairy]

Do you realy need to know?

 

[clanjones]

Example of what data is available.

 

[Vaman]

We also have individual home panel reporting via micro inverters, however wholly unsuitable for motorhome use.
Chill, let the sun do its stuff and just have an occasional look at the overall output to check everything is tickety boo.

 

[jongood]

Do you realy need to know?

Just curious really

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[Carpmart]

Cover one at a time when the sun is shining? See what difference each makes?

Better get a move on, summer is nearly over!

In parallel that would work okay, not sure you’d get the results with a series setup?

 

[CAB96]

In parallel that would work okay, not sure you’d get the results with a series setup?

Ah, yes, I see.

In Series, One shaded would drag them all down.

 

[Emmit]

I'm planning on altering my solar setup a bit and wondering if I can fit anything that tells me which panels are producing most power.

I currently have 4 panels going through 2x 350watt votronic duo mppt regs with the power display and bluetooth, so I can see the total but not individual outputs. Just wondered if anyone else had done this?

You've got too much time on your hands.