Solar Power System Testing, Servicing and Maintenance Service
Regular solar PV system testing, servicing and maintenance will extend the life of a solar PV system and ensure that solar PV panels, solar inverters and switchgear is operating safely. Potential safety and or performance issues can be identified early before becoming a problem and or a cause of downtime. Insurers will often ask to see evidence that regular testing and preventative maintenance has been carried out should a claim need to be made. We provide solar power system testing, solar maintenance and solar repair services for residential clients, businesses, property owners and agricultural clients within 90 minutes driving distance of Swindon, England.
Solar Power System Testing, Servicing & Maintenance - What`s included?
Different clients will have different requirements when it comes to solar PV system testing and servicing and our offerings are flexible to reflect this.
We work on an ad hoc basis with no ongoing fees or maintenance contracts; either providing one off solar testing and servicing when needed or scheduled at appropriate intervals.
Selling a house with solar panels:One off solar PV system testing and inspection is particularly useful and often used by those selling or letting a house with solar panels installed. In addition to providing evidence that the system is working alongside up to date electrical test results, we`ll make sure that all the documentation is in order, plugging any gaps and provide an easy to understand inspection report that will contain all of the information anyone might ever need to know about the solar PV system in one place, giving you, your buyers and their solicitors confidence in the solar PV system.
Buying a house with solar panels:If you instruct us as a buyer, as well as testing everything, making sure that the system is safe and that all the required paperwork is in place; we are always happy to spend time talking you through your new system, showing you how everything works, what to look out for, how to take meter readings and how to ensure that you get the most from your system.
NB:We have repaired many solar PV systems that in some cases have not been installed or ever tested correctly. You will likely find most, if not all of these services valuable if the system hasn`t been serviced or inspected since it was first installed.
Below we outline the elements that make up a full solar PV system service, the right solar servicing and test schedule for your system will be a combination of these elements. For example if solar panels are mounted on roofspaces, it would be expensive and potentially counter-productive to test them individually, when electrical safety testing on complete strings of solar panels can be carried out where the DC inputs connect to the solar inverter.
Solar PV System Testing and Inspection Report
General Installation - Electrical (Ref IEC60364-6-61):As part of the general electrical installation inspection and service which we will carry out on all systems, we look to ensure that the system fulfills the following criteria:
- Equipment compliant with standards, correctly selected and not damaged
- Equipment accessible for operation, inspection and maintenance
- Equipment and accessories correctly connected
- Particular protective measures for special locations
- Equipment and protective measures appropriate to external influences
- System installed to prevent mutual detrimental influence
- Conductors correctly identified
- Conductors correctly selected for current carrying capacity and voltage drop
- Equipment and protective measures appropriate to external influences
- Conductors routed within safe zones and / or protected against mechanical damage
- Presence of fire barriers, seals and protection against thermal effects
General Installation - Mechanical: (optional)The general mechanical installation inspection and any works will require full unrestricted access to the mounting area and may require the temporary removal of solar panels, we look to ensure that the system fulfills the following criteria:
- Ventilation provided behind the array to prevent overheating / fire risk
- Array frame & material corrosion proof
- Array frame correctly fixed and stable
- Panels in good condition, in working order and undamaged
- Roof fixings weatherproof
- Cable entry weatherproof
Protection against over voltage / electric shock:We look to ensure that the following safety measures, where applicable are working correctly and in place:
- Live parts insulated, protected by barrier, enclosure or class II
- Array frame equipotential bonding
- Surge protection correct and installed
- Additional protection by RCD
DC System:The DC inspection and any works will ensure that where applicable the following is in place:
- Physical separation of AC and DC cables
- DC switch disconnector fitted (to IEC60364-712.536.2.2)
- DC cables correctly routed and protected with reinforced insulation
- All D.C. components rated for the system maximum (Voc and Isc x 1.25)
- PV String fuses or blocking diodes fitted
AC System:The AC inspection and any works will ensure that where applicable the following is in place:
- AC isolators lockable in the ‘Off’ position
- Solar inverter correctly set and commissioned for local supply regulations
Labelling & Identification:The labelling & identification inspection and any works will ensure that where applicable the following is in place:
- General labelling of circuits correct
- PV System schematic displayed on site
- Protection settings & installer details displayed on site
- Emergency shut down procedure displayed on site
- AC and DC Isolators clearly labelled
- Signs and labels of a type suitable for the environment and correctly fixed
Live Performance Testing: (optional): Performance testing involves measuring and recording `Live` data from solar PV strings or individiual solar panels and at the same time measuring and recording the amount of irradiance (sunlight) as well as the ambient temperature.
Once we have recorded this information, we then cross reference this against the data provided by the solar panel manufacturer and compare our data with how the solar panels should perform at standard test conditions.
Once differences in irradiance and temperature levels have been accounted for, we can then see if the solar panels are performing to the level that they should be. A solar panel or series of panels may test fine from a safety perspective but traditional testing and the basic safety testing carried out by solar inverters is not likely to help identify a poorly performing solar panel.
Given that most solar PV systems are wired together in strings and the performance of the string is determined by the weakest panel, `safe` but unidentified poorly performing solar panels can have a big effect on overall power yields.