As far as power production goes, (size, if you prefer), I have a modest solar PV system. Given various limiting factors, my maximum production lands at somewhere near 3,600 watts of electrical power at 240 volts. Translated into current, this yields 15 Amps.
Of
course, energy produced by a PV array is very much dependent on sunlight, and
power will peak only when the sunlight strikes the modules (and cells) in a
direct fashion. For this reason, production charted on a fixed array such as
mine follows a bell curve, mirroring the path of the sun from sunrise to
sunset.
My
system is net-metered, meaning any power I produce and don’t use is pushed back
onto the grid for use by others, and I get credited for this. Last month, I
produced enough power that between what I used and what I pushed back onto the
grid, I offset my power bill by $80.
Yesterday,
just because I have the technology, I measured the current being produced by my
PV array at a little before noon. I measured 12.3 amps.
I
like 12.3 amps!
I
have posted a few photographs to showcase my solar PV system (since I have the
technology to do that, too).
My
PV System at Work
A Charted
Day of Production from My Array
12.3
Amps!
—Mitchell Hegman
When was the last time you washed the array?
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly enough, some of the wet and melting snows do a pretty good job of keeping the array free of most collected dust and grime. Do it get regular cleaning in that manner.
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