Congratulations, you’ve invested in a solar PV system! You’ve made a commitment to lower energy bills and a greener future. But once those sleek panels are installed on your roof, how do you gain confidence that they are delivering the promised power and savings day in and day out?
At Geo Green Power, we know that peace of mind comes from clear data. While solar panels require very little maintenance, proactive monitoring is key to ensuring you get the maximum return on your investment. Ignoring a dip in performance can cost you hundreds in lost generation over a year.
So, how do I know if my solar panels are working effectively? The answer lies in understanding your system’s technology and knowing exactly where to look for the signs of success or signs of trouble.
1. The Simplest Check: The Solar Inverter
The solar inverter is the brain of your PV system. It’s the device, usually located near your main fuse box or outside on a wall, that converts the DC (Direct Current) electricity generated by your panels into AC (Alternating Current) electricity that your home or business can use.
Look at the Lights
This is the fastest way to check solar panel health:
- Green/Blue Light (Flashing or Solid): This is generally a good sign. It means the inverter is on, connected to the grid, and actively converting solar power. A flashing light often indicates power is currently being generated.
- Red or Orange Light / Error Message: This is a clear warning that there is an issue. It could be anything from a temporary grid fault to a more serious internal component failure. Check your inverter’s manual (or the manufacturer’s website) to understand the meaning of the specific error code displayed.
- Blank Screen or No Lights During the Day: If the inverter is completely off during daylight hours, it usually indicates that the power supply to the inverter has been tripped or switched off. Check the circuit breaker or AC isolator near the unit. If resetting the switch doesn’t work, contact a professional.
2. The Definitive Method: Solar Monitoring
The most effective and modern way to determine if the solar panels are working is through a solar monitoring system. This technology moves beyond simple light checks and gives you granular, real-time data on your system’s performance.
Modern Solar Monitoring Systems
Most contemporary systems come with built-in internet connectivity. This allows you to check your system’s performance via a dedicated solar monitoring app on your phone, tablet, or computer.
What to Look for in Your App/Dashboard:
- Real-Time Output: Shows you exactly how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) your system is generating at that moment. Compare this output to your expected performance for that time of day and weather conditions.
- Historical Data: Track daily, weekly, monthly, and annual generation. This allows you to compare performance against previous periods, helping you identify unexpected dips.
- Expected vs. Actual: Many advanced monitoring systems overlay your actual production against the expected production based on local weather data. If your actual line consistently falls below the expected line, you have an underperformance issue.
- Panel-Level Monitoring (Microinverters/Optimisers): If your system uses microinverters or power optimisers (like SolarEdge or Enphase), your solar monitoring system can show the performance of each panel. This is the gold standard for troubleshooting, as it instantly flags a single underperforming panel due to shading or damage, saving significant inspection time.
Geo Green Tip: Make it a habit to check your monitoring app daily or weekly, especially after bad weather. Early detection of a problem saves time and money.
3. The Traditional Methods: Meters and Bills
Even without a fancy app, you can manually verify your system’s output.
The Generation Meter
Every grid-tied solar system has a dedicated generation meter installed. This meter records the total amount of electricity your panels have produced over their lifetime.
- Action: Check the reading on the meter once a week (or at least once a month) and log it.
- Result: The number should always be increasing during daylight hours. If the number is stagnant over a period of good weather, or if the indicator light (which often flashes faster when generating more power) is off or solid, your system is likely not working correctly.
Your Energy Bills
A sudden, unexplained increase in the amount of electricity you are importing from the grid (your total electricity consumption less your solar generation) is a strong indicator that your panels are underperforming.
- Action: Compare your recent electricity bill’s consumption figures to the same period in the previous year.
- Result: If your consumption from the grid has spiked without a corresponding change in your household usage, it suggests your solar system is failing to offset your daytime usage as effectively as it should.
4. Visual Inspection: The Simple Look-Up
While you should never climb onto your roof yourself, a simple visual inspection from the ground can reveal obvious issues.
- Physical Damage: Look for visible cracks, chips, burn marks, or discolouration on the glass surface of the panels. Damage from hail or extreme weather can reduce efficiency or cause safety issues.
- Obstruction/Shading: Check for new sources of shade. A new tree branch, a TV aerial, or even accumulated debris like leaves or bird droppings can drastically reduce the output of a solar array, especially those connected in a “string” configuration. Even partial shading on one panel can affect the entire row.
5. Take out a Geo Green Power Monitoring Package
At Geo Green Power, we have comprehensive monitoring packages available whereby we will remotely monitor and assess your system in real time. Our comprehensive software allows us to monitor simple and small or large comprehensive systems and alert us to any issues. Our professional team can quickly triage the issue and take steps to undertake any necessary actions, which include going to the site for a full diagnostic check.
When to Call the Professionals
If your manual checks or your solar monitoring alerts you to a significant, unexplained drop in performance, it’s time to call in the experts. Don’t attempt complex electrical checks or roof work yourself.
Call a qualified installer like Geo Green Power if you observe:
- An inverter displaying a persistent error code.
- A drop in output of more than 10-15% compared to similar weather conditions and time of year.
- Visible signs of damage or corrosion.
- Unusual noises coming from the inverter.
Our certified technicians can perform diagnostic tests, including an electrical inspection and thermal imaging, to pinpoint the exact issue, be it a faulty inverter, a wiring problem, or a cell failure, and get your system back to peak performance.
Ensure Peak Performance
Maximising the return on your solar investment relies on knowing, unequivocally, that your system is performing as promised. Modern solar monitoring makes this easier than ever.
- If you have an underperforming system, contact Geo Green Power today for a professional health check and repair quote.
- Considering solar? Ask us how our complete installation packages include best-in-class solar monitoring systems for ultimate peace of mind.
- Call us to speak to an expert about checking solar panel output and maintenance plans.
