The function of this post is to help you operate your solar energy system effectively with minimal or no supervision. If the instructions are well followed, you will know what to do whenever you notice something odd and only reach out for support when necessary.

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Understanding The Parts Of Your Solar Energy System

Solar Panels

A solar panel is a device that converts sunlight into electricity by using photovoltaic (PV) cells. In short, solar panels generate energy from the sunlight for your solar energy system which can be used by your appliances or stored in your battery.

Inverter

This is the machine that takes power from solar panels or battery (direct current) and converts it to electricity (alternating current) for your appliances to use. It comes in different sizes, capacities and volts.

Battery

This is your power storage device. Power produced from the solar panels gets stored in the battery. It is advised to get a big battery for more storage because once the sun sets, the battery starts discharging its content.

Charge Controller

This is an intelligent machine that charges the battery with the power generated by the solar panels. The charge controller understands the battery size and capacity, it checks the amount of voltage and current generated by the panel, then it supplies to the battery the needed voltage and current it requires to charge. Once the battery is full, it will automatically stop charging the battery.

Your installation may not use this device because we usually recommend hybrid inverters.

Hybrid inverters already have an in-built charge controller.

Circuit Breakers

Because it is not good to leave anything to chance, circuit breakers are placed for different protection purposes such as;

DC breaker that controls the inflow of power from the panels to the system.

DC surge to prevent hazards from the panels like thunder.

AC breaker that controls the inflow of power from grid or generator to the system.

AC voltage regulator for high or low voltage effects on the system.

Change Over

Though our inverters allow automatic switch over to other sources of power supply that are connected to the inverter, if you choose not to use the inverter system at all, due to one reason or the other, you can switch the change over to use other power sources. We install the change over so you can isolate the inverter system from the electrical wiring of the house and use other power sources directly, without going through the inverter. The typical changeover has 3 sides: up (bypass), middle (neutral), down (inverter).

Box Bars

This may or may not be part of your own system, it is usually present when a system uses multiple batteries or inverters. Box bars are communication points for the batteries, inverters and external charge controller as the case may be.

You should not interact with it at all, it should only be opened by a trained professional.

Battery Breaker

This is a big breaker installed in jobs involving multiple batteries and inverters. If there is any reason to disconnect the inverter from the batteries quickly, you don't have to go through the stress of switching off the batteries one after the other, just switch off the BREAKER and that’s all.

Wifi Communication Module

It is possible to monitor the power generation and power consumption of your inverter system right from your mobile phone, anywhere you are in the world. A Wifi module can installed in your system to give you these information. It requires a WiFi to be available at the point where the inverter is installed.

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

Now that you know about your system, where the key elements and controls are, here is how your solar energy system works:

NOTE: A well functioning system requires all the circuit breakers to be turned on but in a situation where the system is not functioning well then it may be as a result of either a breaker not turned on, some rules not followed or a minor fault.

Powering Up The System

1. Ensure the breaker at the body of the battery or batteries is/are turned on.

2. Switch on the inverter or inverters

3. Go to the change over and make sure that you pull it to the side labeled inverter

4. Check if the inverter has an inbuilt breaker. If it does, then kindly switch on the AC output breaker

5. Once the inverter starts working, turn on the DC circuit breakers for the solar panels.

Powering Off The System

This depends on if you need the system to keep charging with solar panels or not.

If you just want to stop the system from giving out power, simply place the changeover at the middle point (neutral). You can turn off the inverter machine if you want but it’s not necessary.

If you want the inverter system to also stop generating power, then in addition to the above:

• Turn off all DC circuit breakers.

• Turn off all individual battery breakers.

• Turn off all input breakers that allows power into the inverter.

• The inverter will turn off by itself if it hasn’t been switched off already.

Enable Solar Charging

If you see that the system is not charging from solar panels, kindly open the breaker board and ensure that the DC circuit breakers are turned on.

Enable Electricity/Generator Charging

If you have alternative sources of power supplies like electricity and generator, open the breaker box and ensure that the AC input breaker is on.

If the system has an output breaker, ensure it is switched on.

SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

Here are a few things you should watch out for in your inverter system:

1. The panel(s) does not generate equal power at every time of the day so don't expect the power generation to be always high. The earth moves around the sun and the power generated by your solar panels are affected by the sun position, sun intensity, temperature, etc.

2. Understand your battery storage capacity. It will help you manage what you use at any time of the day in order to ensure that you don’t run out of power.

3. You should know how to check the amount of power you generate and the amount you consume so you can know when you are using more than what the panels are generating and know when to reduce your load.

4. Please avoid overloading the inverter(s). It is not advisable to load an inverter beyond 70% of its capacity for proper performance and durability as well. Large load drains battery faster and exerts more stress on the inverter.

5. Ensure that there's enough ventilation around the inverter(s) and batteries. Congestion contributes to poor performance and reduction in battery life cycle.

6. It is recommended that the inverter(s) and battery/batteries be checked and maintained regularly for longer service and durability.

COMMON FAULTS AND SOLUTIONS

Overload

This occurs when the system is loaded beyond its capacity.

SOLUTIONS

Reduce the heavy appliance(s) being powered.

Follow the guidelines for Powering off the system in this post to switch off the system, then follow instruction on Powering up the system to power it once again.

If the issue persists, contact support.

Low Battery

This occurs when the battery exhausts the power stored within it and not receiving any power input. This is normal and not a problem with the system.

SOLUTIONS

1. Switch off all the loads on the system and allow it to change for a while.

2. Ensure the DC breaker(s) are on if it’s in the day, else ensure power is coming in from al alternative source.

3. Check the screen of your inverter to compare what is being generated and what is being consumed, through this you will know the best appliance(s) to power at that moment.

4. If you have tried the above and the issue still persists, contact support.

Battery Not Charging With Panel

This happens when the battery is not receiving any charging command from the charge controller or the inverter (if hybrid)

SOLUTIONS

1. Check if the DC circuit breaker(s) are turned on, if not please switch it on.

2. Check if something is blocking or casting shadows on the panels

3. Check if the charge controller or inverter (if hybrid) is receiving power generation from the panels. If yes, then check the load to see if you’re consuming more power than what your panels are producing.

   NOTE: If the power consumption is more than the power production, the battery bars will stop increasing, even when the sun is shining well, which makes it seem like the battery has stopped charging. This is normal, and not a problem with the system. Try reducing your load a little to see the battery bars increasing again.

4. If the issue still persists, contact support.

Battery Not Charging With Electricity/Generator

This occurs when the alternative source(s) of power supply fail to charge the battery.

SOLUTIONS

1. Ensure the AC input breaker is turned on.

2. If the issue still persists, contact support

Quick Battery Drainage

This means that the battery/batteries quickly runs down. It is mostly caused by heavy loads. Reduce your power consumption and monitor how fast the battery is used up.

NOTE: If you see a fault code on your inverter or battery, please take a snapshot or record a video as that will enable us identify the problem. Send the picture/video to the support line.

For more faults and solutions, please read the FAULT CODE TABLE in your manual.

CAUTIONS

For your safety and the safety of the occupants of the location of the system, kindly take note of these:

1. Don't operate parts of the system that you don’t understand. Try to understand it first or ask questions.

2. Please ensure that the system is installed in a dry place. Do not store water around the inverter.

3. Avoid using metal objects around battery terminals to avoid short circuit which reduces battery performance and lifespan.

4. Do not try to spark wires or experiment with bridging two wires together as it can cause electric shock.

5. Avoid congestion around the inverter. Always ensure that the inverter and battery/batteries position has enough ventilation.

6. This system is strictly to be operated by adults, please warn children to stay away.

7. Do not remove the labels placed on any part of this installation to avoid confusion and misinterpretation.

For more CAUTIONS please see the manual.