Photovoltaics is a field of science and technology that enables the generation of electricity using solar radiation. This is made possible by the photovoltaic phenomenon.

The basic and main component of the installation are photovoltaic cells, which are combined into photovoltaic modules. This gives us the ability to generate more solar energy. In the cells, sunlight is converted into direct current. This process is called the photovoltaic phenomenon. Cells are made of semiconductor materials. They allow the conduction of electrical charges as a result of external factors, such as solar radiation or temperature, among others. The most commonly used semiconductor in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells is silicon. Solar energy converted into direct current is transferred to a photovoltaic inverter, which is responsible for converting it into alternating current. Alternating current is that which is found in our household sockets and we use on a daily basis.

The photovoltaic set includes:

• Photovoltaic panels made of photovoltaic cells, in which sunlight is converted into direct current. The efficiency of the photovoltaic phenomenon is determined by the structure of the photovoltaic cells, the location of the modules and atmospheric conditions.
• Photovoltaic inverter, whose task is to convert the direct current produced by photovoltaic panels into alternating current, that is, the current we use every day in our homes.
• The mounting structure on which the photovoltaic modules are mounted. The type of structure depends on the type of roof on which the photovoltaic system is mounted.
• A bidirectional meter that measures the flow of electricity. Thanks to it, we have the ability to account for the amount of energy we produce and that consumed.

The autumn-winter period is not an easy time for owners of photovoltaic installations. Yields are sometimes only 10% of what can be obtained in spring and summer. Solar energy during this period is negligible, sometimes even insufficient to start a photovoltaic inverter. This is due to the fact that the sun runs low, rises late and sets earlier.

For the inverter to take off, a minimum of two conditions must be met:

– minimum start voltage

– current must flow – the minimum we observe is 0.1A – 0.3A, depending on the inverter model, number of panels, etc.

Unfortunately, in the autumn and winter it is very often difficult to meet the second condition.

The most common reason is the snow, ice, falling leaves, freezing rain or other pollutants deposited on the panels during this period.

For more information on this problem, see the Growatt forum:

https://forum-growatt.pl/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=20

The minimum angle of the roof is 10°. It is required for self-cleaning of modules from snow, for example. If the roof has a smaller angle of inclination, then it should be corrected with a suitable mounting structure. The highest energy yields for our latitude are achieved by the photovoltaic installation at an angle of inclination of 30-40° – modules oriented in the southern direction, and 15-25° – photovoltaic installation in the east-west direction.

It is not possible to clearly determine how long it will take to get a return on investment in a photovoltaic system. It is estimated that the average payback time is about 8-10 years.

Comprehensive information on this subject can be found on the Growatt forum:

https://forum-growatt.pl/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13

If you were installing the photovoltaic system on your own, take a look at the instructional videos:

– Growatt Shine WiFi-X dongle configuration – https://youtu.be/Mj1l_miO26c

– Growatt Shine GPRS-X dongle configuration – https://youtu.be/OxtGuTYoDFU

When setting up your account, you need to enter the universal INSTALLER CODE ANXQ3.

On the other hand, if the photovoltaic installation was installed by an installation company, you should immediately contact the installation contractor to obtain the installer code.

Reconfiguring monitoring after changing the router is one of the main problems for Growatt photovoltaic inverter users. Take a look at the instructional video and the Growatt forum article, which cover this topic 100%.

Video: https://youtu.be/xiCRwKVID3I

Article: https://forum-growatt.pl/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=31

To obtain an installer code, go to oss.growatt.com, then click on the “Registration” button and select Installer account. The next step is to list all the details of the installer company. It is necessary to enter the serial number of one of the inverters and the registration documents of the company.

Photovoltaic inverter shutdown due to excessive voltage is due to Commission Regulation (EU) EN 50549-1/2-2019. These restrictions have been imposed by power utilities. Growatt is not responsible for this problem and has no influence on it.

First of all, the process of installing a photovoltaic system must be carried out in accordance with all instructions for correct installation. Installation training courses organized by Growatt Poland / PV Expo may also prove helpful.

Information on training courses can be found on the Growatt website: https://growatt.pl/szkolenia-fotowoltaika-kursy/

NOTE: UDT / RES installer certificate or SEP certificate is required to make a claim.

“Error 129 AC OUT OF RANGE” is one of the most common problems in Growatt brand inverters. However, it is not a critical problem that should keep Growatt inverter owners awake at night.

“Error 129 AC OUT OF RANGE” reports that the voltage on the utility’s grid is too high, or that the utility is unable to receive production.

In 98%, the cause of this problem is the wrong setting in the inverters.

Correct setting of Polish standard EN50438 – https://youtu.be/tTMpw9iaLXs

For more information on Error 129, visit the Growatt forum: https://forum-growatt.pl/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=16&sid=e046a84308b0d396dcf2e20d1ca79af1

Check the photovoltaic installation: plugs, wires, take appropriate electrical measurements, check that the photovoltaic inverter is properly grounded (screwed ground to the inverter housing in the designated place).

For more information, visit the Growatt forum: https://forum-growatt.pl/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=47

If the photovoltaic installation was made by a company, the first thing to do is to report the malfunction to the installer. If we are the installer and are unable to solve the problem ourselves, we contact the service hotline.

We described the procedure for filing a complaint on the Growatt forum: https://forum-growatt.pl/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=23

The photovoltaic contractor should check with the customer to ensure that all wires are properly tightened, that plugs are not loose, and that fuses and other components in the switchgear are not damaged. As a last resort, please report the matter to Growatt service.

Growatt inverters come as standard with data loggers that allow the device to connect to the Internet and remotely change the inverter’s settings or update its software.

Growatt offers 2 types of loggers (connected to RS-232 or USB), working with three main types of network connection: Wi-Fi, Ethernet and GPRS.

The yields achieved by a photovoltaic installation depend on many factors. The most important of these are the type and number of photovoltaic modules, the angle of inclination of the modules, the azimuth of the photovoltaic installation, possible errors in installation (for example, improperly selected diameters of AC or DC cables) or defects in the components from which the photovoltaic installation was made.

This is the effect of inverter efficiency, which is never constant. It depends on two basic factors:

– inverter load (the highest efficiency is at a load between 40-60% of rated output power. Below and above that, efficiency will always be slightly lower)

– MPPT operating voltage (the rated DC voltage given in the data sheet is not accidental. It is for this value that we can achieve the highest efficiency of the inverter. Therefore, for small inverter power, it is better to use more panels of lower power achieving a higher value of voltage per string)