How to Tell if Solar Panels Are Working?

To tell if your solar panel is working, check your ( inverter, electric meter, breaker switches, electric bills). Check solar panels to tell if solar panels are working by regularly checking the condition of your solar panels, regardless of their age, to promptly address any issues and resume efficient green energy production.

Modern solar panel systems send alerts or notifications if a problem is detected. But, you still need to check solar panels from time to time.

Before a solar system works, a government agency conducts an inspection to check the system’s safety, working and efficiency using 9 steps checklist including (visual inspection, electric meter examination, inverter check, solar monitoring system evaluation). Before inspection check your system in 8 steps including (ensuring code compliance, verifeing installation, cleaning panels). To clean solar panels, before inspection, rinse off loose debris from the solar panels and adjacent roofs and use cleaning solution.

Check the 5 common issues happen to panels including (corrosion, wiring issues, cracks, hot spots), if solar panels are not working. Also test panels’ voltage by sight or using a string inverter, if you do not have Multimeter.

This article answers the following questions: How to Check Your Solar Panels? What is Solar Panel Inspection? What is the Solar Inspection Checklist? What to do Before Inspection? How to Clean Solar Panels? What to Do if Solar Panels are Not Working? How to Test a Solar Panel Without a Multimeter?

How to Check Your Solar Panels?

To check if your solar panels are working correctly, There are 7 steps.

• Inspect Inverter.
• Examine Electric Meter.
• Inspect Your Breaker Switches.
• Review Your Electric Bill.
• Check the Weather.
• Remove Any Obstructions. 
• Install Solar Monitoring. 

The following figure shows how to check your solar panels in 7 steps.

Inspect Solar Inverter

The inverter is a common point of failure. Check for status lights – green is good, orange signals a potential issue, and flashing red indicates a problem.

Possible issues include wiring problems, faulty micro-inverters, or damage from wildlife. Contact a qualified solar technician if any issues arise.

Check Your Electric Meter

An Electric Meter(solar meter) is a meter that measures how many electrical units solar panels produce. A solar meter works for accounting and billing purposes, related to the electricity produced by Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power.

Check electricity consumption, during sunny days, your solar panels must supply most of your needs. There is an issue, if your meter shows grid power usage despite solar availability, . Some installations have a solar meter displaying key information.

Check Your Breaker Switches

Breaker switches are small fuse boxes that regulate the electricity flow in your home. Surges, glitches, or overloads cause these switches to trip, preventing solar electricity from powering appliances or entering the grid. Restoring them to the correct state is typically sufficient to resolve the issue.

Review Your Electric Bill

Solar panels aim to reduce electricity bills. The is a problem with the solar panels, if bills rise,. Fluctuations are normal, but overall bills should be lower than pre-solar installation. If solar panels are not working, you see a rise in your electricity bills

Check the Weather

Electricity generation depends on sunlight. Unusual fluctuations is due to recent bad weather. Consider historical trends and future weather projections for your area, they could be the reason why solar panels are not working.

Remove Any Obstructions

Anything blocking sunlight reduces panel efficiency. Address obstructions like tree branches, dust, and bird droppings.

Recommended actions include yearly trimming of overhanging branches, monthly panel spraying with water, and an annual deep cleaning with soap and water.

Check for obstructions beneath the panels. Nesting mice, birds, and other pests harm the components of your PV system, resulting in reduced energy production. Therefore, it’s crucial to clear away any droppings and debris. Installing a pest guard is also a wise precautionary measure to avoid future infestations.

Consider Installing Solar Monitoring

To ensure you have a comprehensive check of your solar production. This involves either setting up new monitoring or improving your existing system. Solar monitoring gives 5 benefits are in the following list.

• Track real-time production data from your PV system.
• Access performance data conveniently from any computer or smart device.
• Analyze historical generation data, and local weather conditions, and compare with your neighbors’ production to assess your solar installation’s health.
• Receive alerts if your PV system’s production deviates from its usual baseline.
• When your PV installation is “stable” but performing below the average for similarly-sized systems in your geographic area. This empowers you to take corrective action and optimize your system for maximum savings.

What is Solar Panel Inspection?

Solar panel inspection is a thorough examination and evaluation of the photovoltaic (PV) system to ensure its optimal production and work. The inspection process involves an official employed by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) building department, along with a representative from the utility. The inspection process has a checklist, use it to check your system before inspection.

What is the Solar Inspection Checklist?

The “Solar Inspection Checklist” is a comprehensive list of items, criteria, or tasks designed to assess and evaluate the various components and aspects of a solar energy system. The Solar Inspection Checklist serves as a systematic guide for inspecting solar panels, associated wiring, connections, and other related elements to ensure proper functionality, identify potential issues, and maintain overall system efficiency. 

The solar inspection checklist has 6 steps are are shown in the following picture.

The solar inspection checklist has 6 steps are explained in the following list:

• Visual Inspection. of the entire solar panel array to identify any visible damage, cracks, or signs of wear. This includes checking for loose or damaged wiring and connections.
• Inverter Check. verification of the inverter’s status, ensuring that it is converting DC electricity generated by the solar panels into AC power efficiently. This involves checking indicator lights for any abnormal signals.
• Meter Readings Analysis. reviewing solar meter readings to track the total kilowatt-hours generated.
• Electric Meter Examination. inspecting the standard electric meter to ensure a reduction in grid electricity consumption during sunny periods. 
• Checking the breaker switches. to ensure they are in the correct state. 
• Solar Monitoring System Evaluation. this includes tracking real-time production, analyzing historical data, and ensuring that alerts are set up for any deviations from normal production.

What to do Before Inspection?

Before solar inspection, follow the 8 steps, in the next list, to check your system.

• Identify the AHJ. Determine the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for your installation. 
• Ensure Code Compliance. Ensure your plans adhere to local building, electrical, fire, residential, and wind codes, as well as utility interconnection requirements.
• Submit Permit. Submit your plans to the AHJ for approval. Obtain the necessary permit to proceed with the installation and related work.
• Get Interconnection Permi. Apply for a separate interconnection permit from the electric utility serving the property. 
• Schedule Installation. Once permits are approved, schedule the installation. Confirm that the installation aligns with the permitted design.
• Verify your Installation. Verify that the solar system was installed according to the permitted design. Any changes necessitate re-permitting before the inspection.
• Schedule an Inspection. Contact both the AHJ and the utility to coordinate inspections.
• Clean your panels. Clean panels allow inspectors to accurately assess the condition of the solar system. Any issues, damage, or malfunctions are more easily identified when the panels are free from obstructions.

How to Clean Solar Panels?

To clean solar panels, before inspection, rinse off loose debris from the solar panels and adjacent roofs. Apply cleaning solution to a solar panel, allowing it to sit for a few minutes without drying out. Gently wipe down the panel with a soft brush or sponge. Rinse off the panels with the hose and use a squeegee to dry them before reactivating the solar panel system. To clean solar panels before inspection, avoid using a pressure washer, cold water on hot panels, or harsh chemicals like bleach, as these cause damage to the solar panels.

What to Do if Solar Panels are Not Working?

Check common issues and contact solar repair services or solar maintenance services to prevent further complications and efficiency loss,if solar panels do not work properly.

There are 5 main reasons make solar panels not working, that 5 reasons are explained in the following list.

• Corrosion. Solar panels endure harsh weather conditions like heat and heavy rain, leading to corrosion
• Wiring Issues. Faulty wiring, including loose connections, is a major culprit makes solar panels not working.
• Cracks. Microscopic cracks develop over time, compromising efficiency and conductivity. External pressure and bending cause these tiny cracks to expand, eventually disrupting electricity conduction.
• Hot Spots. Overheating, or hot spots, occur in specific areas of the panels due to dirt build-up or poorly soldered connections. This results in performance loss and a shortened lifespan.
• PID Effect (Potential Induced Degradation). This common issue arises when the ground voltage and the panel voltage do not align, leading to efficiency loss and potential failure. Test your panel voltage without multimeter or any other tools, using sight or string inverter.

How to Test a Solar Panel Without a Multimeter?

To test a solar panel without a multimeter use sight or string inverter. The multimeter is a tool measuresg the current and voltage of solar panels. There are the 2 main methods to test a solar panel without a multimeter, testing by sight and testing using a string inverter.

In the next list are 5 steps to test a solar panels by sight.

• Make visual inspection and check of your solar panels to identify any physical flaws.
• Observe the panels for visible fractures or any signs of compromise.
• Check for potential issues such as hotspots, dust accumulation, or moisture affecting the solar panel.
• Ensure panels have adequate light sensing capabilities. Consider adding a sensor to enhance their functionality, is solar panels do not have adequate light sensing capabilities.
• Contact your solar panel company for further assistance, if any concerns arise during the inspection,.

In the next list are 6 steps to test a solar panels using a string inverter.

• Evaluate the efficiency of your solar panels by employing a smart system along with a string inverter.
• Optimize the positioning of your solar panels to maximize sunlight exposure.
• Connect the terminals of your inverter with the cords from the solar panels.
• Utilize the smart system to monitor the combined output in both series and parallel configurations.
• Check the voltage and current for each solar panel that inverter displays, allowing immediate identification of any faulty panels.
• Determine the power output of the solar panels, based on the information provided by the inverter, .