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Solar Monitoring Installation for DIY Systems

DIY Solar/
Solar Monitoring Installation for DIY Systems

A solar monitoring system allows you to keep an eye on your solar production and catch any problems before they hamper your electricity bill. Without a monitoring system, solar system owners might not identify issues until it’s too late.

Overall, solar energy systems don’t require much maintenance. But now and then, something might go wrong. Like with any other piece of technology, mishaps can occur. A breaker could trip, someone could turn off the solar disconnect by mistake, a faulty inverter requires a reset, or a squirrel could chew a wire on your roof – you get the idea.

With a solar monitoring system in place, you’ll be aware of any changes in system performance (like a drop in energy production) that would prompt you to take a closer look at your system’s health.

Solar monitoring installation is crucial for DIY systems. This article guides you through the steps to successfully set up your solar monitoring system.

Dashboard of Enphase Enlighten Manager solar monitoring system
Dashboard of Enphase Enlighten Manager monitoring system

How to Install Your Solar Monitoring System

Step 1: Document Serial Numbers

First and foremost, capture the serial numbers of each microinverter or DC optimizer in your system before you install the solar panels over them.

Look for stickers you can pull off and stick to the layout in your solar plans (or any piece of paper). This creates a “map,” so if one device fails, you can identify the malfunctioning part. Without this roadmap, you might spend a lot of time looking through your system components, trying to find the failing part.

Step 2: Download the Appropriate App and Create an Account

Solar monitoring systems are now highly advanced. Wireless monitoring via a mobile app or an online dashboard is standard across most monitoring devices today.

Download the app specific to your solar inverter manufacturer using your phone or tablet. This way, you’ll get the most comprehensive insights into your solar system’s performance.

You’ll need to set up an account for your solar monitoring platform. You’ll likely be prompted to enter your inverter or monitoring gateway device serial number(s) to move forward (which is why step #1 is so crucial). This ensures you won’t monitor your neighbor’s system by mistake.

Step 3: Verify Your Internet Connection

A weak WiFi connection can impact the functionality of your solar monitoring system. The location of your inverter or monitor may be far from your home’s wireless router, affecting the signal strength.

If you’re dealing with a poor signal from the monitor’s location, add a WiFi range extender somewhere between your router and monitoring equipment.

Step 4: Connect Your Solar Monitoring System to the Internet

Next, make the connection between the monitoring device and your WiFi. You’ll need your network name and password handy for this step.

You could also connect using the WPS feature on your router (push the appropriate button to look for new devices and activate them on your network).

Step 5: Commission Your Solar Monitoring System

Lastly, it’s time to put the monitoring system to work!

You should set up email or text alerts to receive notifications if production drops or an inverter malfunctions. With alerts set up, you won’t need to log in and monitor your system daily. However, you should check the system’s performance occasionally for good measure. You can glean valuable data from your monitoring dashboard, like total energy usage.

Need More Help with Your Solar Monitoring System?

A functioning solar monitoring system is crucial for ensuring the longevity of your solar panel system.

If you have other questions about solar monitoring installation or DIY solar kit installation, reach out to the pros at GoGreenSolar. We’ll walk you through the installation process to help you install your solar system confidently! Contact us today.

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