The Importance of Online Solar Array Monitoring

Owning a solar array is an important investment designed to help you save money on your electric costs and provide a positive environmental impact. If you are considering going solar you want to ensure you take advantage of online monitoring. Solar monitoring provides you with the ability to check on the status and energy production of your system 24/7/365, through the use of an online app.

The primary goal of solar monitoring is the ability to recognize any operating issues as soon as possible and resolve these occurrences in a timely fashion. Without monitoring, a minor issue could go unresolved for a longer period of time, thus, having a substantial impact on energy production and your monthly electric bill. Monitoring provides you with peace-of-mind and the ability to brag about how much free, clean, renewable energy you’re producing from the power of the sun.

How Solar Monitoring Works

Online solar monitoring is made possible using the system’s inverter which communicates with the other components of the array. While your array’s inverter converts DC to AC electricity for your home or business to consume, it is also collecting valuable energy data. Pending your system maintains an internet connection, this data is automatically sent to the Cloud where you can access it through a supported software application. Often, the monitoring portal is a companion application created and supported by your inverter manufacturer (i.e. SolarEdge, Enphase, Fronius). The data from your array is sent through the internet to this monitoring portal which can be accessed via a mobile app or online browser. You can then log in and view the data of your solar array’s production and system diagnostics. The data is often broken down by yearly, monthly, hourly, and (in some cases) 15 minute or real-time updates.

Invaluable Data

The beauty of using online monitoring is the ability to see the solar production and system diagnostics from anywhere with easy-to-understand infographics and graphs. In the absence of monitoring, it is difficult to know if the array is generating adequate energy and/or if the system is operating at optimal levels. Monitoring a solar array can save money and alert you to potential areas of concern that need to be addressed by a professional technician. Monitoring platforms can send an alert notification when the solar array underperforms and goes outside the expected range of production. The most common support request is related to internet connection issues with the array and not the performance of the array itself.

Professional Solar Monitoring

A majority of reputable solar companies will provide professional monitoring oversight of your array for a fixed support fee, bundled into an annual service and support agreement, or as part of a no-cost installation guarantee. Eagle Point Solar offers service and support options, regardless of who you purchased from. With the use of online monitoring, many problems can be solved without the installer visiting the property. If an on-site visit is required, the solar technician can be prepared by reviewing monitoring data and resolve the issue(s) quicker, reducing your array’s production loss.

Starting Monitoring

At Eagle Point Solar, after you receive Permission To Operate (PTO) from your utility and you’re approved to turn on your solar array, an Eagle Point Solar operations professional will contact you. They will provide you with the solar monitoring login information along with directions on how to access the online monitoring portal, navigating views, and deciphering the graphs and charts. In addition, they are available to answer any further questions regarding monitoring during that time. 

In Conclusion

Solar power is a reliable, sustainable, and renewable solution to creating clean, affordable electricity. A well-designed and quality-built solar array is low maintenance and will endure decades of environmental abuse… which are reasons why they are loved by home and business owners alike. With the help of monitoring, your solar array can continue to work quietly in the background and alert you when attention is required. Additionally, monitoring helps to arm you with valuable insights to ensure you receive the most value from your investment by providing energy production and system diagnostic data for years to come.