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41
January 2020
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Solar Stik
®
, Inc.
24VDC Power Hub 3500 Operator Manual
Using the Power Hub to Monitor PV Array Performance
Failure of a single PV panel or array may not be noticed during normal operation if monitoring only
the total/cumulative solar output current from multiple arrays in the pages menu of the LCD user
interface.
PV array output fluctuates due to changing environmental conditions. PV power generation can
degrade as the panel temperature rises, and the failure of an entire PV array may occur if a portion
of a single panel is shaded. It is important to monitor the output of each solar charger independently
from the device list to ensure the system is operating at its best.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Assessing PV Array Performance
The amount of power that is produced by a PV panel depends primarily on two operating
conditions:
• Direct sunlight onto the PV cell
• Temperature
MPPT charge controllers optimize the power production based on two factors:
• Available PV (solar) power
• Battery state of charge (SOC)
Solar array output fluctuates due to changing environmental conditions. PV generation can degrade
as the panel temperature rises, and the failure of an entire solar array may occur if a portion of a
single panel is shaded. It is important to occasionally monitor the DC values at each charge control
unit in the Hub.
The DC readings should be approximately the same for every PV array across all charge controls.
Troubleshooting Individual PV Arrays Using the Power Hub User Interface
Failure of a single solar panel or solar array may not be noticed during normal operation if
monitoring only the total solar output current from multiple arrays in the main menu of the LCD
User Interface.
If using a single PV array, the failure of a single (1) solar panel may cause the entire solar array to
appear failed when the solar panels are wired in series. The output from the entire solar array will be
zero (0), and therefore the current of a single (1) charge unit will be significantly lower.
If multiple PV arrays are connected and have equal exposure to sunlight, then the output current
from each PV array should be approximately the same. The output of individual arrays can be
monitored independently at the User Interface.