Filter
Top Products
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
6–2 975-0320-01-01
Angle of the sun The angle of the sun in relation to the PV array surface—the array
orientation—can dramatically affect the PV array output. The array energy output
will vary depending on the time of day and time of year as the sun’s angle in
relation to the array changes. Sunlight output decreases as the sun approaches the
horizons (such as in winter in North America) due to the greater atmospheric air
mass it must penetrate, reducing both the light intensity that strikes the array’s
surface and spectrum of the light. In general, you can expect only four to six hours
of direct sunlight per day.
Partial shade Shading of only a single module of the array will reduce the output of the entire
system. Such shading can be caused by something as simple as the shadow of a
utility wire or tree branch on part of the array’s surface. This condition, in effect,
acts like a weak battery in a flashlight, reducing the total output, even though the
other batteries are good. However, the output loss is not proportionate to shading.
The GT Inverter is designed to maximize its energy production in all of the above
situations using its MPPT algorithm.
Other Factors
Other factors that contribute to system losses are:
• Dust or dirt on the array
• Fog or smog
• Mismatched PV array modules, with slight inconsistencies in performance
from one module to another.
• Inverter efficiency
• Wire losses
• Utility grid voltage.
For additional information and technical notes concerning PV array performance,
please visit our Web site at www.xantrex.com.
Important:
The GT Inverter will reduce its energy output to protect its electronic
circuits from overheating and possible damage in high heat conditions. For maximum
output in hot climates, mount the GT Inverter in a shaded location with good air flow.