Power Optimisers - What are they? And do you really need them?

Video Description

A companion video to the microinverter I made recently. Microinverter video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6t0AAi5Jws Voltage and current explained video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaNvzoJ5rVI Interactive utility to show the effect of shading on a module and an array: https://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/modules-and-arrays/shading Solar Panel Shading (Part 1): Are Optimisers and Micro inverters Worth It?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GvhDhCSJgo Solar Panel Shading (Part 2): More on Optimisers and Micro inverters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESpsdMFEFZo MC Electricals’ optimiser review: https://www.mcelectrical.com.au/solaredge-inverter-optimiser-review/ MC Electrical Tigo Optimiser Recall: https://www.mcelectrical.com.au/tigo-optimiser-recall/ FLIR Infra-red viewer https://www.flir.co.uk Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:56 Shading 9:08 Accumulation of Dirt 9:52 Panel Degradation 10:38 Panel Failure 11:00 Monitoring 12:58 Safety 13:53 Reliability 18:00 Summary Corrections: 6:34 I over-simplified how the optimiser manages the current. In reality, the inverter first maximises the power from the panel by adjusting the voltage via MPPT, then performs a DC-DC conversion, decreasing the voltage to bring the current in line with the rest of the string. 7:45 Actually, some of the bypass diodes will only kick in if there is a difference in shading across that particular panel. If there is shading across the whole of the panel (as in the diagram) the optimiser should still be able to manage that. 14:17 Oops - the total production should of course be 3.6kW, not 4.8kW. If you're getting a lot from my videos, and would like to support me in my efforts to help everyone, here are a few ways to do this: 1. I've not long started a Patreon account, which gives you access to the "pro" editions of my tools: https://www.patreon.com/GaryDoesSolar 2. If you're thinking of switching energy supplier to Octopus Energy. If you call them and give them my referral code ("blue-wind-201") and my name ("Gary Waite") and we'll both get a £50 credit to our accounts as a result! https://share.octopus.energy/blue-wind-201 3. You could https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GaryDoesSolar :-) For business enquiries: Email: [email protected] (Please note: despite my channel name, I don't provide, nor consult on, solar installations) (c) 2023 Gary Does Solar. All rights reserved. DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content in this video, no warranty for that content is provided, nor should it be implied. Viewers acting on the content, do so at their own risk. #solar #power #optimiser