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Solar Energy Plan: M2 Monitoring Data & Troubleshooting

A reference guide utilizing evaluation experience from the LightReach QC team to enable partners in validating monitoring data before M2 Activation Package submissions

Updated over a week ago

Overview

To avoid Activation (M2) Milestone Submission data rejection flags, teams should evaluate production and consumption readings from the site prior to Activation Package submissions.

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Below are a few of the typical issues found in submissions; this is not an exhaustive list. The suggested troubleshooting steps provide general solutions to the problems identified, but they may not fully resolve the issue depending on the unique specifications of the project.

General Notes

  • Identifying proper performance with limited data history can be a challenging exercise. Please ensure a minimum of 24 hours of healthy data is available with the submission for review at Activation (M2) Milestone Submission.

  • Existing generation sources on site (existing PV, battery, generator, etc.) add additional complexity to CT monitoring installation & configuration.

    • Example - An existing Sunnyboy has been installed in the home’s main service for many years, a customer has requested a new QCells system to be installed. The existing PV source will need a secondary set of consumption CTs to ensure the “negative load” from the Sunnyboy downstream is accounted for.

      • Please see our Second System Supplemental Guide for more information

  • Troubleshooting steps vary by manufacturer, as do allowable configurations to address onsite conditions so always confirm design solutions and permissions with the manufacturer to ensure success in monitoring accuracy.

    • Example - Some manufacturers permit multiple sets of consumption CTs to be installed together to branch circuit home load feeders and spliced or double lugged at the CT termination ports, but not all manufacturers advise this!

  • Palmetto Lightreach will always ensure the safety of the system is prioritized, so please ensure CT configurations do not disqualify systems from utilizing PCS when necessary.

    • Example - Some configurations of CTs, such as branch circuit bundling, may limit the ability of a system to utilize Power Control Systems (PCS) in situations where necessary.

This article is intended to provide insight into the most common data discrepancies seen for general troubleshooting guidance. Each site and configuration is unique and this is not a definitive, complete list or evaluation. Troubleshooting with the OEM will be the primary recommended path

Support and Resources

For accurate and up to date information, reference the training content & installation guidance developed and maintained by the Original Equipment Manufacture.

OEM

Contact Support

Training and Guides

Enphase

(877) 797-4743

[email protected]

Enphase

SolarEdge

1 (510) 498-3200

[email protected]

SolarEdge

Tesla

1 (650) 963 5655

[email protected]

Tesla

QCells

(888) 249-7750

[email protected]

QCells

Palmetto Home Support

For further context and support about the issues identified during submission review, please contact Palmetto LightReach Installer Ops Center - Contact Support.

OEM Specific Guidance

Enphase

Click here for Enphase Graph Examples

Data example

Description of issue

Troubleshooting paths

Correlating consumption data to production data.

Troubleshooting

  • CT setting may need to change from Load with Solar to Load only (or vice versa)

  • CT may not be fully closed

  • Load with Solar configuration is a requirement for battery & PCS interconnected systems

Existing PV system causes negative consumption data during daylight, polarity reversed in attempt to correct, leading to negative data in evenings

Troubleshooting

  • May need a second set of CTs to capture the existing generation sources on site

  • Ensure all polarity and phasing is correct

Production meter reading (blue) not aligned with micro inverter readings (black) (viewed by selecting micro power readings in Select View Option dropdown)

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure all individual strings of PV run through RGM production CT in correct direction

  • Ensure no PV strings are left unmonitored

No regular consumption data at night, only showing consumption during production hours and correlated with production of PV

Troubleshooting

  • CT terminations may be in the wrong location

  • Ensure CT terminations are correct

  • CT placement is on all home loads

Phases show that one phase of consumption reads negative

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure CT polarity is correct (arrow direction)

  • Ensure branch circuiting is run through CT device with correct current directionality

Production limits to the consumption of the home once battery is fully charged

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure there are no export limiting items

  • Main item of export limiting is Aggregate Power Export Limit (APEL)

    • Ensure this is disabled

SolarEdge

Click here for SolarEdge Graph Examples

Data example

Description of issue

Troubleshooting paths

Grey’d production data, no consumption data being read

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure comms are reliable and active

  • Most likely communication error with inverter, ensure no errors are reporting at device

Correlated consumption data to production data, no data reporting in evening

Troubleshooting

  • Swap phoenix conductors or CT placements

  • Most likely CT phases are incorrect

Correlating consumption data, reporting in evening with some added consumption to correlation

Troubleshooting

  • Check CT wire terminations at splice and phoenix connector

  • Ensure CTs are fully closed

  • Most likely either loose termination in splice or incomplete close on CT around feeder

Correlating data, some areas of 0 consumption

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure CT location is "Line side" of interconnection and all loads

  • Most likely CTs placed in Load only position, SE CTs can only be placed to capture PV + Loads

Grey production, normal consumption in evenings

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure any existing sources have set of CTs capturing feeders and spliced to home load CTs

  • Most likely 2nd system/additional energy source not being accounted for correctly

Tesla

Click here for Tesla Graph Examples

Data example

Description of issue

Troubleshooting paths

Production is limited to home consumption needs once battery is charged completely

Troubleshooting

  • Check Export to Grid setting in customer settings

  • Check Export limiting setting in system profile

  • Most likely Export to Grid is set to No Export. This is default setting at install so the system can be used for home loads before PTO, but will limit production after PTO if not updated to allow "PV Only” or “PV + Battery”

Consumption negative and correlated with production; negative data in evenings

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure CT location is on the line side of PV and all loads

  • Please ensure CTs are facing the correct direction

Straight line of data, not accurate to site performance

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure connection to server is strong

  • Ensure comm devices are installed and powered correctly

  • Most likely issue with comms error, use hard wire connection or range extender as necessary

Consumption and production are matching exactly, no evening consumption

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure consumption CTs are enabled

  • Graph will report in this manner when CTs are requested to be disabled by PLR*

Negative home load demand during the day

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure all energy sources on site are accounted for

  • Ensure all home loads are being captured by CTs

  • Most likely unaccounted energy source, need to ensure all sources are captured and monitored

Tesla PV only with an existing system are not able to read home consumption regularly and will need a consumption CT exception granted by QC. See our Second Systems Technical guide for further detailing.

QCells

Click here for QCells Graph Examples

Data example

Description of issue

Historical troubleshooting path

Negative grid measurements throughout the day

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure CT polarity is correct, polarity change can be initiated in portal to avoid site visit to readjust CT polarity

Consumption is correlated with production data in daytime, grid loads are normal

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure configuration (Load w/ Solar vs Load Only) reflects the installation location and configuration

Home loads/consumption is reading 0 usage during production hours but normal consumption outside of daylight

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure existing PV or energy sources are captured with CTs, as they are making loads "unaccounted" for

  • Ensure no loose wiring or termination for CTs

Negative production data

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure PV2 branch breaker is installed in the correct phase

  • Ensure CT polarity for production CT is correct

QCell has recommended partners to ensure CTs have been verified in their installation, please see the related video for guidance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wfTfotEwtY

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