We will soon be ringing in the Spring and the sun is already providing more energy for us with every passing day. Before it returns to its usual strength, photovoltaic owners as well as electricians and solar engineers should once again start thinking about having these systems checked in due course using a thermographic camera. After all, the sun’s energy can only be used optimally if the photovoltaic system is fully functional.
Since every kilowatt hour that passes by is a loss for the photovoltaic system operator, you should avoid operating an inaccurately or incorrectly working system as far as possible. A branch that has fallen down, a module that has come loose – damages like this can easily be identified with the naked eye. But to track dirt, cable damage, loose plug connections or micro-cracks, for example due to hail impact, the system must be carefully inspected using a thermographic camera. With an infra-red camera of this kind, you can identify these flaws quite easily, since it makes thermal radiation visible – because faulty solar cells and inactive cells develop more heat than intact cells!
Checking with a thermographic camera – a job for professionals
It is best to avoid climbing up onto the roof to get to the photovoltaic system yourself as the home owner and subjecting yourself to an increased risk of accident. Furthermore, improper handling, for example walking on the modules, can quickly damage the system. Instead you should get professionals to carry out the assessment. The experts also know exactly how to use the thermographic camera and are trained in the analysis of thermal images. In doing this, they discover the defects that had previously been concealed and rectify them professionally – and then you write off the maintenance costs against tax as operating expenses.
Three practical tips regarding the photovoltaic system
- As the home owner, you should check every once in a while whether the system is supplying too little power by using the invoices to compare the current output with that of previous years. Or you can determine the exact solar output using an energy management system or by taking a look at the inverter – many converters record the power generation data over a long time period.
- It is best to check the photovoltaic system with a thermographic camera immediately after it has been installed. In this way, you as the house owner can firstly ensure that it is working efficiently right from the start. And secondly, you will receive an authentic reference value of your system for later output comparisons. As the installer of the system, you can be sure that everything has been installed and connected correctly.
- Generally, each system should be inspected with the thermographic camera approximately every two years. Only in this way can you quickly track dirt, cable damage, loose plug connections or micro-cracks. This is because these defects normally have an output-reducing effect on each solar system.
Check the efficiency of a photovoltaic system
Find out now about the benefits of our highly sensitive thermographic camera IC080LV– available now in our Trotec shop.
Incidentally, you are also welcome to rent our thermographic camera on favourable conditions if it is only required temporarily.
