When you have solar panels attached to your home, you will undoubtedly be aware that they require very little maintenance, especially when compared to many other forms of energy production.
However, it is worth noting that as faultless as they are in many ways, it may be the case that your solar panels begin to produce less power, thus failing to power your home as needed. In our experience, this has some common culprits which you can usually protect against.
So here, our will team will walk you through the most common issues that can cause solar panels to malfunction.
Hot Spots
When you have had your solar panels fitted poorly (potentially by a team who have not correctly soldiered the connections), this can cause hot spots to form. These hotspots create low resistance in the part of the solar panel that receives the power generated by the cells. In turn, this causes the voltage to rise, leading to a hot spot, and the result is a short circuit. Our solar panels in Milton Keynes will always be soldered correctly, but if they are short-circuiting regularly, please give us a call so we can perform diagnostics!
Micro-Cracks
Solar panels have an outer layer that is made from crystalline materials. This is a sturdy material, but it is not indestructible, and, as a result, your solar panel may suffer from 'micro-cracks.' These can occur during the shipping of the panels or the installation. These cracks don't cause the panels to malfunction straight away, but they can cause loss of power over time. If you notice that your panels' output is decreasing, please call our team.
Snails (yes, you read that right!)
Not only a burden to gardeners but also to those who have solar panels, snails can cause your solar panels to malfunction. The trail that snails leave behind causes a chemical reaction, which causes the trail left by the mollusks to become more visible on the front of the panel. The result is that your panels cannot build up the needed energy in the cells, as they do not get enough light. This is easily spotted and is one of the reasons why you need to clean your solar panels at least a few times a year!
Potential Induced Degradation (PID)
Potential-induced degradation (PID) occurs when high voltage potential between the solar cells and the grounded frame causes the currents that are stored in the cells. Our team builds the panels we offer with PID-resistant materials, proper grounding techniques, and module
design improvements to minimize voltage stress on the cells, but if you have an
issue with PID due to panels fitted by another installer, please call our team.
Corrosion
The corrosion that occurs in solar panels is usually due to environmental factors like moisture, pollutants, and salt. Signs of corrosion include a gradual slowing of the energy output of the solar panels, so if you live in a climate where the weather is a bit changeable, and your solar panels aren't working as they once did, please call us!