Path-Q Solar

What should I ask an installer about losses from wiring, temperature, and equipment in the production model?

Answer

Ask for an itemized loss budget showing wiring, mismatch, inverter, module temperature, availability, shading, soiling, degradation, and other losses, along with whether each is modeled monthly or as a single annual percentage. The combined assumptions should be transparent and consistent with the actual design.

Key points

  • Ask which losses are included and whether any are double-counted.
  • Confirm inverter efficiency, clipping, module temperature effects, and system availability assumptions.
  • Ask how shading and snow or soiling, where relevant, vary by month.
  • Separate first-year production from long-term degradation.
  • Check that the model reflects the actual stringing, inverter, orientation, and equipment selected.

What it depends on

  • Equipment specifications
  • Array layout and electrical design
  • Climate and shading conditions
  • Modeling method
  • Maintenance and availability assumptions

Risks and trade-offs

  • A single unexplained loss factor can conceal optimistic or duplicated assumptions.
  • Conservative losses may lower the estimate but improve planning reliability.
  • Inverter clipping may be acceptable economically, but its production effect should be shown.

Information you may need

  • Full production-model loss table
  • Equipment and electrical design
  • Monthly production forecast
  • Shading and environmental assumptions
  • Degradation and availability assumptions

Your next step

What to do next

Request the loss budget in writing and ask the installer to reconcile it to the final equipment layout and production guarantee.

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SQ02466