Inverter clipping

3 comments started 2024-03-15 last 2024-03-15
GivEnergy ProductsAC Coupled
#1 Icarus

I have a SolarEdge SE5000H AC coupled to GE AIO so not expecing any more than 5kW from the PV array.
System has been running about 3 months so not yet experienced a summer, but it just so happens that a couple of weeks into March my panels at 34° degrees slope are pretty close to the ideal match for the sun's altitude around midday.
Howerver, today I noticed the inverter was clipping and while this was expected (the array is slightly oversized deliberately - technically around 5.6kWp) I did not expect the inverter ouput to drop to zero following the clipping.
It has since recovered after about 40 minutes of zero ouput (according to the AIO PV graph) .
Is this anything to be concerned about?

I'm unclear if this is a defect in the SE5000H (perhaps it has overheated?)
Just wondering if this is to be exected (relatively new install, first time I had some intense sunshine)

W
#2 wilfleek

Might not be due to clipping, could be an overvoltage situation - you should be able to see on the portal if the grid voltage rose out of limits at that time?

#3 Icarus

Good thought wilfleek however I checked the voltage and nothing out of the ordinary.
What is out of the ordinary is the weather!

Another site about 5 miles from me reported similarly very low solar production around 12:30 (~ 20 watts)

And for comparison, my own site (~ 105 watts)

Now I know if I get less than 200 watts generated it might as well be zero from the AC coupled AIO point of view.
So it really does look like this is not a fault after all.
It must have been some very dark cloud eclipsing the sun and the first time I've seen the inverter practically switch off during the daytime.