Preventative Maintenance for Off-Grid Applications: Essential!

Generation Solar has been hands on with off-grid for over 25 years. Whether a cozy cabin in the woods, a remote home, or a cottage escape, we understand how important power is to keep things running smoothly. And while the solar modules often steal the show for their reliability and durability, your system includes other hardworking components that need regular attention too.

Here’s a breakdown of what off-grid maintenance looks like and why it matters.

Inverters

Inverters convert the DC power from your solar panels and batteries to AC power, on demand, for your electrical loads. They require periodic attention, especially as your system ages and your energy needs evolve.

• Fine-tuning: Over time, the way your inverter interacts with your batteries and generator may need adjustments to ensure balance. Keeping this balance means fine-tuning the settings your inverter uses to make decisions.
• Cooling: Inverters work hard and generate heat. If they can’t stay cool, they can fail. Cooling starts from the inside out and includes working fans and clear pathways. These pathways can attract dust and insects, but that’s where maintenance comes in!
• Connections: With temperature fluctuations and heavy use, electrical connections can loosen over time. This is where inspections come in – infrared and visual checks can identify potential issues before they become problems.
• History: Most inverters have error and event logs. Reviewing these logs helps explain past issues and prevent future ones. It’s an incredibly useful tool for troubleshooting and maintenance.

Charge Controllers

Charge controllers regulate the solar input into your battery, ensuring the optimal amount of power is delivered. As with inverters, as batteries age, your charge controller will also require periodic adjustments.

• Fine-tuning: Like your inverter, your charge controller needs recalibration as your battery ages.
• Cooling: Charge controllers also handle large amounts of power and generate heat. Regular maintenance ensures cooling fans and airflow pathways are clear and functioning well.
• Connections: Electrical connections within your charge controller need periodic inspections. Infrared and visual checks are essential, with repairs and re-torquing done as necessary.
• History: Charge controller logs provide valuable insights into how your solar array is keeping up with your energy demands. They can also provide early warnings of developing issues and offer a glimpse into your battery’s health.

Energy Storage (Batteries)

Batteries are one of the most sensitive components of an off-grid system. They respond poorly to improper care and can age unpredictably. Their storage capacity changes over time as does their charging response, and most systems don’t adjust to these changes automatically.

• Background: Batteries come in different types: flooded lead-acid, sealed lead-acid, and lithium-ion. Each has its own maintenance needs. Flooded lead-acid batteries require regular watering and periodic specific gravity checks. Sealed lead-acid batteries need cell voltage checks and possibly load testing. While lithium-ion batteries generally manage themselves, they still need infrared and visual inspections and might require log reviews or firmware updates.
• Fine-tuning: Maintenance checks, combined with data from charge controllers, inverters, and feedback from you, help determine necessary adjustments. There is no AI for this (yet!) so recommendations here are largely rooted in our own training and experience with the different battery chemistries.
• Ventilation: Flooded lead-acid batteries require ventilation to exhaust battery gases outside. Proper function of fans and exhaust ducts are tested.
• Connections: Battery terminals are prone to corrosion, which needs regular cleaning. Battery cable hardware should also be checked, and infrared imaging helps detect loose connections or emerging internal issues.
• History: Maintaining a battery log is essential for warranty claims and predicting end-of-life for batteries. Batteries are a significant investment, so let’s minimize surprises.

Solar Array

While solar modules themselves are highly durable, the solar array isn’t entirely immune to issues. Here’s what we inspect:

• Damage: Solar glass is very strong, but it’s still glass. Damage can be difficult to spot from a distance or from the wrong angle. Module damage is a hazard and needs to be addressed. Some damage might even be a result of a manufacturer’s defect that is covered under warranty, even if they aren’t yet affecting performance.
• Wiring: Wiring can degrade from UV exposure or damage caused by poor installation or animals, which can become hazardous if not detected early.
• Debris/nests: Animal nests or debris under your array can damage your system and roof, or lead to performance issues. While it might seem cozy for critters; they don’t belong under your solar array!
• Shading: Over time, shading from growing trees or new structures can reduce performance. It’s best to identify and address shading before it becomes a bigger problem.
• Performance: Ground fault, arc fault, and performance testing of your array ensures that your system is safe and operating optimally.

Final Word

Some off-grid system owners become experts over time, but it’s a learning curve. Partnering with an experienced professional for periodic maintenance is a wise investment. For those who simply want to enjoy the benefits of off-grid living without worrying about the details, we’re here for you. We offer regular, recurring preventative maintenance visits so you can focus on other things.