Solar panel trouble

‘They are not producing’. The IR installer had his head in the cupboard where my consumer unit is. My solar panels are connected to that. I assumed it was too late in the day to generate electricity.

When I had bought a new phone I had struggled to get access to my apps, including the one having to do with my solar panels and my battery. I used to open them with my fingerprint, but that didn’t work with a new phone, and I didn’t find it straightforward to get that functionality back. And I really dislike that sort of faff. I prioritised the battery app as that gives information about both the panels and the battery. It made it to the top of the to do list and one weekend I sorted it out.

In the beginning, I had been looking at the graphs on the panels app a lot, to see how much I was generating, but first the novelty wore off. Then it became less relevant when I got the battery. Suddenly it didn’t matter anymore if I boil the kettle when the sun is shining or after it has gone down! And then that malarkey with the new phone. I just didn’t check anymore.

The remark of the IR installer did remind me I should have a look at this. And I did. I really wasn’t generating. And hadn’t for a while. Shit! 

I felt really grumpy about that. It’s summer! If your panels are not working and you don’t do anything about it, the best of the season is lost. Why am I not more disciplined? 

I figured initially I should get the company that installed the whole setup to sort me out. But they were very uncommunicative, and also, I hadn’t thought of Neil. He is an electrical engineer and immediately wanted to do something about it. The next time we would see each other would be at my place anyway, and his hands were itching to get to my inverter. 

While he was crouching in my attic space, I sorted out my access to the app again. Which turned out to be a lot easier than doing the same with the battery app. And the app did give some information. Neil decided some of the electronics needed to be reconfigured. That sounded complicated to me, but less so to him. Soon after that session, though, I would travel abroad, so any interventions would have to wait. 

Oh dear

When I’m back I guess we will be back at this. I hope Neil can sort it! I’m useless with this sort of technology. And if not I’ll get a professional in. I didn’t spend that much money on the panels and the battery for the whole shebang to do precisely nothing!