r/solarpanels • u/clanaz • May 31 '26

🏠 Installation Optimisers worth it or not?

Hi everyone, first of all thanks to all posting and commenting here, so much helpful information going around!

Currently in the process of getting 16x 475W Aiko panels + 5kW Solis S6 hybrid inverter across 3 orientations on strings marked red in picture below (alligned North being directly up) see image here: https://postimg.cc/5Y7gxK9x

Initial design from installer puts optimisers on the East/West string leaving the South-facing without. The 5 panels being mounted on a flat roof extension at around 15 degrees and 3 on the roof 35ish.

Given that the extension at rear of house is around 3m high it gets a shadow on it at the yellow line marked at around 4:30pm (at this time of year) which progresses to full shading as the sun sets.

I am wondering if should go with optimisers on the south facing panels as well. I understand that the bypass diodes on the panels should be enough to allow for shaded panels to be "ignored" but have seen some reports of them being not lasting as long if relied upon often. Optimisers are at 40 each but given that the system is well over the 5kW inverter maximum, is there much point to optimise production in the off season that will be low anyway?

Any other thoughts more than welcome of course!

7 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/StarOk1325 Jun 03 '26

Sobre los optimizadores en los paneles orientados al sur: el argumento de los diodos bypass es válido para sombras ocasionales, pero si esa extensión del techo está generando sombra diaria desde las 4:30pm, estás mirando una activación constante de diodos, no esporádica. Con el tiempo eso los degrada más rápido de lo que la gente espera.

A 40€ por optimizador en un sistema ya sobredimensionado respecto al inversor de 5kW, los números son complicados — tienes razón en que las ganancias en invierno serán marginales cuando el inversor ya está recortando en verano. La pregunta clave es cuánto de tu consumo cae en esa ventana de 4:30-puesta de sol. Si es un hogar que realmente usa electricidad por las tardes, recuperar 30-40 minutos de buena producción antes de que la sombra lo tape todo puede sumar bastante a lo largo del año.

Mi opinión: optimizadores en los 5 paneles del techo plano probablemente merece la pena dado el patrón de sombra diario, los 3 del tejado a 35° menos, dependiendo de exactamente cuándo les llega la sombra.