How to Add/Update and Manage Modules

Summary:

OpenSolar gives you the flexibility to add/update and manage your modules or panels. The following article will walk you through how this is done. 

Note: To ensure that you are modelling modules to the highest level of accuracy in OpenSolar, ensure that you fill in the annual degradation field (mentioned below) and also ensure that you set the system lifetime to match with the warrantied years of the panel.

To set the system lifetime when designing go into Project >  Design > Summary tab > Advanced settings and then change the lifetime for each system option.

To change the maximum system lifetime, go to Control > Design and Hardware>Setbacks and Design settings>Edit>Simulation Settings and change the Year to Simulate to the maximum that you would simulate.

Adding new modules:

When on the Control zone of OpenSolar, access your list of modules by clicking on Design and Hardware and then Modules. From here you can either edit existing modules or create a new one. In order to create a new module, click on the + Add from database button in the top right.

From here you have the ability to look-up existing modules in our component database. To do this, simply click on the Search input box and type in the model that you are looking for.

If you are entering in a very new module model, or a custom model which is not likely to appear in our database then you have the ability to create your own custom module by entering in the specifications manually.

To do this, choose Create > Create Your Own option when creating the panel and then enter in the specifications in each of the fields shown.

• Code - this how the component will appear in the studio list.
• Manufacturer - the manufacturer of the component.
• Technology - This is the cell technology which is used for the panel.
• Rating STC (W) - the STC rating of the panel in W
• Width (mm) - the length of the shorter side of the module in millimetres.
• Height (mm) - the length of the longer side of the module in millimetres.
• Maximum Power Current (Imp) - This is the current that the module will produce when operating at its maximum power point.
• Short Circuit Current (Isc) - This is the maximum current that the module will produce when it is operating at short circuit conditions.
• Maximum Power Voltage (Vmp) - The voltage of the module at maximum power point at STC
• Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) - The open circuit voltage of the panel in Volts
• Nominal Operating Cell Temperature - The nominal operating cell temperature is the cell temperature of the module under the following conditions: 800W/m^2, 1m/s wind and 20˚C ambient temperature.
• Temp Co-efficient Voc (%/˙C) - the Voc loss coefficient for the panel in percentage per degrees C ie. -0.3
• Temp Co-efficient Max Power Point (-%/˙C) - the Max Power point loss coefficient for the panel in percentage per degrees C ie. -0.32
• Temp coefficient Isc (-%/˙C) - This is the coefficient related to how the current output will change with temperature increase or decrease.
• Cells in Series - the number of cells in the module.
• Bifaciality - This is the fractional amount of output that the rear side of the bifacial panel will provide when compared with the front. So if it only outputs 70% of the front then use the value of 0.7 here. Use a value of 0 for non-bifacial panels here.
• Transmission - This factor which describes how much light will transmit through the bifacial panel. Use a value of 0 for non-bifacial panels.
• Annual Degradation override (%/year) - This is a flat, annual reduction in module output as a % of its initial output. This can be left as 0 and a value of 0.45% per year will be used.
• Product Warranty - the product warranty of the module.
• Performance Warranty - the performance warranty of the module.
• COGS per unit (Ex Tax) - used for calculating system prices if Markup pricing is selected excluding tax.   
• Price Adjustment per Unit (Inc Tax) - this field gives you the ability to add a price adjustment (inclusive of tax) to the Price per Watt and Price Per Watt By Size pricing schemes.
• Default toggle - (Default Panel or module) a toggle which defines whether it will be selected by default when you load up a new studio.

You will have the option to choose other modules for your designs in the Studio page by selecting them from a pop up menu.

Once you have finished entering in the details for your new module type, click  Save.

This will then take you back to your list of module types in Control where you can create more or edit ones you have already created by clicking on Edit.

FAQ:

Q: How to make a panel default?

A: This can be done from the control > design and hardware > module and editing the module. From there, toggle on the default option.