Commissioning

Commissioning is the process of starting up a system for the first time in a methodical manner to ensure that it is built as it should be, that it is operating safely and that it is performing as it should be. All work should be completed on a system before the commissioning process begins - it is the final step. A commissioning process will involve physically inspecting equipment, programming equipment, and testing the performance of equipment. The commissioning process varies for every system as each system will vary in terms of components or design, but there are steps that are common to the process of commissioning any off-grid PV system.

The commissioning process is intended to identify any potential design or installation errors before the issues pose a safety risk to installers, end users or the equipment itself. The process must be done methodically with all steps performed regardless of whether the you were directly involved in the installation of a certain component or task. Nobody intends to make mistakes, but they happen nonetheless. Mentally checking off tasks in your mind during the installation process is not the same as performing a proper commissioning process at the end of an installation that follows a checklist.

If an issue arises during the commissioning process - an installation error is found, a component is not being having as it should be - the process should be stopped until the issue has been addressed. It may be necessary to troubleshoot the system to identify the issue. It is important to have the system plans and manuals for all of the equipment in order to diagnose and resolve issues.

Any component programming should be performed during the commissioning process. Charge controller programming and inverter programming are of particular importance. Following the installation manual that details setup and programming is very important as the settings vary between manufacturers and models. It will also be necessary to have the manual for the energy storage system on hand. Complex systems may have hundreds of different programmable parameters, but these are frequently left on default settings and only a few primary settings are changed. Programming plays a vital role in the functioning of a PV system and an improperly programmed PV system may function poorly or not at all even if it was designed and installed perfectly.