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Design Studio User Manual 0 The Solar Labs, Westend Marg, Saket, New Delhi DESIGN STUDIO USER MANUAL Solar Design Studio Contact:Ankush http://help.thesolarlabs.com/contact Abstract Customer guide for the online tool to design rooftop solar solutions

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Page 1: Design Studio User Manual · 2020. 7. 31. · Design Studio User Manual The Solar Labs, Westend Marg, Saket, New Delhi 4 Azimuth Angle The orientation angle of the modules, following

Design Studio User Manual

0 The Solar Labs, Westend Marg, Saket, New Delhi

DESIGN STUDIO USER

MANUAL Solar Design Studio

Contact:Ankush http://help.thesolarlabs.com/contact

Abstract Customer guide for the online tool to design rooftop solar solutions

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Table of Contents GLOSSARY ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

1.0 LOGIN ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

2.0 GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................................................... 7

2.1 Project Sites ......................................................................................................................................... 7

New Projects; ......................................................................................................................................... 7

2.2 Project Summary ................................................................................................................................. 8

2.2.1 Request design .............................................................................................................................. 8

2.3 Workspace Layout ............................................................................................................................. 10

3.0 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS .................................................................................................................. 11

3.1 User Panel...................................................................................................................................... 11

4.0 MECHANICAL LAYOUT .......................................................................................................................... 16

4.1 Model............................................................................................................................................. 16

4.2 Dimension Tool ............................................................................................................................. 17

4.3 Tree Builder ....................................................................................................................................... 18

5.0 HEAT MAP GENERATION ...................................................................................................................... 20

6.0 SUN SHADOW SIMULATION ................................................................................................................. 21

7.0 PANEL PLACEMENT ............................................................................................................................... 22

7.1 Fill Face .............................................................................................................................................. 22

7.2 Add Subarray ..................................................................................................................................... 22

7.3 Auto Panel Placement ....................................................................................................................... 23

7.4 Walkway ............................................................................................................................................ 24

7.5 Lasso Tool .......................................................................................................................................... 25

7.6 Add Inverter ...................................................................................................................................... 26

7.7 Panel Delete Mode............................................................................................................................ 27

8.0 SOLAR ACCESS ....................................................................................................................................... 28

9.0 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................ 29

9.1 Consumption Details .......................................................................................................................... 29

9.2 Pricing Details .................................................................................................................................... 29

10.0 WEATHER DATA .................................................................................................................................. 31

11.0 TOGGLE VIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 32

12.0 LAYERS ................................................................................................................................................. 32

13.0 DESIGN SETTINGS ................................................................................................................................ 33

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14.0 SLD (Single Line diagram) .................................................................................................................... 37

14.1.1 Features ........................................................................................................................................ 38

15. 0 DESIGN SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 39

15.1 Download Report ............................................................................................................................ 39

14.2 Download CAD Layout .................................................................................................................... 41

14.3 Download Generation CSV .............................................................................................................. 41

14.4 EXPORT TO GoogleDOCS................................................................................................................. 42

Questions or Comments .......................................................................................................................... 42

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GLOSSARY

TERM DEFINITION

Project

A Project stands for a specific location where the solar rooftop will be designed

and installed.

Project is the highest-level structure in Solar Design Studio; all Designs and

Condition Sets are created under a Project.

Design A Design describes the physical layout of a solar rooftop (including all the

components for power generation) as per the desired specifications.

Field Segments A Field Segment is an area of the design, used to define module layouts.

A user defines a shape, which is populated with modules based on a set of

layout rules.

A Design can consist of multiple Field Segments.

Polygon A polygon is the basic shape of the building with correct measurements.

Cylinder A cylinder is used to represent different structures on roofs such as tanks, vents.

Core Height It is the height of the polygon face from the ground to form a 3D structure.

Parapet A parapet is an integral quality of the roof that forms a raised perimeter.

Components It refers to electric parts and hardware used to generate and send power.

Module/ Panel It is a DC power generating device based on photovoltaic technology

Inverter

Subarray

An inverter is used to convert DC (Direct Current) Power to AC (Alternating Current) power optimally.

It defines the useable area in which the panels can be placed.

Tilt Angle The angle of inclination of the modules. Zero refers to flat here.

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Azimuth Angle The orientation angle of the modules, following a compass: 90 degrees is East,

180 degrees is South. Usually, 180 for flat/RCC roofs.

Setback The area around the perimeter of the Field Segment that is off-limits to

modules.

Racking Type Indicates whether modules are mounted in fixed-tilt racking on a flat plane, or

are mounted flush to a roof in the same plane. This effects the row-to-row

shading (zero for flush-mount), and the thermal coefficients (thermal losses will

be higher in flush-mount).

Frame Size The number of modules in each frame, including the vertical (“up”) and

horizontal (“wide”) size.

Row Spacing The distance (in meters) from the back of one bank of modules to the front of

the next bank.

Module Spacing The distance between adjacent modules in the same frame.

Condition Set A Condition Set describes the environment around the solar array.

A Condition Set includes a weather file, shading assumptions, soiling

assumptions, and temperature assumptions.

Shade Profile A Shade Profile describes the shading patterns that result from nearby

obstructions around an array over the course of the year.

A Shade Profile consists of a series of 2D images that are spatially found around

the array. Each shade image will dictate if a module is shaded during that hour.

Simulation A Simulation is an estimate for how much energy a Design will produce over a

full year, based on the environment defined in the Condition Set.

Most simulations are based on hourly time intervals (8,760 per year).

Report The results of each Simulation can be viewed as a report, which summarizes the

production of the corresponding Design under the given Conditions. Reports will

also show the calculation of system losses at each step in the process.

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CAD (Computer

Aided Design)

Stands for Computer Aided Design. Its most common file extension is .dxf

CSV

SLD

Comma Separated Values.

Single Line Diagram that depicts the Electrical layout and components.

Associated with the inverter string sizing and MPPT (Maximum Power Point

Tracking) range edits.

Placeable It is a decision criterion for the roof, to enable/ disable panel placement.

Generation The total energy generated during the simulation, in AC (Alternating Current)

MWh or GWh.

Performance

Ratio

Performance Ratio (PR) shows the percentage of total potential energy for the

array that is converted to AC energy.

Specific Energy Total simulation energy generation divided by the system DC nameplate power.

DC Nameplate Rated power output of the Module layout in KWp.

AC Nameplate Rated power of Inverter operation at output.

Load Ratio The ratio of DC (Direct Current) nameplate and AC nameplate.

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1.0 LOGIN

Open the link app.thesolarlabs.com and enter your user ID and password. Click on Submit to login into

Design Studio. In case you have misplaced your password, you can click on “Forgot Password?” button

to retrieve the same.

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2.0 GETTING STARTED

2.1 Project Sites For an existing user, the projects homepage has a list of past projects. The user can create new projects

and manage his account here.

Note: Other than the table of projects, one can easily choose a project from the map on left side of screen.

New Projects;

Click on New Project on homepage to perform

the following actions,

1) Enter Location,

2) Project Details,

3) Client Details,

4) Set project sharing to on/off,

5) Enter email address of particular people to

share.

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2.2 Project Summary

The project summary page gives access to the created designs for a selected project. For a new project,

the user can begin innovative designs and edit the existing designs. A project can store multiple designs

in the app.

1. Click on Delete button to

remove the existing project, use

share button to activate sharing

of project with others in same

organization.

2. This is the Project

Information area, change

details such as Client Name,

client address, contact number

and email-id by clicking on edit

icon.

3. Choice to change weather file

(Meteorological data).

4. This is the Client

Requirements area, change

details about electricity

consumption. Details in section

9.1.

5. Click on “+” icon to create

new Design. View and manage

alternative designs for the

project in this area.

6. Click on Edit button to access

design in Design Studio. Details

on creating designs from

Section 4.0.

On the top right-hand side,

satellite view of project location

is visible.

2.2.1 Request design

Here one can request design to get approval from government

for financial subsidies or loans. The steps are portrayed below,

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2.3 Workspace Layout

Directory: Home/Building 1/ Prelim 1 – Homepage/ Project/ Design. Clicking on Home returns to main

projects page, building 1 refers to the project and Prelim 1 refers to design in the project.

Speed Buttons: Undo, Redo, Complete, Cancel, Save and Export

User Panel: This panel is visible at all pages, access important profile related options from here

Tool Bar: Access tools and design capabilities from this space

Design Space: Create and modify designs, visualize, and optimize for maximum impact

Editing Panel: Important space that holds actionable items with respect to any tool

Help: Click for live chat that allows you to have assistance about your queries virtually and personally.

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3.0 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS The design studio is run by using the menu and editing panel, the symbols on the tool bar and the

mouse. The parameters on which the calculations are based are set in the right dialog box (see Default

Settings).

3.1 User Panel

Soon after successful login, the Projects

homepage is up. On the top right-hand corner is

the control panel, elucidated in the image.

3.1.1Help

On clicking the help icon one can see the

following options,

1. Shortcuts,

2. Contact Us,

3. Hide Chat Icon,

4. Help Docs.

Shortcuts

Over the course of using the tools via browser,

one can refer to this sheet for quick keyboard

shortcuts as displayed on right image panel.

Contacts Us

There are multiple ways to contact the support

team of The Solar Labs. This box would have the

number of your Relationship Manager

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Live Chat Another way to contact support team is by

accessing live chat. The icon as below is present

on the bottom right corner of every screen.

Clicking it activates a floating chat window

displayed on the panel in right. Here, we are

available to answer your queries in real time, as

you run the software.

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3.1.2Settings The settings icon enables access to certain

default criteria. As displayed in the panel on the

right.

1. Inventory

2. Organization Profile

3. Organization Defaults

Inventory Inventory deals with 3 kinds of

equipment used in rooftop

solar PV projects.

1. The 3 equipment tabs are

Panels, Inverters and Wires.

Click on any tab to navigate, see

the list in this example that has

3 panels set as favorites

2. Start typing in this box to see

corresponding equipment

3. Click on Add Panel to

increase option of favorites as

shown on the right

4. Click on arrow buttons once

to sort in descending order

5. Trash icon removes the

equipment from favorites list

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Organization Profile

Organization Summary is the basic data about your firm.

1. Enter details such as Name, Contact No, Email, Website and Address

2. Upload image for firm logo

3. Click on Save to continue, else cancel and return to Homepage.

Organization Defaults

To ease quick design and outputs, you can use design defaults as per your organization requirements.

Setting options are explained in detail in Section 11.0 of this user manual. In the screen below,

1. Search bar

2. Create new profile

3. Browse and activate earlier saved profiles

4. Properties of profile consisting of detailed engineering and design parameters

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5. Details of selected Profile>Property

6. Choice to edit values or remove the selected profile

3.1.3 Profile The profile button lets you access the following

functions,

1. Profile,

2. Ability to logout of active account.

The User Profile screen is on the image portrayed below. One can use this to edit/create general details

about license holder/ user and other critical functions.

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1. Add information such as First Name, Last Name, Email and Contact Number.

2. Update button makes the changes or edits final.

3. Change Password button open a small dialogue box to create new password. Again, kindly click on

update to make sure changes are saved.

4. To set default choice for project sharing is a toggle button. When the button is in the position as

shown in the image, the project sharing is on with people in your organization.

5. Enter email-id of registered license holders in this box to share project with them. These may lie

outside your organization as well.

The change password pop up is shown on right.

4.0 MECHANICAL LAYOUT

4.1 Model These are steps to model a building/ structure. First, select the Polygon tool and draw the roof. While drawing any side of the roof, click the “Tab” button and put the exact length to that side. This can be done with all the sides. The second tool gives a way to make cylindrical shapes as needed.

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The polygon turns red after it is closed. Observe the dimensions along the lengths (in meters) and angles

(in degrees).

1) Edit edge length by clicking on dimension value 2) Edit angle by clicking on degree value 3) After drawing the polygon, change the Core height (the height of building from the ground), parapet height, and parapet thickness, setback inside and outside NOTE- If drawing a fixed roof then do not make any changes in the tilt and azimuth. If making a shed structure or flush mount rooftop then it is necessary to mention the tilt and azimuth 4) After changing all the properties, click “Placeable” if you want to activate panel placement 5) Click update after every change

4.2 Dimension Tool

The dimension tools help to estimate the distance between any 2 features.

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1. Click on this icon,

which is the dimension

tool. It activates the

cursor to place the first

point.

2. This is the edge of the

polygon we will chose to

place the first point.

3. Notice the red line

changes length to

accommodate your

cursor movement, now

click at the edge you

chose to measure.

4. Click the “X” icon in

case you want to cancel

the current process.

5. This line in blue is the

measured length

between the 2 edges.

Additionally, clicking on

the length value will

enable editing the length.

The smaller polygon snap

to new value as changed

by user.

4.3 Tree Builder

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Clicking on Tree button in the Model menu

activates tree builder tool.

1. Click at any point to define the centre of

the trunk, then adjust the radius of

trunk.

2. Click once more to adjust the radius of

the crown. Values in meter can be

entered as well.

3. On the right-hand side set values for

Trunk Height and Crown Height.

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5.0 HEAT MAP GENERATION

The Heat map analysis gives an idea of Sun’s energy coming on the rooftop. It calculates the Sun energy

falling on that rooftop for the entire year. Displayed with the help of 3 distinct colours: Yellow, Orange,

and Purple. The part that is shown in yellow colour says that this area will be receiving the largest amount

of energy without any shadow. The slightly reddish part shows that the energy falling here will be lower

than the energy falling on the yellow part. The purple part shows that there will be a lot of shadow in this

area. So, the panels placed here will have a lot of shadow.

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6.0 SUN SHADOW SIMULATION

Run exact shading simulation to optimize your design. To enter the simulation, toggle view to 3D. Control

is highly versatile based on date and time requirement of shadow. We consider the longitude/latitude of

the project location. As you can see the slide bar on the right, first one is for setting Date, the second is

for setting a time. This combination enables exact sun position in the sky with respect to the 3D model.

Click on 1. To see a simulation across 365 days, for a given time. Click on 2. To see a simulation of shadow

on a given date, at various times. Observe the shadow profile on panels due to nearby obstructions in the

images below.

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7.0 PANEL PLACEMENT We can place the panels in 3 different ways - Fill face, Auto Panel Placement and Add subarray. After placing the panels by any of the methods, change the panel make, tilt and azimuth, mount height. There are 2 modes in row spacing- Auto and manual. In Auto mode, the row spacing is calculated automatically according to the tilt and azimuth that the user has entered. In Manual mode, the user can enter any value.

7.1 Fill Face To insert the panels by Fill Face methods, select the polygon then click on the “Fill Face” button to insert the panels. The maximum number of panels will be placed on that roof.

7.2 Add Subarray

To insert the panels by Add Subarray method, go on the panel tool, and select add subarray. Then start marking the area on the roof where you want to place the panels. Complete the enclosed area and the panels will be placed only in that area.

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7.3 Auto Panel Placement

To insert the panels by Auto Panel Placement

method, click the Panel tool. Then select Auto

panel placement. There you can make multiple

table types (see figure on side). After the user

has made some table types, click confirm.

Next the user must select the roofs for panel

placement. Shortly, the user will be prompted

with options to choose from. The table types will

be shown on the bottom of the screen with the

system size and average solar access value. Then

select any of the table type (see figure below).

Continue editing as per desired requirement.

Note: Please make sure the roof is placeable.

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7.4 Walkway

Walkways are built to enable ease of access

within the rooftop once after installing the

panels. So, we enable highly customizable

placement and manipulation of walkway into

design. In the image below, we can notice that

some panels are rearranged/removed

automatically.

1. Activate line tool to build the walkway

2. Specify exact length to walkway

3. Set core height of walkway and edit width

4. The current direction of width from base line

5. Toggle the direction of walkway width

perpendicularly

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7.5 Lasso Tool

The Lasso tool is a quick edit tool. It can be used after panel placement. Use the tool to draw a rectangle

around the panels. The selected panels can then be removed. Expect more functionality over new

versions.

1. Use the mouse to draw a closed plane,

observe the yellow lines

2. Notice the highlighted panels because of

lasso

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7.6 Add Inverter After the user has finished the panel placement add the inverters. The choice to add inverters is given

on the right-hand side of the screen.

1. Click on “+” add inverter 2. Select inverter from list as

you begin to type based on

their capacity and make.

3. Add more inverters or

delete using this choice.

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A drop-down menu for inverter selection is

activated when you click in the search

inverter text box.

1. Use filter to narrow down results

based on inverter ability.

2. Click on Apply button to view the

results.

3. Click on Trash icon to delete the

results and clear filter values.

7.7 Panel Delete Mode

1. Panel delete mode can be activated by clicking on Panel Tool on the left panel.

2. Select the panels to be deleted. The selected panels turn red. Select any number of panels to be

deleted

3. Click on the Tick icon on Top Panel.

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8.0 SOLAR ACCESS The Solar Access tool is provided in the toolbox on the left side of the screen. Following the placement of

panels on roof, this analysis must be performed to calculate losses caused by shadow on panels.

NOTE - By clicking on the specific subarrays we can optimize them and remove the shaded panels.

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9.0 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS 9.1 Consumption Details To input electricity consumption details of client, enter consumption data in Project Summary page.

1. Enter Consumption details such as Average monthly unit consumed, average price/ unit and

tariff escalation rate.

2. Click on confirm to save changes else click on cancel.

9.2 Pricing Details

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From the Design Summary page of the chosen design, access the pricing table.

1. Clicking on the “+” icon opens the table in the image below. This button is deactivated after financial analysis is created once.

2. Click on Edit to reopen the table to change values 3. Click on Delete button to remove this financial analysis. 4. There are 3 parts in Financial analysis table, the first part is related to Pricing. 5. Update the subsidy percentage in this field. 6. Update values for commercial rooftop solar clients who may benefit from accelerated

depreciation

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10.0 WEATHER DATA Weather data is necessary to compute Annual production of a system. This weather file is specific to a

project location and not any design. So, in the Project Summary page the user can find options to change

the weather file in use.

1. Name of the

weather file in

use currently.

2. Click on Change

button to access

other options.

Design Studio chooses the most appropriate weather file data automatically. There are 2 different ways

in case the user wants to experiment and change the weather file. Option 1 is to choose another file from

TSL database, these are 25 options from cities closest geographically from the actual project site. Option

2 allows user to Upload new file from other sources.

3. Click on “upload new file” creates pop up window as shown. 4. List of 25 options of other cities nearby, ranked by distance. 5. Click on Upload to activate file choose dialogue box. 6. Click on drop down to show the drop-down about data source choice. 7. Choose from Meteonorm, SolarGIS, 3Tier and NREL as data source of uploaded file. 8. Click on “Use File” to load weather data. 9. After any changes click on “Confirm” to save and continue.

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11.0 TOGGLE VIEW

By default, the view is

set to 2D. To change it

to 3D, click on the icon

as shown in left panel.

In 3D view, editing

design and panel

placement is restricted.

Tip:

Long press the mouse

and drag around the

middle area to view 3D

from any point of view.

12.0 LAYERS

On the right find the 3D view of the building as

above for better perspective.

The Layers tool is used to control some visibility

actions for the following

1. Length

2. Arc

3. Dimension

4. Setback

5 View in Map/Insert Imagery.

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Find below an illustration to understand how deselection of features hides numerical values

13.0 DESIGN SETTINGS

Access Design Settings from the tool bar. You can access this window as explained in section 3 -

Organization defaults as well. For all aspects of design, find settings in one specific location to view and

change.

The panel on right hand, gives

access to general settings.

1. To set solar access threshold,

timing consideration for row

spacing, heatmap and

measurement units.

2. Click on Save to complete

changes.

3. Else click cancel to revert to previously saved settings.

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The second tab is the losses

settings tab. Edit losses due to

shading, weather fluctuations,

soiling or electrical.

1. Set values as a percentage

(for e.g. 1 for 1% loss)

2. Click on Save to complete

changes.

3. Else click cancel to revert to

previously saved settings.

The auto panel placement is a

powerful feature of the Design

Studio. It gives user complete

control to automate design

process. The settings for Auto

panel placement involve:

1. Manage different table types created by user, the list also has

important properties of table design.

2. Add new table with desired qualities.

3. Click on Add to complete changes.

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Polygons come under the

Objects sub-heading. Since it is

one of the basic tools used

repeatedly, modify settings to

speed up design process.

Set default values for core

height, Parapet height and

thickness. Modify tilt or azimuth

values, when working on Shed

type roofs.

Walkways have 2 editable properties, core height and width.

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The third way of panel placement in Design Studio is adding a subarray. there are several properties that

can be modified such as Template, Panel make and spec, Tile, Azimuth, table Spacing, Table size up and

wide, Mount Height, Module Spacing Up and wide.

1.Select between flush mount

and fixed tilt from the

dropdown for template.

2. Select from several panels in

the dropdown.

3. Click on either Landscape of

Portrait, tab in Blue is the

current selection.

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14.0 SLD (Single Line diagram)

Single line diagram is the representation of a power system using the simple symbol for each

component. The single line diagram of a power system is the network which shows the main

connections and arrangement of the system components along with their data (such as output rating,

voltage, resistance, and reactance, etc.).

An example of SLD for a rooftop is depicted below,

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14.1.1 Features The features associated with the SLD are given below, one must carefully choose the rating for these to

have the desired SLD.

• Inverter size.

• MPPT voltage range.

• String count.

• Panel rating.

• Wire sizing on both the DC and AC side.

To execute the SLD function one needs to have an understanding about the required condition set for

inverter, MPPT as well as string counts. With all these measures kept handy one can simple generate the

desired SLD for a project in minimal time. Provisions are also given for auto positioning of the counts and

conditions required to balance the string as well the load ratio.

Note: The automated values may result in neglecting extra solar modules to have an efficient SLD.

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15. 0 DESIGN SUMMARY

Click on design from

project summary

page. This leads to the

design summary.

1. Edit in Studio

2. Edit Design Name

3. Downloadable files

4. Create a copy of

current design

5. Summary design

information:

Nameplate DC Size,

Total AC Size,

Performance Ratio,

Specific Generation,

DC:AC Ratio

6. Generation analysis

7. Loss analysis

8. Bill of Materials

9. Pricing

15.1 Download Report

A free detailed report is available for each completed design and simulation.

Page Description 1

Summary metrics including Annual Production, Performance Ratio, Specific generation, DC Nameplate, AC Nameplate, Load Ratio and Weather Dataset

2 Estimated savings from the rooftop along with the payback period details

3 Bill of materials for the Design, including make and quantity for modules, wire, and inverter

4 Monthly production values

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5 Detailed energy output calculated monthly with weather data, Specific generation, and Performance Ratio

6 Field segments.

7,8 Shadow analysis of June and December for the rooftop.

9 Birds eye view of heat map of the site and solar access of project location on map

10 Detailed loss tree shows the total losses at each step of the irradiance and energy calculations.

11 Cost of not going solar

12 Impact on environment. Carbon emission features.

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14.2 Download CAD Layout

The CAD Layout is an export in .dxf format. It is compatible with AutoCAD software.

14.3 Download Generation CSV The generation CSV has the following features, it is a

downloadable file, compatible with Excel or similar tools.

1. Detailed generation values for first year

2. Generation values of design for 25 years over its lifetime

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14.4 EXPORT TO

GoogleDOCS

An action that enables to

export to GoogleDOCS.

Questions or Comments

Please Visit - http://help.thesolarlabs.com

Address:

The Solar Labs, 3rd Floor of Plot no. 258, Kuldeep House, Lane No. 3, Westend Marg, Saiyad Ul Ajaib-

Extension, Saket, New Delhi, Delhi 110030