Solar Array Site Inspection Logger
Ground-mount/rooftop PV walkdown — modules, racking, wiring, inverters, vegetation, erosion and security; GPS-tagged offline O&M log.
New PV array block inspection
Quarterly visual walkdowns plus post-storm checks are typical; pair annually with IV-curve/thermal scans by qualified techs.
Field guide: Solar Array Site Inspection Logger
A PV plant degrades by percent and burns by connector: the walkdown findings that matter most are the small thermal ones — a scorched MC4, a burn mark behind a cell, cables sagging into water — because PV fires start at exactly those points, and the financial findings are the quiet ones, a stuck tracker row or a string down that monitoring averaged away. This logger structures the quarterly walk by failure domain: modules, racking, wiring, inverters, and the site itself.
Vegetation earns a dual role here: shading the bottom cell row costs disproportionate energy (one shaded cell throttles its whole string), and dry growth touching DC wiring is the classic grass-fire interface. Erosion findings protect the civil works — gullies between rows undermine posts a season before racks visibly tilt. Each entry is GPS-pinned by block/row so the O&M contractor's punch list comes pre-mapped.
Field tips
- Walk row-ends at module-edge height looking along the glass — cracked glass and delamination flash at grazing angles you'll miss straight-on.
- Any scorched connector means checking its neighbors: the cause (poor crimps, water) was usually a batch, not a unit.
- Log soiling as uniform vs patterned — uniform dirt is a wash decision; patterns (bird lines, drainage stains) point at specific fixes.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Solar Array Site Inspection Logger — Ground-mount/rooftop PV walkdown — modules, racking, wiring, inverters, vegetation, erosion and security; GPS-tagged offline O&M log. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Solar Array Site Inspection Logger
A PV plant degrades by percent and burns by connector: the walkdown findings that matter most are the small thermal ones — a scorched MC4, a burn mark behind a cell, cables sagging into water — because PV fires start at exactly those points, and the financial findings are the quiet ones, a stuck tracker row or a string down that monitoring averaged away. This logger structures the quarterly walk by failure domain: modules, racking, wiring, inverters, and the site itself.
How to use Solar Array Site Inspection Logger
- 1Enter the site / block id and tap 📍 GPS to pin the PV array block's exact location (or type coordinates).
- 2Work through the PV array block checklist — every field matches what a real inspection program records.
- 3Pick a condition on the Normal / O&M item / Production impact / Safety/fire risk ⚠ scale; actionable findings are tallied automatically.
- 4Add notes and log the inspection — it saves instantly to your device, even with zero signal.
- 5Export the round as CSV for your asset system, GeoJSON for the GIS, or print a clean report.
Why use Solar Array Site Inspection Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with NREL
Frequently asked questions
What does a hot spot look like from the ground?+
From the front: browned/discolored cells or burn marks; from the back: blistered or charred backsheet. Hot spots come from cracked cells, shading or failed solder joints concentrating current. They're both a yield and a fire concern — log them at the safety class and confirm with a thermal scan.
How much does soiling actually cost?+
Typically 2–6% annually in temperate climates, but 1%+ per month in dusty/agricultural areas without rain. The wash decision is economic: lost kWh value versus wash cost. Logged soiling observations per block — especially patterned fouling that rain won't fix — are the data that decision needs.
Why are MC4-style connectors such a fire focus?+
They carry full string current outdoors for decades, and field-made crimps fail at far higher rates than factory leads. A failing connector heats, arcs and can ignite — DC arcs don't self-extinguish. Scorch marks, melted housings or mismatched-brand pairings are immediate findings; rodent-chewed insulation is the same risk wearing a different costume.
What should a tracker-specific check include?+
Rows aligned with neighbors at the same hour (a row at a different angle is stuck), no motor/gearbox leaks or noise, dampers intact, and no debris in the rotation path. One stuck tracker row quietly loses 15–25% of that row's annual yield — visible to a walkdown, invisible in monthly totals.
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