To maximize the safety, value and longevity of your ground mount
solar system, please read this manual carefully.
If you need any further clarifications or assistance, please call Orb
Customer Care: +254 716332301
We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns
kenya@[Link]
[Link]
+254 716332301
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 1
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 2
Contents
Contents 3
1. Safety and Warnings 5
2. System Components 6
2.0 Core Components 6
2.1 Solar PV Panel Array 6
2.2 Solar String Inverter 6
Inverter Configuration 7
2.3 Solar Panel Support Structures 7
2.4 Remote Monitoring & Export Controller 7
Remote Monitoring Platform 8
3. System Operation 9
3.1 Start-up Procedure 9
3.2 Shutdown Procedure 9
3.3 System Maintenance 9
Cleaning of Solar Panels 9
3.4 Preventative Maintenance Checklist 10
4. Do’s and Don’ts 11
Do’s 11
Don’ts 11
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 3
1. Safety and Warnings
1. Read this entire manual before using your system.
2. There are no parts in your system which you can service. Only qualified personnel should service
your rooftop solar system.
3. Use Orb Energy solar panels for their intended use only. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Do
not disassemble the solar panel array or remove any part installed by the manufacturer, as this will
void any manufacturer warranties.
4. For maximum efficiency, your panels must be cleaned of dust and other debri at least monthly.
5. Do not clean panels during the middle of the day when the glass is hot. The thermal shock of cold
water on hot, tempered glass could shatter the glass. Clean only at dawn or dusk when the panel
glass is cool.
6. Do not clean the solar panels if your inverter reads a “Ground Fault Error”. Instead, call Orb Customer
Care for service immediately. Refer to the inverter manual in Annexure 4 for additional details.
7. Do not touch the solar panels or the mounting structure once installed. These surfaces can become
extremely hot when exposed to sunlight.
8. Do not walk, lean, sit or rest heavy objects on solar panels as it may lead to panel failure and/or
personal injury.
9. Solar panels have a protective glass front. Broken solar panel glass is an electrical safety hazard
(electric shock and fire). These solar panels cannot be repaired and must be replaced immediately. If
you have a broken solar panel, turn your system off and immediately contact Orb Customer Care.
10.Do not use abrasive material / steel wool for cleaning the glass surface of the solar panels as it can
damage the reflective coating of the glass.
11.Do not store anything in front of the inverter.
12.Do not store anything above or below the inverter. A minimum 12-inch clearance must be
maintained to allow heat to naturally flow from the inverter.
13.Call Orb Customer Care immediately if the inverter indicates an error.
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 4
2. System Components
2.0 Core Components
Your rooftop solar system consists of four core components.
1. Solar PV panel array
2. Solar string inverters with built-in MPPT controller
3. Solar panel support structures
4. Zero Export Controller & Remote monitoring system
2.1 Solar PV Panel Array
A solar panel generates electricity from sunlight - the more sunlight, the more electricity is generated. To
maximize the sunlight that falls on the solar panel, the solar panel is fixed at a correct angle to the sun and in
a location where there is no shading from trees or buildings. To achieve the desired voltage and current, solar
panels are wired in series and parallel, forming a PV array.
Your solar system comes with 730 for 423kWh and 5040 of 2.5MW of such solar panels which are connected
together in the form of an array which has a total capacity of 2.92MW.
The detailed specification of this array is given below in table.
Solar PV Panel Array – 2.93 MW
Array Capacity 2.92 MW
No of Solar PV panels 5770
Type of PV panel 580 Wp
Please refer to Annexure 3 technical drawings for more details.
2.2 Solar String Inverter
Your grid tied solar system from Orb uses three 110 kVA inverters from Sungrow. The user manual has been
provided in hard copy from the manufacturer and is available in digital format here:
[Link]
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Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 5
Note: To know more on inverter operation, please refer to the inverter operation manual enclosed under
Annexure 4 along with this user manual.
2.3 Solar Panel Support Structures
These are aluminum extrusions for holding the solar panels. The specifications are given in the below table:
Solar panel support structure specifications
Mounting Rooftop
Material Extrusion
Tilt provided Parallel to slope of 11 degrees
2.4 Remote Monitoring & Export Controller
Your system is equipped with Remote Monitoring & Control Solution. See Annexure 2 for the relevant
datasheet, Annexure 3 for Single Line Diagram showing integration and role of this component in the system,
and Annexure 4 for the User Manual.
This solution is a hardware and software platform that enables continuous remote monitoring of your solar
system and provides a “Zero Feed-In '' solution.
The “Zero Feed-In” solution ensures that, during times when your system is producing power in excess of
your demand, minimal amounts of this power are fed back into the grid to ensure compliance with grid
regulations.
For the Controller to function properly, it requires constant and stable internet connection and an
uninterrupted or unchanged network configuration. If any changes are expected to be made to network
parameters, addresses, or other configuration details, please contact Orb Customer Care in advance.
Remote Monitoring Platform
Orb has configured your access to the Meteo controller, which you can access from any internet-enabled
device at:
The EMS will allow you to visualize and track daily, monthly and lifetime production of your system, your grid
consumption, your live demand at any time, voltages of your inverters, and other key metrics of system
performance. EMS also allows you to download detailed reports and set alerts to thresholds that are
important to you.
If you have any issues, never hesitate to contact Orb Customer Care.
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 6
3. System Operation
The system should only be operated by qualified technicians. If there are any questions or concerns as to its
operations, please contact orb Customer Care. However, in an emergency, it may be necessary to quickly shut
down the system as below.
3.1 Start-up Procedure
Steps to start inverter:
Step 1: Turn ON DC switch(s) adjacent to the inverter.
Step 2: Turn ON AC isolator adjacent to the inverter.
Step 3: Turn ON solar supply main switch and/ or AC isolator adjacent to the inverter.
Note : Inverter should be operated by a trained electrical engineer only.
3.2 Shutdown Procedure
Shutting down the system is the reverse of the start-up procedure, please use this procedure in case of
emergency or maintenance.
Step 1: Turn on the DC switch(s) adjacent to the inverter.
Step 2: Turn OFF solar supply main switch in switch board and / or AC isolator adjacent to the Inverter.
Step 3: Turn off the AC Isolator adjacent to the switchboard.
Step 4: Turn off the DC Isolator adjacent to the inverter.
Note : Inverter should be operated by a trained electrical engineer only.
3.3 System Maintenance
Orb Energy strongly recommends to maintain your ground mount solar system on a regular basis, such as
cleaning your solar panels at least every 15 days and checking the condition of electrically sensitive
components such as surge protection devices, inverters, fuses, etc at least every six months. Regular periodic
inspection will help ensure your system continues to operate safely and performs efficiently and also to
upheld the warranty period of expensive components such as solar panels and inverters. You should also
read your inverter operations manual for any additional maintenance of inverters.
Orb offers cleaning and inspection (preventive maintenance) services as required. Please call us to avail of
these services.
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 7
Cleaning of Solar Panels
When solar panels are exposed to the atmosphere then accumulated dust (and possible bird droppings),
leading to low output from your ground mount solar system. Hence a periodic cleaning of solar panels at
least every 15 days is required for maximum power output from your system.
Solar panels can be cleaned using a water hose and a sponge when the panels are cool. Solar panels should
only be cleaned between 8:00AM to 10:00AM and 3:00PM to 6:00PM. Do not use any abrasive materials,
detergents, pressure washers for cleaning your solar panels. Also at the time of cleaning, inspect your solar
panels for any cracks, chips or discolouration. Also check for any shadow falling on your solar panels between
8:00AM to 4:00PM.
3.4 Preventative Maintenance Checklist
Orb offers periodic preventative maintenance service during the first year of operation of your system. Please
call our Customer Care to schedule this service. Thereafter, please follow Orb’s preventative maintenance
checklist and ensure that preventative maintenance takes place every 6 months. Alternatively, please call Orb
Customer Care to arrange for an Orb Operations & Maintenance service contract.
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 8
4. Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
● Clean your solar panels every 15 days using a water hose and/or clean with a sponge and water
when the panels are cool. Solar panels should only be cleaned in the early morning or evening.
● Inspect the solar panels for any cracks, chips or discolouration, rusting of solar panel frames,
corrosion.
● Check for any shadow falling on the solar panel between 8:00AM to 4:00PM. Clear the shadow if
possible. Otherwise call Orb Customer Care or one of our technicians for support.
● Solar panels have a protective glass front that can break from excessive loading (greater than 50
pounds per square foot), from hail (greater than 1inch traveling at 50 km/hr), or from other causes
such as vandalism. When the glass breaks the panel will typically look different to the other solar
panels. If broken glass is discovered, call for customer care immediately and turn your system OFF
(Refer page no 7 - 2.6 Shut down procedure).
● Check your online monitoring system regularly for system performance.
● Do ensure that your solar system has constant and uninterrupted access to a strong internet
connection to ensure system remains online for proper functionality and monitoring
● Ensure that your ground mount solar system is insured. Contact your facility insurance company and
let them know that you have installed a ground mount solar system on your facility.
● Check that all MCB’s are in the “ON” position.
● Switch off the MCB at AC input during lightning.
● Do the earth resistance test once every year. Check values are within the limit <5Ω. If you would like
Orb Energy to do this please contact us.
● Use rubber floor mats under the inverter and AC control panel.
Don’ts
● Do not use any abrasive materials, detergents, pressure washers for cleaning your solar panels.
● Do not clean the solar panels during the middle of the day when the glass is hot. The thermal shock
of cold water on hot, tempered glass could shatter the glass.
● Do not clean the solar panels if your inverter reads “Ground Fault Error”. Instead call Orb Customer
Care immediately. Refer to the inverter manual for additional details.
● Do not drop, or allow objects to fall on, solar panels during cleaning of glass. Also ensure you do not
step or stand on the solar panels during cleaning.
● Do not concentrate sunlight on panels with mirrors, reflectors or lenses, or in any other manner.
Doing so voids any warranty.
● Do not climb on your ground mount solar system unless trained, experienced and wearing proper
personal protective and fall-protection equipment.
● Do not update your network IP addresses or otherwise modify your network without informing Orb
Customer Care so that, if necessary, Orb can update the network configuration of your inverters and
control meter and ensure there is no disruption to your solar system production.
Orb Customer Care: +254 716332301 10
