How to check how many units your solar panels made today

Your solar system's daily output is measured in units, one unit being one kilowatt-hour (kWh), the same unit on your electricity bill. There are three common ways to check it.

1. The inverter's own display

Most inverters show E-Today or Today on their screen or LEDs. It's the source of truth, but you have to walk to the inverter.

2. The monitoring app

If your inverter has a WiFi datalogger, the readings go to a cloud you can check from your phone. For Eybond sticks that's ShineMonitor, in the browser or the SmartClient app. Look for Today's energy on the plant page.

3. A dashboard that opens on the number

Helio is a free, open-source dashboard for ShineMonitor systems. It opens straight on units made today, read from the inverter's own energy counter, so it matches the inverter display. Around it you get live power, the day's curve and what the units are worth at your tariff.

Open the demo to see it with sample data.

Is my number good?

A rough guide for sunny regions is 4 to 5 units per kW of panels on a clear day. A 5.4 kW system might make 20 to 28 units in good weather and much less on cloudy days. Compare similar days rather than single readings; Helio's 30-day view shows your average and best day for that.

Questions

What is a unit of solar electricity?

One unit is one kilowatt-hour (kWh), the same unit your electricity bill uses.

How many units should a 5 kW system make per day?

It depends on location, season, tilt and shade. A rough rule in sunny regions is 4 to 5 units per kW of panels on a clear day, so about 20 to 25 units for 5 kW.

Why is today lower than yesterday?

Usually clouds, haze, dust on the panels or shade. If it stays low on clear days, check the panels and the inverter's status.

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