Quy trình & nghề nghiệpProcess & careers · BàiLesson 1/4
System Survey Process
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Solar Knowledge HubQuy trình khảo sát hệ thốngSite survey process
Khảo sát là bước đầu tiên và quan trọng nhất: mọi sai sót ở đây kéo theo thiết kế sai và thi công khó.The survey is the first and most critical phase: mistakes here cascade into bad design and hard installation.
| Mái nhàRoof | ĐiệnElectrical | Thiết bịEquipment | Hồ sơDocuments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hướng và độ nghiêngOrientation & tilt | Một pha hay ba phaPhase count | Vị trí biến tầnInverter location | Hóa đơn điệnElectricity bills |
| Diện tích lắp đượcUsable area | Aptomat tổngMain breaker | Vị trí pinBattery location | Hình khảo sátSite photos |
| Bóng cheShading | Tủ điện & tiếp địaSwitchboard & earthing | Tuyến dâyCable routes | Bố trí sơ bộPreliminary layout |
| Loại và kết cấu máiRoof type & structure | Tải lớn hiện hữuExisting large loads | Thông gió thiết bịEquipment ventilation | Báo giáQuotation |
Bóng che dễ bị xem nhẹ nhưng tác động lớn. Một mái rộng nhưng bị cây, bồn nước hay nhà bên che một phần vẫn cho sản lượng kém vì một tấm bị che có thể kéo sụt cả chuỗi. Khi khảo sát phải ghi rõ vị trí và thời điểm bóng che trong ngày, cân nhắc tách chuỗi hoặc dùng bộ tối ưu cho khu vực bị che.Shading is easily underestimated but has a large impact. A wide, well-oriented roof partially shaded by a tree or water tank still yields poorly: one shaded panel can drag down the whole string. Record shade position and timing; consider splitting strings or using optimisers for shaded areas.
Sai lầm phổ biến nhất là chọn công suất chỉ theo tiền điện. Hai nhà cùng trả một triệu đồng/tháng nhưng một nhà dùng ban ngày, một nhà dùng ban đêm cần hai giải pháp khác hẳn. Luôn hỏi: "Anh/chị dùng điện chủ yếu lúc nào?", đó là câu hỏi quyết định có tư vấn pin hay không.The most common mistake: sizing by bill alone. Two homes paying the same monthly bill but one uses power by day, the other by night, need completely different solutions. Always ask: "When do you use most of your electricity?" That decides whether you recommend a battery.
The site survey is the first and most important step in any rooftop solar project, because every mistake made here cascades into flawed design and difficult installation. This document presents the five-step survey process, the tools to bring, and a quick checklist so nothing gets missed.
For: technicians conducting site surveys, sales staff supporting surveys, newcomers who need to understand what a survey involves.
Quick Summary
The survey follows five steps: capturing customer requirements, surveying the roof and electrical system, analysing the load profile, performing a preliminary design, and providing a quote. Each step has specific deliverables.
The core principle is never to size the system based on the electricity bill alone: you must look at actual usage behaviour. The bill only tells you total consumption, not when power is used, and timing is what determines whether a battery is needed.
A survey requires three groups of tools: electrical measurement instruments, roof survey tools, and personal protective equipment. A thorough survey is the foundation for a stable, long-lasting project.
Five Survey Steps
Step one is capturing customer requirements. Clarify the monthly electricity bill, whether electricity is used more during the day or at night, whether battery storage and backup during grid outages is needed, whether the site is single-phase or three-phase, and the target percentage reduction in the electricity bill. Request two to six months of electricity bills, roof photos, and the site address in advance.
Step two is surveying the existing conditions. For the roof, record orientation, tilt angle, usable installation area, roof type, and shading sources. For the electrical system, record whether it is single-phase or three-phase, the main circuit breaker rating, existing wiring, earthing condition, major loads, and measure voltage and load current. For equipment locations, record where the inverter will be mounted, the distance to the distribution board, where the battery will be placed, and ventilation conditions.
Step three is analysing the load profile. The goal is to understand when the customer uses electricity: heavy daytime use suits a grid-tied system, heavy night-time use calls for considering a battery, and frequent grid outages require a hybrid system with backup capability.
Step four is the preliminary design: calculate the number of panels, inverter capacity, whether a battery is needed, estimated savings, and payback period, and verify string voltage and the number of MPPT inputs.
Step five is delivering a quote that includes panel layout, single-line diagram, projected energy yield, equipment specifications, and warranty terms.
Tools and Checklist
A survey requires three groups of tools. Electrical instruments include a clamp meter, multimeter, voltage tester, and a ground resistance tester where available. Roof survey tools include a laser measure, tape measure, drone, compass, and tilt angle meter. Personal protective equipment includes a hard hat, safety harness, non-slip footwear, and insulated gloves.
| Roof | Electrical | Equipment | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation and tilt | Single-phase or three-phase | Inverter location | Electricity bills |
| Usable area | Main circuit breaker | Battery location | Survey photos |
| Shading | Distribution board | Cable routes | Preliminary layout |
| Roof type and structure | Earthing | Quote |
Shading is the factor most often underestimated yet it has the greatest impact. A roof that looks large and clear but is partially shaded by trees, water tanks, or a neighbouring building will still deliver poor energy yield, because one shaded panel can drag down an entire string, as discussed in Chapter 02. During the survey, note the exact location and time of day of each shading source, then consider splitting strings or using power optimisers for shaded zones.
The most common mistake is sizing the system based solely on the electricity bill. Two households paying the same monthly bill but one using power mostly during the day and the other mostly at night need completely different solutions. Always ask the customer when they primarily use electricity: that single question determines whether a battery recommendation is warranted.