Cleaning
Dust accumulation is the single largest recoverable loss in Indian conditions. Cleaning frequency depends on your local dust load and proximity to construction or traffic. Clean early in the morning with plain water and a soft brush; never clean hot modules mid-day.
Visual inspection
Check for cracked glass, discoloured cells, loose clamps, corrosion at the mounting structure and rodent damage to cabling. These are inexpensive to fix when caught early and expensive when ignored.
Electrical checks
Periodically verify earthing continuity, DC and AC isolator function, inverter fault logs and connector integrity. These checks should be carried out by qualified personnel.
Watch the data
Monitoring is a maintenance tool. A gradual downward trend against your expected baseline usually indicates soiling; an abrupt drop usually indicates a string or inverter fault.
