Advisory Solar String Guidance Explained

GridGap gives a planning-level string suggestion. It is helpful for practical panel-count cleanup and MPPT planning, but it is not a final PV string design.

Why it is advisory

The app uses panel watts, Vmp, Voc, system assumptions, and voltage-limit guidance to produce a usable planning suggestion. It does not replace final equipment validation, full temperature-corrected string design, or manufacturer-specific approval.

The result is there to make the array recommendation more practical, not to claim that final PV engineering is complete.

What the string fields mean

Panels per string is the suggested series count. String count is the number of parallel strings. Estimated string Vmp and Estimated string Voc are the indicative operating and open-circuit string voltages under the current simplified model. PV voltage limit is the planning limit the app compared against.

The Indicative string guidance notes under the Solar tab add plain-language explanation around why the app settled on that layout.

Why panel count increases

The app first calculates a raw minimum panel count from energy demand, then rounds up the final installed panel count so the array divides cleanly into full strings. That makes the installed count more practical for real planning even when it is higher than the raw minimum.

That is why Installed panel count can be higher than Raw minimum panel count without the app being inconsistent.