optiPV helps you get the most from your plug-in solar panels by providing real-time data on your solar generation potential.
How it Works.
optiPV automates as much as possible to help you optimise your panel's solar potential. It works as follows:
Location: The app detects your current location to fetch accurate weather forecasts: Weather data by Open-Meteo. If you don't allow the tool to read your location, you will be asked to enter it manually. You will need your panel's latitude and longitude.
Analysis: View the impact of weather on your energy production via the Solar Generation Curve and daily performance tables.
The alignment screen gives you four independent audio and vibration cues, so you don't need to see the screen to line the panel up — useful when the sun makes the screen hard to read, and it also works with your eyes closed.
Left / right: A continuous tone pans left or right to tell you which way to turn the panel — sound in your left ear means turn left, sound in your right ear means turn right.
Getting closer: The tone's pitch rises the closer you get to the target overall — like a "getting warmer" game. Low means you're a long way off; high means you're nearly there.
Too steep / too shallow: A separate low rumble, as if it's coming from near your feet, means the panel is tilted too steeply — lower it. A bright shimmer, as if it's coming from above your head, means the panel is too shallow — raise it.
Locked on: Reaching the centre of the target gives you a distinct gong, a strong vibration, and a brief screen flash together, so you know you're on target even without looking.
💡 For the clearest left/right and steep/shallow cues, headphones or earbuds work best — a single phone speaker can't always convey direction as clearly without significant practice.
💡 Prefer silent mode? To prevent accidentally muting essential audio cues when you actually need them, the app doesn't include an in-app mute switch. If you prefer working in silence, simply toggle your Android media volume off in system settings while using the app, and turn it back on when you're finished.
💡 If your panel is above your head, consider fixing your phone on to the panel with velcro straps to ensure it doesn't fall off and get damaged!
💡 If you don't have time to "tune" your panel every hour, the best advice is to choose to tune for "Orient for solar noon". This won't optimise your generation for sunrise and sunset but will give a reasonable generation curve.
💡 When aligned, your panel is positioned for the most efficient sunlight capture for the current hour. To maximise your output through the day, repeat this every hour.
Expected W vs. Actual W: Measured in Watts. Compares your current power generation against predicted shortwave radiance for your location. As no system is 100% efficient, it is reasonable to see the Actual W being a lower value than the Expected W of solar radiance.
Aspect and Perfect Pitch: Shows your current panel orientation versus the ideal orientation for the current sun position.
To ensure your generation potential and performance metrics reflect your physical setup, you must configure your panel specifications to match your plugin solar installation. Simply follow these steps:
Select Set panel configuration from the menu.
Enter the total number of panels you have in the How many panels do you have? field.
Enter the aggregate power rating in Watts for these panels in the What is the total power rating of these panels measured in Watts? field.
Tap SEND RESULTS BACK to save your configuration and return to the main view.
Your configuration will be saved in the application for the next time you run the app, but can be reset at any time you change your plugin setup.
For many reasons, you may not have your location settings on or they may not be able to get good results. If that happens, you will need to enter the values manually. Or you may choose to do this before heading home using the Set GPS from the optiPV menu. Then:
The following issues are known and will be addressed in a future update.
GPS unreliable in built-up areas: in cities, tall buildings can block or reflect GPS signals, causing the fix to be slow, inaccurate, or to fail intermittently, even though the location has good solar potential. If this happens, you will be taken to a coordinates entry box; see Setting your panel's GPS. Manual coordinates persist for your current session, but must be re-entered if you restart the app.
Targeting after screen lock: after a pause (screen lock, switching to other apps), the targeting system may need you to wiggle the phone to recalibrate it. If working up high, going out of the targeting screen, back to the Results screen works too.
