In order for PVscout to function fully on your computer, the following requirements must be met: Software: A current Windows workstation version (Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1 and Windows 10) is recommended as the operating system. PVscout runs on 32 and 64 Bit...

PVscout 2.0 Premium The main version of PVscout 2.0 is the Premium version. The data stock of high resolution irradiance data is available for the whole of Europe – or for further countries on request. There is a possibility of creating several roofs with a dynamic...

Firstly, here is an overview of PVscout’s user interface: The following steps explain how PVscout should be handled in general. For a quick assistant please proceed as follows: On one hand there are the quick tips in the monitor area, which inform you about the...

Navigation bar: Project Location Choose the location of your PV plant by defining your preferred spot via the selection boxes Continent, Country, Region and City, or use the zip input to get the nearest location. In addition, the selection boxes Snow & Wind load zone...

Navigation bar: Project Consumption If you would like to optimize the PV plant system for your own use, you can set a load profile in the Consumption area. You can either choose one of the standard load profiles already saved, or you can import a load profile of your...

Navigation bar: Project Project details You may enter the location data of where the PV plant will be built. The project data frequently matches the customer data (see Step 4: Customer details). In order to reduce the manual input, the project data can be transferred...

Navigation bar: Project Customer details At this point you can enter the customer details (also: invoice recipient) into specific boxes. By clicking on the button customer data to project data, the details can be copied into the project details as in Step 2. In this...

Navigation bar: Roof & module Roof Selection This dialog gives you the opportunity to create more than one roof. They can have different inclinations or orientations; the module type can vary and also have individual frame systems for each roof. Each roof area can be...

Navigation bar: Roof & module Roof data By selecting the respective roof, the required input fields will be shown. This is where the roof dimensions can be entered, the height (to the ridge), as well as orientation and inclination of the roof. Through clicking the...

Navigation bar: Roof & module Roof planning The roof will be displayed two-dimensionally according to the entered preferences. It is presented as orange-coloured (flat roof: grey) area and framed through the red-coloured (flat roof: dark grey) edge. The red vertical...

Navigation bar: Roof & module Roof planning Obstructed area If required, the obstructed areas as shed dormer or chimney can be placed on the roof. These obstructed areas can also be moved by the mouse within the graphical sizing. Therefore please mark the...

Navigation bar: Roof & module Roof planning PV module The desired PV module can be chosen by setting manufacturer and type. With the assistance of the data filter, it is possible to reduce the available PV modules. Around 40.000 modules are provided for selection....

Navigation bar: Roof & module Roof planning Frame system At this point the frame system can be integrated in the roof sizing and adjusted according to your needs. The individual components such as fixing or mounting rail are free to choose. The choice of No...

Navigation bar: Roof & module Roof planning Add module array Use this dialog in order to add modules as you require. By clicking OK, the modules will be placed on the roof automatically. It is still possible to adjust modules manually afterwards. Only to change...

Navigation bar: Inverter Device Selection To reduce the result of inverters, the respective filter options need to be set. Therefore please click the corresponding Drop-Down Menu or fill in the values and click Use Data Filter. It is possible to save your filter...

Navigation bar: Inverter Inverter results The result, which has been calculated for your needs, will be displayed on this page in detail. By clicking on the pictograms, you will receive a technical data overview for the corresponding device.

Navigation bar: Inverter Further results The alternatives will be displayed here, according to the sizing previously shown. If you wish another sizing, tag it, click on Show details and then Accept.

Navigation bar: Inverter String Adjustment If you do not fully agree with this configuration and would like to move one module from one string to another string, considering the partial shading, the string adjustment gives you the possibility of changing the quantity...

Navigation bar: Inverter String connection This step brings you back to the graphic sizing, where you can change strings and modules manually. Double-click on the module which needs to be exchanged. Now also double click on the other module to be replaced. As a...

Navigation bar: Inverter DC Cabling In this dialog you receive details about the quantity of the cables. By clicking once on the cable, a new window will open, where the length and cross-section of the cable can be chosen.

Navigation bar: Inverter AC Cabling At this step, the individual inverters can be split between the phases which are available. The subdistributions can also be defined, in order to interconnect the inverters. The PVscout Sizing contains the special sizing algorithms...

Navigation bar: PV storage Device selection Reduce the choice of battery storage systems by setting the corresponding filter options. To this, click on the relevant drop-down lists, or specify the values and then go to Use data filter. You can save a selected filter...

Navigation bar: PV storage PV storage result The result calculated for your criteria is shown in detail on this page. By clicking on the pictograms, you will be given an overview of the technical data for the relevant device.

Navigation bar: PV storage Further results Alternatives to the calculation previously displayed are shown here. If you would like an alternative sizing, mark it, click on Display details and then on Accept.

Navigation bar: PV storage PV storage simulation The PV storage simulation area shows the load profile for consumption and yield. It also shows, over time, the parameters Mains supply, Charge battery, Discharge battery, Own consumption and Infeed. Individual important...

Navigation bar: Bill of materials Current bill of materials This page provides you with an insight into the current bill of materials. The list can be exported as csv file, which allows you to integrate the list into an Excel spreadsheet and change it according to...

Navigation bar: Profitability Profitability Please enter all relevant data regarding the profitability, to receive a financial evaluation of your investment. Should be noted: Investment cost (net) might be around €1,250 per installed kWp. Increase in operating costs,...

Navigation bar: Profitability Profitability prognosis Now you get the finance plan of your PV system. This gives you information about the annual surplus, the financial result as well as the account balance. By clicking with the right mouse-button on the table, you...

Navigation bar: Profitability Print-out On this page the printouts can be compiled individually by clicking on the required pages. The Print preview allows you to check the chosen page before printing it finally. It is also possible to create your own Additional pages...

Navigation bar: Tools Quick Design The tools offered here can be used independently of the rest of the PVscout software. Quick Design In the quick design, you can design a single inverter without a roof drawing. You simply select an inverter manufacturer and type from...

Navigation bar: File Export Export Roof Drawing (CAD): You can save the completed roof drawing using this export as a CAD file (*.dxf file) to any folder on your hard disk. This file can then be opened with any CAD program.

Users of the premium version can buy AddOns for the software in the Solarschmiede online shop. Find out more at: Online Shop

The Offer preparation AddOn allows you to prepare a freely variable offer directly after completion of planning and on the basis of the software. For this, you can assign prices to the saved articles, and an offer is then prepared from these. You can put together the...

Navigation bar: Bill of materials Price calculation As soon as the Offer preparation AddOn has been activated, the new Price calculation screen is available in the bill of materials section. Under Edit product database, you can save your own prices for the required...

In the Edit product database screen, you can save prices, availabilities and your own article numbers for all articles. You can also use the Search facility to search directly for manufacturer article numbers that are already saved in PVscout. The edited databases can...

In the Prepare own printout section, you can prepare your own individual printout. You can choose between all the released values and parameters and set these to print. To do this, simple access these values in Available resources under Variables. The Containers and...

First mark the area which you would like to change. Then, in Allocated resources, click on the file in question ("Image"). This displays the precise relevant values to be displayed in Properties. Here, click on the button (see screenshot below) to select a new image...

As soon as you have finished your offer, you can see a print preview using the Preview button. If you do not wish to make any more changes, click on Save. If a colleague has already forwarded a completed offer, you can display this using the Load print master button.

Mail: support@pvscout.de Solarschmiede Software GmbH Zenettistr. 34 80337 Munich Germany Web: pvscout.de We hope that we have been able to assist you with these instructions for handling PVscout for the first time. We wish you every success and hope you enjoy using...