02 August 2012
The German solar company Centrosolar is launching an English-language version of the Centrocheck planning tool on the international market. Centrocheck is now available to help installers plan solar installations in any country from Austria to Vietnam. It complements the already established tool for clients in North America where installers use a special online portal customised for that market with unique design and financing capabilities. Each country's version automatically includes the solar panels, inverters and the country-specific calculation basis available for use in that particular country. In addition to installers and solar professionals, homeowners can also use the free online tool to precisely plan individually tailored photovoltaic (PV) systems based on Centrosolar panels.
Centrocheck is one of the only planning systems that comprehensively covers project design. The intuitive tool provides all the information necessary to plan, build and operate a PV system. Centrocheck can be used online at this website without having to be installed on the user's computer. Two different versions are available: The basic version works without logging in and uses preset values for all calculations, making it particularly well-suited for homeowners.
Centrocheck screen
You must complete a free, one-time registration process in order to use the comprehensive expert mode. Solar professionals can enter all parameters individually and plan the entire system from installation drawings to roof and inverter layout right through to yield and efficiency forecasts. The plan drawing is in three dimensions (3D) and may be both rotated and zoomed. Interfering surfaces on the roof are also taken into consideration to ensure precise design of the panel layout. The program compiles all the necessary project documents including data sheets, cabling diagrams, installation drawings and initial operation reports. Users of the full version can save, download and print all planning data using a separate online folder and this can be forwarded to Centrosolar to request an individual quote.
Centrocheck is also available as a mobile application (app), fully independent of the operating system on the mobile end device. Smart phones can be used to access program services on the go and free-of-charge at this website. The program uses integrated functionality to recognise the position and inclination of the roof, as well as on-site irradiation data.
