High absorption of PV benefits heat collection in the daytime, but the heat loss to the space/environment because of its high emissivity also should be noticed. Although there are many papers investigating PVT, few of them cover the night behavior and negative running during late afternoon. This paper supplements detailed studies on related content to draw people's attention to the night and late-afternoon operation that helps better strategy establishment and less heat loss. From experiments, the clouds help hinder the PV radiant heat exchange with space. Under clear night, the PV bottom temperature can be 6.88 °C lower than air temperature and the water tank's bottom temperature drops 2.8 °C. Because of the fluid viscosity, no apparent temperature stratification and flow occur in the PVT water pipe, causing even PV temperature. The higher the water temperature, the easier the negative running occurs during late afternoon, although the irradiation is still high at 521W/m2. Heat loss power and energy are −199W and 1791 KJ from 15:10 to 17:40. Based on different regressed linear correlations of different PVT systems, the effect of water temperature, irradiation, and ambient temperature on the negative performance is also comparatively studied. •Night behavior and negative running of PVT system are studied to avoid heat loss.•The clouds helps hinder the PV radiant heat exchange with the space.•PV bottom temperature can be 6.88 °C lower than ambient temperature.•Even the irradiation is still high at 521W/m2, negative running may still happen.•Negative operation is also comparatively studied based on different PVT and ambient.