Having trouble with my solar panel or batteries at the moment.
Noticed the solar panels have these lines going all over, can anybody give me an idea whats happening.
It's a 100w panel. Its still charging but slowly.

Is it a flexible panel?
have you put a multimeter to see how many volts you are getting?
i think mine are around 18v.
i had a panel fail a week ago and it had gone down to 9v.
mine a flexible and are fixed to a bimini which is constantly moving slightly.

There should be a sticker showing the details somewhere. The open circuit voltage might be 21.8V. If it is undet the nominal voltage in full sun, new panel time.

Cheers

Bristol

If you have an DC amp clamp, you can short out the output leads of the panel and see how much current flows. Amperage (when sunlight is 1000W per square metre) for this is also makes on the label 'Isc' Do it in the middle of the day when the panel is facing the sun.

I'll have to get a mate to check all that. The panel is a ridged one.
Here's the label.

for quick check I would used any car headlights globe
/ the ones with half system faulty is ok too /
connect before regulator . not full sun need it,
should lit nicely , the same test after reg.
/ for smaller panels - brake or any smaller wattage globes are ok./
never use any LED or low current globes, just incandescent ones.

For $9.99 you can get a multi-meter from Jaycar. Testing the panel then is a simple simple matter as this young lady demonstrates.



VERY useful to have one on board.

Look like cracks in the tempered glass, did you step on it or has it been under a load to flex it and cause the glass to crack ? Panel would still work with a cracked glass , at least until further damage to layers beneath the glass occur.

The 9.99$ Jaycar thingy is useless for anything over 10amps!
Yes, you could test a small panel with it but a 180- 200w panel would fry the cheapy!

Don't buy cheap stuff, it is going to bite you later!
If you buy something, buy quality with plenty of reserve to expand later on.

The 9.99$ Jaycar thingy is useless for anything over 10amps!
Yes, you could test a small panel with it but a 180- 200w panel would fry the cheapy!
The panels put out an approx. average of 6% of the wattage of the same. (40w panel ISC approx 6%=2.4Amp ok. BUT 200w panel ISC 6%= 13Amp ! Cheap voltmeter fried!)

Don't buy cheap stuff, it is going to bite you later!
If you buy something, buy quality with plenty of reserve to expand later on.

Select to expand quote

Harb said..
Look like cracks in the tempered glass, did you step on it or has it been under a load to flex it and cause the glass to crack ? Panel would still work with a cracked glass , at least until further damage to layers beneath the glass occur.

No they are not cracks, they are under the glass on the panel. I'm getting my electrical mate over next Monday/Tuesday so should know something next week.

Select to expand quote

sirgallivant said..
The 9.99$ Jaycar thingy is useless for anything over 10amps!
Yes, you could test a small panel with it but a 180- 200w panel would fry the cheapy!
The panels put out an approx. average of 6% of the wattage of the same. (40w panel ISC approx 6%=2.4Amp ok. BUT 200w panel ISC 6%= 13Amp ! Cheap voltmeter fried!)

Don't buy cheap stuff, it is going to bite you later!
If you buy something, buy quality with plenty of reserve to expand later on.

very few handheld multimeters will handle more than 10A DC. for regularly measuring higher currents, it is more common to use a clamp meter, which doesn't require the meter to be in series with the circuit being measured.

to measure higher currents than your garden variety multimeter will cope with, you can use a power resistor or shunt instead:

electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/124276/measuring-current-around-20-amps

Select to expand quote

fishmonkey said..

sirgallivant said..
The 9.99$ Jaycar thingy is useless for anything over 10amps!
Yes, you could test a small panel with it but a 180- 200w panel would fry the cheapy!
The panels put out an approx. average of 6% of the wattage of the same. (40w panel ISC approx 6%=2.4Amp ok. BUT 200w panel ISC 6%= 13Amp ! Cheap voltmeter fried!)

Don't buy cheap stuff, it is going to bite you later!
If you buy something, buy quality with plenty of reserve to expand later on.

very few handheld multimeters will handle more than 10A DC. for regularly measuring higher currents, it is more common to use a clamp meter, which doesn't require the meter to be in series with the circuit being measured.

to measure higher currents than your garden variety multimeter will cope with, you can use a power resistor or shunt instead:

electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/124276/measuring-current-around-20-amps

No worries here as my mate has high end gear

Panel says 100w 19v which equates to the 5.27amps. Easily measurable by a el cheapo multi meter. I have done it many times on panels like that.

What is the max system voltage 1000w?

Perhaps I have missed something. Ready to be corrected.

useless for users
Note: The specifications are obtained under the Standard Test Conditions (STC): 1000W/m2 solar irradiance, AM1.5, Cell Temperature 25?C.
to see 12v globe lit is the best is test for not electrical individuals

Well I've had my expert onboard and he found that the solar panel is OK and the remaining house battery is OK.

But, we found that the inline fuse from the solar regulator to the starter battery was very hot!
Switched to that battery and tried to start the diesel .... absolutely dead

So problem solved, I'm up for a new set of batteries, already lost one of the house batteries, [but that's another story]
so will replace all of them and move the surviving house battery to the caravan.

Thanks for for all your help fellows.

I'd normally test the voltage, in which case the 10A current measuring limit is irrelevant.

Cheers

Bristol