What is the best ( easiest ) method to check if my solar panels are working individually, we have three 80amp panels .
Jaahn said
09:05 AM Apr 29, 2018
Hi mezza
Assuming you have some means of measuring the voltage or current in the solar system, EG the regulator output current, you could try this.
Park it in the full sun with the panels covered with a thick blanket or tarp. Then uncover them individually one at a time. If necessary use up the battery power to bring the voltage down so the regulator is in bulk mode and fully charging.
Jaahn
PS the panels would be 80 Watts not 80 amps each so would be putting out about 4 to 5 amps each most likely.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 29th of April 2018 09:09:32 AM
T1 Terry said
02:47 PM Apr 29, 2018
I second Jaahn's recommended test method. Quick and easy to do, just make sure you or nothing else on the roof is casting a shadow on the panel because this will effect that panels output, that includes clouds. If you are using a battery monitor like the Victron BMV range, make sure you have turned everything off, including the fridge, nothing like that cutting in to throw the test results into turmoil :lol:
T1 Terry
mezza56 said
08:06 AM Apr 30, 2018
Thxs guys , I meant watts sorry, I'll try that .
PeterD said
04:20 PM Apr 30, 2018
If you can get to the individual cables from your panels the best way to test them is to short each panel out with an ammeter. In other words connect your multi meter (switched to the 10 A (or 20 A) range) across each panel.You will not damage the panels doing that (for the same reason as you do not need fuses in the solar panel feed cables.)
If you can not isolate the individual panels then put your ammeter across the panel wires that connect to the regulator. Use the blanket trick described above. Make sure you only have one panel exposed at a time as you may overload the meter with two or more panels exposed.
Tony Bev said
09:09 PM Apr 30, 2018
Another quick and easy way to check, is to find someone with a DC Clamp Amp Meter
I have an el cheapo one, of 40 Amp DC, (obviously not dead accurate but good enough for us laymen)
Just clamp the meter onto the individual wire, (positive or negative), of the solar panel, one at a time
You will be able to see if one panel is reading different
T1 Terry said
03:05 PM May 1, 2018
Tony Bev wrote:
Another quick and easy way to check, is to find someone with a DC Clamp Amp Meter
I have an el cheapo one, of 40 Amp DC, (obviously not dead accurate but good enough for us laymen)
Just clamp the meter onto the individual wire, (positive or negative), of the solar panel, one at a time
You will be able to see if one panel is reading different
The catch with that method is inadequate cabling causing voltage drop. The panel with the longest cable run into undersized cabling will always show the worst output. If you cover all the other panels then only one panel at a time is trying to use the cabling so this problem is removed from possibly causing an incorrect diagnosis.
Something that does tell the story is adding all the individual panel outputs together and then seeing if the output with all panels in the sun matches that. If it doesn't then it is clear indicator the cabling is inadequate.
What is the best ( easiest ) method to check if my solar panels are working individually, we have three 80amp panels .
Hi mezza
Assuming you have some means of measuring the voltage or current in the solar system, EG the regulator output current, you could try this.
Park it in the full sun with the panels covered with a thick blanket or tarp. Then uncover them individually one at a time. If necessary use up the battery power to bring the voltage down so the regulator is in bulk mode and fully charging.
Jaahn
PS the panels would be 80 Watts not 80 amps each so would be putting out about 4 to 5 amps each most likely.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 29th of April 2018 09:09:32 AM
T1 Terry
Thxs guys , I meant watts sorry, I'll try that .
If you can get to the individual cables from your panels the best way to test them is to short each panel out with an ammeter. In other words connect your multi meter (switched to the 10 A (or 20 A) range) across each panel.You will not damage the panels doing that (for the same reason as you do not need fuses in the solar panel feed cables.)
If you can not isolate the individual panels then put your ammeter across the panel wires that connect to the regulator. Use the blanket trick described above. Make sure you only have one panel exposed at a time as you may overload the meter with two or more panels exposed.
I have an el cheapo one, of 40 Amp DC, (obviously not dead accurate but good enough for us laymen)
Just clamp the meter onto the individual wire, (positive or negative), of the solar panel, one at a time
You will be able to see if one panel is reading different
The catch with that method is inadequate cabling causing voltage drop. The panel with the longest cable run into undersized cabling will always show the worst output. If you cover all the other panels then only one panel at a time is trying to use the cabling so this problem is removed from possibly causing an incorrect diagnosis.
Something that does tell the story is adding all the individual panel outputs together and then seeing if the output with all panels in the sun matches that. If it doesn't then it is clear indicator the cabling is inadequate.
T1 Terry