check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar Canegrowers rearview170 Cobb Grill Skid Row Recovery Gear Caravan Industry Association of Australia
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Is my solar panel working


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 372
Date:
Is my solar panel working


Can somebody please tell me how to check if a solar panel is working and/or how much it is producing using a multi meter?



__________________


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2339
Date:

gave you an answer tezza in the main page I think it was, hunt that up or if you cant find it let me know
cheers
blaze

__________________
http://blaze-therese.blogspot.com/


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1466
Date:

Solar  6.JPGSet multi meter to Amps scale & fit in series with the positive lead going to the battery from the solar regulator. It should show some sort of current going into the battery.



__________________
D.L.Bishop


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 460
Date:

Good photo Daryl, did you hard wire your MM. for use on the amps . Never thought of that, much easer with plugs like that.
Another project for my MM..

__________________

Land Rover Discovery Chipped TD5 Manual ,Air Springs, Anti Sway. T.C.
Auto level. Van, Roadstar 21.6 Voyager 4000 all sola powered.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1466
Date:

Yes its hard wired as the leads are too light to carry 10A (This meter is not to be used on mains voltage as there would be a risk of shock) It was a $5 multimeter from Cheap as chips, i bought 4 of them at the time & acuracy is comarable to my expensive multimeter.



__________________
D.L.Bishop


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1531
Date:

I see the anologue voltmeter has been rescaled too. I used to do that when building test equipment too. We used to get stacks of old meter movements and when we needed one to fit to a project, just replace the shunt resistor with a different sized one then cal it and print up a new face card.



__________________


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1466
Date:

Got the analogue meter from a scrap yard for free. It was a 250Amp meter from a telephone exchange battery charger. Amazing whats thrown out these days.



__________________
D.L.Bishop


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4713
Date:

DeBe, did that meter come with its external shunt or is it a type with very heavy terminals on the back?

__________________

PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1466
Date:

Hi Peter, it had an external shunt which unfortunately went to scrap. I wasnt quick enough!



__________________
D.L.Bishop
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook