Solar Panel Identification

Pam_Chris · Veteran Member

Solar Panel Identification

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome Pam and Chris, enjoy here and out in the playground.

Going by those dimensions it sounds like a 120w Solar Panel. There should be a label on the rear giving all the info you want. You could also take a pic and go visit a Jacar store as they will have all the info as well.

There are plenty of knowledgable people about this subject on the forum so sit back and enjoy all the replies you get then just pick the one/s you will take notice of.

Don't forget to check out all the sections of the forum as well and the front page, all good.

bill12 · Guru

Get your self a multimeter, and put the display on amps. Disconnect the positive terminal between the panel and the battery.On a 120 w panel,It should show about 7 or 8 amps indiect sunlight. Make sure you have a fuse in the multimeter as you will blow it up , otherwise. Older and newer panels have different outputs, and this will tell you what it makes.I have an volt meter fitted in my system, and it shows 14v during the day and 12.7v at night, depending on what I am running. I hope this helps. Bill

oldtrack123 · Guru

HI Chris

If you have a multi meter

First disconnect the panel from the battery , either at the regulator input or output

Set the meter to DC volts ^ measure the voltage between the PANEL pos & neg terminals with the panel facing DIRECTLY into bright sun

You should get a voltage reading around 21V for a nominal 12V panel

Then do a current test with the panel still fac,ing direct into BRIGHT sun set the multimeter to DCAmps [at least the 10A scale]w

Now connect the meter pos to the panel pos & meter neg to panel neg

multiply the Amp reading you get by 17 or 18 will give you the approx PANEL wattage

if the sun is not bright or the panels are not facing directly into the sun, the readings will be incorrect

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Sunday 1st of September 2013 11:43:33 PM

VKPORTABLE · Senior Member

Amps has to be measured in line with the circuit.

oldtrack123 · Guru

HI

Short circuit amps are what we are concerned about in determing the Solar panel rating

THAT is checked by connecting a suitable rated ampmeter DIRECTLY across the PANEL TERMINALS.,

WITH THE LOAD DISCONNECTED!!!

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 07:23:43 PM

Pam_Chris · Veteran Member

Thanks All

Up to now I've been short on time to do anything about testing the circuits but now I have a bit of time the weather is going bad so as soon as everything comes together I'll run the checks and let you the out come.

Once again thanks All

Chris