<span class="highlight">solar</span> <span class="highlight">panel</span>
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 at 22:22
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phillyg
Hi, I scored a free
solar panel as it was found in a skip bin. I have put my meter across the terminals and reads between7-10vtdc. Do i need to do anything else to it or can i just hook it up to my battery?
Reply By: Member - Barry H (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 at 22:54
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 at 22:54
Phillyg,
Assuming the
panel works OK all you would probably need is a regulator to prevent the charge from "cooking" your battery.
Good pick up, if it works.
Regards
Barry H
AnswerID:
474616
Reply By: Athol W - Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 at 23:06
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 at 23:06
phillyg
I presume you are measuring this voltage as an open circuit condition, and if so a 'normally' 12 volt
solar panel in good sunlight should have an open circuit voltage of around 17 volts dc. Any less and you have an anchor.
Regards
Athol
AnswerID:
474619
Reply By: phillyg - Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 00:10
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 00:10
yeh ok i will try to invetigate a regulator. it was in arvo sun at bout 6:45pm so wasnt good light. also how woud i determine which is negative and positive?
AnswerID:
474626
Follow Up By: V8 Troopie - Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 01:50
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 01:50
The meter you connected to the
panel will tell you the polarity.
If its a digital meter there will be a -(minus) sign in front if the meter &
panel lead polarity is reversed.
If its an analog meter the pointer will try to go backwards - not good for it ;-)
FollowupID:
749583
Reply By: Member - John and Val - Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 08:18
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 08:18
How big is it? Unless it's more than about a square foot I wouldn't bother with it. Depends what you want to do with it, but most of us here think 12 volt battery charging. To do that anything less than about half a square metre isn't much help.
Suggest measure the voltage between the terminals in full sunlight with nothing except the meter connected. Then measure the current with the meter connected to the terminals - this is short circuit current. Multiply the voltage reading by the short circuit current reading. The
panel's maximum power will be about 3/4 of that result.
As already said, you will need some kind of controller if it's big enough to be useful.
Cheers
John | J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
Lifetime Member
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AnswerID:
474635
Follow Up By: phillyg - Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 00:12
Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 00:12
great thanks for all the info, i think it is a kyrocera and in full sunlight it puts out 10vt, it has dirt all over it havent had time to clean it, (i might have to change the batteries in my digital meter) would being dirty affect the perfomance too? the physical size of it is about half a square meter, i have a batery to run stuff and plan to charge it with it, 10vt is too low, am i able to step it up somehow?
FollowupID:
749742
Follow Up By: LeighW - Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 07:51
Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 07:51
It is either a 6V
panel or a dud, in either case no good for your car.
Cheers
LeighW
FollowupID:
749749
Follow Up By: phillyg - Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 22:56
Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 22:56
ok so if it is a dud as im new into all this if i were to buy new what is a good amperage
panel?
FollowupID:
749806
Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Saturday, Jan 14, 2012 at 16:41
Saturday, Jan 14, 2012 at 16:41
Suggest clean the
panel,
check your meter is ok and take those 2 measurements I mentioned. How many individual cells in the array? I'd expect about 18 (or 36) for a 12V
panel. If you've got that many cells and they are producing less than 20 volts in full sunlight when unloaded, I'd return it to where you got it!
Cheers
John | J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
Lifetime Member
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FollowupID:
749876
Reply By: Member - Noldi (WA) - Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 13:25
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 13:25
Hi Phill
I am in no way an expert, however I would not go to the expence of a regulator until your sure the
panel works.
I agree with Athol, if your trying to charge a 12 v battery then a
panel thats putting out 7-10 volts won't do it.
Not trying to rain on your parade
Rgds
AnswerID:
474662
Follow Up By: Member - Niss42 - Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 13:48
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 at 13:48
Phillyg,
There is a reason it was in a skip (7 - 10 v) !
Barry
FollowupID:
749617
Reply By: LeighW - Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 07:52
Friday, Jan 13, 2012 at 07:52
It is either a 6V
panel or a dud, in either case no good for your car.
Cheers
LeighW
AnswerID:
474789
Reply By: phillyg - Monday, Jan 16, 2012 at 19:18
Monday, Jan 16, 2012 at 19:18
KYOCERA KC120-1 120 watts in a single
solar panel reduces installation cost and time. Includes a bypass diode across every eighteen series cells. Operating Voltage 16.9 Volts. Maximum power current is a whopping 7.10 amps ! Dimensions 56.1" X 25.7" X 1.4" Weight 32 LBS.
found this info on this
panel that i found
it puts out 10vt so i guess it is stuffed?
AnswerID:
475112