Solar power
Submitted: Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 16:12
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Steve
I have a multimeter to check the battery voltage. Even I can cope with that - but how do I measure the current coming from the solar panel?
Reply By: Russel & Mary - Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 16:37
Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 16:37
Steve, if your multi meter has a DC current setting of 10A use this inline from your panel, otherwise get a panel meter from Dick Smiths for about $25 and wire it inline on the positive lead. We've got one mounted in a cheap plastic box that you can plug into the wiring at the back of the panel and adjust the solar panel angle for the best sun. eg 3.5A......3.7A.....3.5A OK so 3.7A is as good as it gets today.Rus.
AnswerID:
136926
Reply By: myfourby - Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 22:18
Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 at 22:18
If you want to temporarily measure the current (ie - not have a permanent meter setup) you can also use a clamp meter - which clamps over the cable (either the positive or negative - but not both) going to your panels. This will also give you a quick indication of the current being transferred without having to put an amp meter inline.
I have a clamp/multimeter combined unit (I think it was from jaycar) that is great for also measuring current draw from anything AC or DC as
well as being a handy multimeter for measuring voltages and continuity.
-myfourby
AnswerID:
136960
Follow Up By: V8troopie - Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 01:05
Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 01:05
Many clamp meters normally work for AC current only, the DC ones were quite expensive last I looked them up. Perhaps you found an exception.
An ordinary amp meter is no real drama if one is messing about with a panel that's not intalled yet.
It IS handy to have a permanent Amp meter installed in the circuit, MUCH more useful than a Voltmeter, to check just how much juice the panel is feeding into the battery at any instant.
Klaus
FollowupID:
390705
Follow Up By: myfourby - Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 17:21
Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 17:21
Couldn't agree more V9troopie.
This is the meter I have from Jaycar:
AC/DC Current Clamp Meter
which is selling for around $139.95 - not the cheapest of meters - but - I've lost count of the number of times I've used the clamp meter - its great.
-myfourby
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390759
Reply By: Alloy c/t - Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 10:47
Sunday, Oct 30, 2005 at 10:47
Steve ,best is get a Steca solar regulator , measures panel volts to batt + amps generated + amps to bat +amps used / state of charge ect ect ,,costs about the price of a "good battery"
AnswerID:
136985