solar panel

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

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

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?

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

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

It is either a 6V panel or a dud, in either case no good for your car.

Cheers

LeighW

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?