Getting back to solar panels.
Well it was easy enough to get the replacement. In the meantime whilst waiting for it to arrive ........
I book the installer to fit the two panels. By this time no replacement panel had arrived. So I get the one I had fitted. A slight problem with the regulator which was delivered - it is positive ground. Oh dear. I get that sorted with the manufacturer and we manage to hook up the fridge directly through it.
Apparently so long as the equiptment is not negative ground its ok.
Well less see what this 200 Watt panel can do. So the dingo has plenty of readings which it took a while to work out. days really. The one thing I notice is the amp reading seems to low always.
I am thinking I should get 8 to 11 amps but I was seeing 4 to 5 at the most over the best days. The fridge was drawing 5 to 7amps. This was not ok.
Image of solar panel specs.
Which lead me to do some testing on the newly arrived panel.
Isc =
Test showed this maximum current reading. But here is the hammer. The Voc test was 47 Amp. Which means?
Well it was not as advertised 12V but 24V. So what options do we have.
1. Change the regulator to an MTTP
2. System to 24V
3. Return panels.
4. Rewiring to 12V
1. would only bring another 10% power
2. Impossible as all equiptment was 12V
3. Meant uninstalling and paying for return postage.
4. Best option but I will show you why it did not work.
I received an image from seller. Showing how to rewire.
Image panel terminal box rewiring from seller.
Multi meter tests proved that this method was inadequate. All it did was block out 1/2 the panels power. The reading of Voc was 1/2 but the current remained the same, no difference. So basically now that large panel would be a 90 watt panel.
Diodes must be moved. With the help of forum members we took a deeper look into it.
Image: Plan - terminal solar panel diodes must be moved.
But then a few comments in new posts and my tests proved that the panel was split into 3 sections and no method could work at all. This was a 24 Volt grid panel.
So my only option was to uninstall and return both panels back. You might think I would be able to replace them right? But it gets worse...... to be continued.