Solar panel
How do I tell if my solar panel is doing its job? Thank you.
Forum Discussion
Okay, a 2.5' square panel can do some actual good. The little 12" square ones and smaller are basically worthless. Yours is good enough to keep a small change on a a small system but don't expect it to run large items.
You should have a charge controller somewhere, hopefully with a display. If there is no charge controller then it's possible the panel isn't even hooked up. If it is hooked up with no controller it could potentially overcharge your battery.
If there's no display on a controller to show watts, amps, or volts then you need a way to read battery voltage. A portable volt meter will work or you can buy a panel mount voltmeter and install it. If you have greater than about 12.7 volts your are charging the battery. A good charge would be up above 14 volts.
However, voltage is a poor way to tell what is happening. It's possible for a load to be using more power than the solar panel is producing. You could easily have low and dropping battery voltage even thought the panel is producing really well. Getting a good battery gauge with a shunt will show you amps in and out of the battery but again, a load could make it show negative even though the panel is contributing.
This is why a controller, showing actual watts or amps produced is so valuable. If your controller doesn't have a display you may be able to purchase an optional display for it.
Post back if you can find the controller and what model it is.
You should have a charge controller somewhere, hopefully with a display. If there is no charge controller then it's possible the panel isn't even hooked up. If it is hooked up with no controller it could potentially overcharge your battery.
If there's no display on a controller to show watts, amps, or volts then you need a way to read battery voltage. A portable volt meter will work or you can buy a panel mount voltmeter and install it. If you have greater than about 12.7 volts your are charging the battery. A good charge would be up above 14 volts.
However, voltage is a poor way to tell what is happening. It's possible for a load to be using more power than the solar panel is producing. You could easily have low and dropping battery voltage even thought the panel is producing really well. Getting a good battery gauge with a shunt will show you amps in and out of the battery but again, a load could make it show negative even though the panel is contributing.
This is why a controller, showing actual watts or amps produced is so valuable. If your controller doesn't have a display you may be able to purchase an optional display for it.
Post back if you can find the controller and what model it is.
