How To Test Solar Panel Regulator
That being done connect the solar panel to the controller and also the controller to the solar batteries.
How to test solar panel regulator. To test the regulator. In doing so the battery pulls the solar panel down to its voltage let s take a typical 12 5 volts for the battery voltage. Make sure that the alligator clips are in the right port to find the. Panel disconnected from the controller.
The diagram shows a typical iv curve for a 60w solar panel which plots the behaviour of its voltage horizontal axis and current vertical axis left. Disconnect the positive cable that is. Re connect the solar panel directly to the battery without the regulator. Set the meter to above 200 vcd to ensure you get the most accurate reading possible.
Measure the operating current by connecting the ve from the multimeter to the positive. Touch the multi meter s red positive lead to your solar panel s positive wire. Measure operating current as described above. You will want to ensure that you place the positive to positive and negative to negative when attaching your multimeter to the connection on the back of your solar panel.
To ensure that you don t blow your device s fuse set the maximum amperage sensitivity to well above your expected reading. I recorded current three times during testing and calculated the average. Testing solar panels for volts to test solar panel voltage output put your solar panel in direct sunlight set your multi meter to the volts setting and. Disconnect the positive cable between the battery and the panel.
Solar panel voltage controller input controller output and battery voltage. To test solar panel amperage output put your solar panel in direct sunlight set your multi meter to the dc amps setting. Voltage drops in the negative line. Solar panel open circuit voltage i e.
Open circuit voltage can vary depending on your solar panel but the readings we are usually looking for are in the range of 15 to 23v. Some exceptions may apply based on panel type. Set the multimeter to 10 amps. Solar current should be constant.
Testing the voltage simply touch the solar panel leads with the multi meter probes matching their corresponding polarity red to red black to black. The blue line also shows power output in watts vertical axis right. As most solar panels are 12 volts the solar panel test methods are basically the same.