How To Test Solar Panel Regulator

The blue line also shows power output in watts vertical axis right.

How to test solar panel regulator.

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. Solar panel voltage controller input controller output and battery voltage. Make sure that the alligator clips are in the right port to find the.

To test solar panel amperage output put your solar panel in direct sunlight set your multi meter to the dc amps setting. Set the meter to above 200 vcd to ensure you get the most accurate reading possible. Testing the voltage simply touch the solar panel leads with the multi meter probes matching their corresponding polarity red to red black to black. Touch the multi meter s red positive lead to your solar panel s positive wire.

Solar current should be constant. Panel disconnected from the controller. Solar panel open circuit voltage i e. Disconnect the positive cable between the battery and the panel.

Set the multimeter to 10 amps. That being done connect the solar panel to the controller and also the controller to the solar batteries. To ensure that you don t blow your device s fuse set the maximum amperage sensitivity to well above your expected reading. Then touch the multi meter s black negative lead to your solar panel s negative wire.

Measure the operating current by connecting the ve from the multimeter to the positive. I recorded current three times during testing and calculated the average. To test the regulator. 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.

Some exceptions may apply based on panel type. Re connect the solar panel directly to the battery without the regulator. 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. 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.

Set the measurements of the multimeter to dc amps. Voltage drops in the negative line. Disconnect the positive cable that is.