Low solar output

[prog99]

Any ideas where to check with this? From the Victron graphs I was getting up to 40 watts from a 100 watt panel despite it only being early March.
Roll on A month and despite it being blazing sunshine output it disappointing. I snapped these shots yesterday, today’s is just as bad despite it being another bluebird day.

Lensun 100w folding panel into a Victron 75/100 mppt and then into the 12v in the cab.
I’m convinced a panel is duff as casting a shadow over 2 of them drops the output but the 3rd one has no effect whether it’s covered or not. It’ll be a pita to have to send back.

thanks, Mike,

 

[Dellmassive]

looks like the battery is charged to me?

in which case you will only get a low watts readout.

the power "shown" is the power "drawn", - not the power "available"

so to get a bigger number ( when the sun is out) you need to turn everything ON, so you drop the battery voltage and the charger kicks in properly.

or,

run the battery down to 50% or 12.0v . . . . . then connect the solar.

retest as above and get back to us.

more info here:



*****************************************************

SOLAR:

• Solar Pwm & Mppt Controllers - How I Done It -
• Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -
• What Solar Panel & Controller? - How We Done It -
• Solar Panel Cutting Hole In Roof !!! - How We Done It -
• 300w Plus Solar Club -- How I Done It --
• Solar Sheds & Other Non-t6 Solar Projects - How We Done It -

*****************************************************

 

[prog99]

Thought that but here’s the bm2 output from yesterday.

 

[prog99]

And today (spikes are the dc-dc charger kicking in)

 

[Dellmassive]

that plot would imply low solar, cloud cover, shaded panel - on panel.

what was the MPPT charge profile set to?

 

[Dellmassive]

got some pics of the setup?

 

[prog99]

that plot would imply low solar, cloud cover, shaded panel - on panel.

what was the MPPT charge profile set to?

You'd think so as it looks like a graph the other day when it was overcast but it was wall to wall sunshine all day and nothing can cast a shadow on it at this time of year.
MPPT is at the defaults.
I'll get some photos on thursday, real life stuff to do tomorrow away from the van.

Its the same panel as the one shown here and its more like what I was hoping for.

https://www.t6forum.com/threads/guide-mobile-solar-panels-how-i-did-it.13225/post-374689

 

[prog99]

I've attached a few files, nothing fancy. Did notice the wiring looks a bit suspect on the 12v output but it seems solid.
Output definitely only drops though if I put 2 of the 3 panels in the shade but even then the overall output from them still seems low. It was 12w just now.
I've a side conversation with lenses but thats proving a bit difficult as english isn't their 1st language.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

Battery connections certainly need making again - only 1/2 the conductors appear to be present. Looks like a rat chewed the ends to bare the wire!

 

[prog99]

Yes I hadn’t noticed that until I took the photo. Bit lacking in tools at the moment due to house move but I might be able to conjure something up.

 

[Dellmassive]

I was going to suggest swapping the 12v plug for a direct conections to the battery for a week or so.

Just to iron out any issue with the 12v plug and socket setup.

Then repost some screen shots to compair.

Again the output will depend on what its connected to.... a charged battery will show a few watts...

A flat battery will show max watts available.

.

 

[Salty Spuds]

I had a similar problem with a previous solar panel. No matter how sunny or how much demand, it was only outputting 1/2 it’s rated capacity. It turned out that the panel consisted of 2 arrays wired internally in parallel. One array had failed, so I was getting the output voltage but only half the current. I had to swap the panel.

 

[prog99]

Well that was interesting, managed to get a few tools this evening and the battery leads were actually better than they looked but I sorted them out anyway.

However the +ve from the solar was actually only hanging on by about a 1/4 of its capacity so thats been chopped and stripped and reconnected.
Of course the sun has gone down and I'm away from the van for a few days so wont know if that was the issue.

Still suspicious about the panel though

 

[Dellmassive]

to test the panel you just need a multi-meter . .

disconnect it from the MPPT.

- connect meter in volts mode for the VOC.

- then connect meter in AMPs mode for ISC.

you obviously need a strong mid summers day to get the rated output. (test conditions of 1000w / sq ft or something like that)

edit: Values at standard test conditions: Air Mass - AM1.5, Irradiance - 1000W/m2, Cell Temperature - 25°C


HERE IS SOME OF MINE FROM BEFORE . . . from a cold cloudy winters day. get a good voltage, but no current.

https://www.t6forum.com/threads/guide-mobile-solar-panels-how-i-did-it.13225/post-362847

.





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+++

Clamp Meters

Any recommendations for clamp meters? They have been mentioned in a few threads but I can’t find suggested products. Suitable for small mA measurements with dc in the van and elsewhere and also if possible up to mains ac. I’m not sure how much I need to spend for a tolerably decent one with the...

www.t6forum.com

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edit:


so for the 3x panel 100w lensun you should get this . . . .




Lensun ETFE 100W 12V Foldable Flexible Solar Panel with MC4 Connector, Portable Foldable Ultralight only 3.2kgs/ 7 lbs!!!

Lensun ETFE 100W 12V Foldable Flexible Solar Panel with standard Connector, Portable Foldable Ultralight only 3.2kgs/ 7 lbs!!!

Lensun 100W Solar Charge Power Kit, Foldable Portable Flexible Solar Panel for Camping Van, Caravan, Motorhomes and RVs

www.lensunsolar.com

Values at standard test conditions: Air Mass - AM1.5, Irradiance - 1000W/m2, Cell Temperature - 25°C


Item Specifications:

Model: LS-100FD-MC4
Rated Power Output: 100W
Optimum Operating Voltage [Vmp]: 18V
Optimum Operating Current [Imp]: 5.56A
Open Circuit Voltage [Voc]: 21.24V
Short Circuit Current [Isc]: 6.11A
Cell Technology: Monocrystalline Solar Cells
Solar Cells Efficiency：21%
Production Tolerance: +3%
Output Type: Solar Cables, Solar Controller
Dimensions(unfolded): 1340 x 540 x 6 mm/52.8 x 21.3 x 0.24 inch
Dimensions(folded): 550 x 450 x 60 mm/ 21.7 x 17.7 x 2.3 inch
Net. Weight: 3.5 kgs/7.7 lbs
All Technical data at standard test condition AM=1.5, E=1000W/mm, Tc=25℃

 

[prog99]

Sorry for the tardy response. House move means I am not sure where the clamp meter is! Will know for sure on Saturday.
Managed to check through all the wiring though and no change, also hooked up direct to the battery as well with no change.
Oddly the victron decided it would go into float mode this afternoon for no apparent reason, had to disconnect and reconnect it to persuade it to start charging again.
Hopefullly though getting a loan of a known working panel tomorrow so should be able to then do a bit more fault finding,

 

[prog99]

It’s the panel, plugged dads 100w one in just now and boom.
Now to see what the lensun returns are like.

 

[Mick]

It’s the panel, plugged dads 100w one in just now and boom.
Now to see what the lensun returns are like.

View attachment 113357

Where did you buy your solar from? I had to change out mine under warranty 2019. the original supplier (who supplied my converter) wanted chapter and verse on testing and outputs before he would move on it. Turns out the internal diodes was shot on one of the internal arrays. He was still a pain in the arse until @travelvolts firmly read him his fortune on a telephone call complete with testing info . Only then did they ship a replacement.



4 weeks messing with them.

 

[prog99]

Hi Mick, mine was direct from lensun. I can see this being a challenging conversation.

I reckon it’s because the folding panel isn’t really that durable when you are shifting it around on a daily basis but we’ll see what they come back with.

Anyway, in the meantime I’ve a more long term replacement coming whilst I deal with them.

 

[prog99]

Spot when the new panel (dokio semi flexible) got deployed Quickly got the van & leisure battery under control even if the weather has been a bit changeable here.

 

[prog99]

And as a postscript to this...
After a bit of friendly email ping ponging with Lensun they sent me a replacement panel. Didn’t even want the faulty one back(which I might dissect at some point)