How to Test Solar Panels!

Great video, very helpful.

Thanks for the nice demonstration.....

I have a vitoman 220 watt solar, I had it in full sun at 22c and the input was 150 watts. Is that normal? Should it be higher? Does anyone know?

Thanks, i learnt something new

Thank you, very well made and helpful

Can I connect the positive and negative solar panels ends together and use my DC clamp meter to read amperage?

If someone were looking how to lower wattage of solar panels just cover part of its surface, 200w to 180w, 10% of the panel *But it will probably be lower anyway, depends on environment.

amazing, thanks!

Great straight forward, understandable and clear explanation. Thanks Alex.

Hello, great information. I have two leisure batteries 12V 130AH 130 AH, what MPPT size would i need please?

Also instead of using a DC meter you could Multiply the voltage by the amps and that’s usally the wattage

Thanks. I have similar renogy panel to replace a cheap one on the van. Testing before fitting I find good voc over 24v,but I can't find a current, zero. Checked as you did and also with meter in series connected to controller. Still zero?

I'm non binary, is the test different for special people like me? If panel doesn't work? It's Trump's fault.

SOLAR TRICKLE CHARGER: Does anyone know how you check to see if they are working? Some have LED some don't have. I have 2 voltmeters (DC etc), but I get no reading no matter how I tried. I know voltmeter should do it...But how ?
I have many batteries, lawnmower, bike, RV, Portable Solar Generator, spare batteries, cars etc.
PLEASE HELP

My solar panels measure overload while testing for voltage at peak sunlight

Thank you for making this video. I have two 8 year old 250 watt panels on my RV and they are only putting out about 7 amps which is about half of what they used to produce. The problems are they are securely mounted on the roof and the wiring is underneath the panels so testing them individually will not be easy. Even getting on the roof isn't as easy as it was 8 years ago.

Is it possible for a panel to short out under full sun? My panel on the RV started to give output only early morning & dropped to 0.0 v out when the sun got higher. This was measured at the MC4 terminals on the panel itself. 4 year old flexible 100w panel

But what is the math to determine if I my plans are any good? Thx

get a hair cut, but thanks

Hey AssHol, you never said how to get your Multimeter to do DC Amps.

I recently bought a van that came with 2 different panels. I’m in the process of pulling everything out and testing but wanted to know which setup would be better? Parallel or series? What is more important when connecting an inverter?

My 400 watts Trina one year old is degraded. VOC is OK, but ISC is half to the label. I am disappointed, can you help me.

Excellent, beneficial presentation .

Good job!!!

I assume if you just plug in the controller side MC4 connectors together to basically short the panel like you do with the amp setting on the multimeter, then you'll get the maximum power. Leaving it plugged into the controller will just tell you what the panel is making interfaced to the charge controller which is not necessarily the maximum.

Get a mans haircut...Freaking 3 dollar bill

Is it safe to say that if the volts and amps are within the correct range on the VOM that the power in watts should also be within the acceptable range?
FWIW: The linked power meter with MC4 connectors is no longer available on Amazon but I found it direct from PowerWerx. Good video - thanks!

Can I just short the ends of the watt meter? Since I'm waiting for my charge controller and batteries.

Ja, um die Leistung eines Solarpanels zu messen, ist es üblich, es an eine Batterie anzuschließen und den durch den Stromkreis fließenden Strom (Ampere) zu messen. Hier sind einige Schritte und Überlegungen, um es richtig zu machen:

1. **Solarpanel-Anschluss**: Schließen Sie das Solarpanel an eine geeignete Batterie an, um sicherzustellen, dass die erzeugte Energie gespeichert wird. Achten Sie auf die richtige Polarität (Plus an Plus und Minus an Minus).

2. **Verwenden eines Multimeters**: Um die fließenden Ampere zu messen, können Sie ein Multimeter verwenden, das auf den Strommessmodus (Ampere) eingestellt ist. Sie müssen das Multimeter in Reihe mit dem Stromkreis anschließen, das heißt, eines der Kabel, das zum Batteriepol führt, muss durch das Multimeter verlaufen.

3. **Messungen**: Wenn alles richtig angeschlossen ist, setzen Sie das Solarpanel direktem Sonnenlicht aus und beobachten Sie den Messwert auf dem Multimeter. Dadurch erhalten Sie eine Vorstellung davon, wie viele Ampere das Panel unter den jeweiligen Bedingungen erzeugt.

4. **Testbedingungen**: Es ist hilfreich, Messungen unter verschiedenen Bedingungen (z. B. zu unterschiedlichen Tageszeiten oder bei unterschiedlichen Lichtverhältnissen) durchzuführen, um eine umfassendere Leistung des Panels zu erhalten.

5. **Leistungsberechnung**: Wenn Sie die vom Solarpanel erzeugte Leistung in Watt berechnen möchten, können Sie die gemessene Amperezahl mit der Ausgangsspannung des Panels (die Sie auch mit einem Multimeter messen können) multiplizieren.

So bekommen Sie einen guten Eindruck von der Leistungsfähigkeit und Effizienz Ihrer Solaranlage. Wenn Sie weitere Einzelheiten zu einem bestimmten Schritt oder zur Interpretation der Ergebnisse benötigen, lassen Sie es mich wissen!


Para medir el rendimiento de un a solar.

Sie liegen falsch. Um die Leistung eines Solarpanels zu messen, schließen Sie es an eine Batterie an und verwenden Sie ein Multimeter, um den Strom (Ampere) in Reihe mit dem Stromkreis zu messen. Achten Sie auf korrekte Anschlüsse und setzen Sie das Panel direktem Sonnenlicht aus. Führen Sie Messungen unter verschiedenen Bedingungen durch, um eine umfassendere Leistung zu erhalten. Multiplizieren Sie die gemessene Amperezahl mit der Panelspannung, um die Wattzahl zu berechnen. Dies hilft Ihnen, die Effizienz Ihrer Solaranlage zu beurteilen.

I had a solar panel that when i first got it showed voltage, then i checked again, zero volts. Turns out a diode 10A10 was shorted. Had to clip a lead off one of the legs and the voltage was 23 volts from wire to wire. Replaced the diode and eveeything works

What did I learn from this... make a set of test leads. Trying to manipulate the probes while moving the panel around doesn't look like fun.

Was actually really helpful thanks i dont have any data on my pannels wanted to work out what they were before i get a inverter so thanks 👍👍👍👍

aren't you not suppose to test a live resistance check?

Hello sir...I have a solar AC motor working on solar panel.....can I run this same motor on generator.
Please reply

perfect - thanks

I have an old 140w mono panel that is now over 10 years old the reads 19v but under load it drops to 9v . I need to see if is the diode but haven't tried yet.

Excellent video. You did a great job of explaining how to do this. I’ll be using these methods as I acquire more used panels. Does your Clamp meter measure both AC & DC Current? I want to buy one that does both so I can measure the current around my Batteries and Inverter.

Thanks very much bro

can we used the multimeter to measure the flexible solar panel

I have a 100w solar panel I have it hooked up to a fence charger thru one of them boxes like you had the blue one. Also have a 12 volt car battery to hold backup power. It worked very well in the beginning but it has stopped working right. The battery always stays down and does not charge. Battery and all connections have been checked. What should I do

My friend has Solar and it does not work as good as it did. What could be wrong please?? It’s 10 years old.

Very helpful video. Thank you. Subbed. Why will the panels not power up a 12 volt light or tiny dc motor direct from the panel? Why must there be a battery?

watts = volts x amps

Superb !!! Straight to the point, no useless music, basic electronics terms, perfect video thank you for sharing your wisdom !!!

Thank you for your great information. I am currently on a boat with solar electrics. For some reason I've been having trouble with charging the batterias. I am getting sorted to see if i can use your information to find what's wrong with my electrics. Fingers crossed. Thank you

The information paper on the back is gone from my panel. But there is a bar code and the brand. Is there a way to get the information on the recommended output of the panel

I guy want to give me a whole unit off his house because of new roof. Can I install it for minimal cost? It coulde be 10 years old, is it worth it?