Solar Panel Kaput

[s2bear]

Tell me what I already know.
Full sunshine and 9.7v measured at the panel terminals.

Time for a new one?


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[Perfectos]

Tell me what I already know.
Full sunshine and 9.7v measured at the panel terminals.

Time for a new one?


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Hi S2Bear
sorry to hear of the possibility of a failed Solar panel,

i remember your posts regarding the very slick looking mount you had made, which created a lot of interest from others.
Do you think the potential failure may be as a result of the solid mounting plate (heat / de lamination of backing etc) or an issue with the quality of the panel itself ?

 

[s2bear]

Hi there!
I think maybe the panel has failed because I moved it from one Cali to another, it had been held / baked in a mild ‘arc’ shape for 3 years and when I undid the mountings it flattened out a bit (2 cm?) before it was bolted to the new roof - maybe it was that but it worked for a couple of days after I moved it then it just registered a big fat zero.

Regarding the mounting plate - it’s aluminium which has pretty good thermal conductivity (thinking of air cooled radiators etc) so I’m not sure it’s that but I may remodel it with slots routed out of the underside anyway, before I mount another. It was all fine until I moved it. Never mind - it is what it is - back to the drawing board!


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[s2bear]

Then this overcast Sunday morning this happens:

YESTERDAY it registered zero anything when I looked, registered as OFF but battery voltage wasn’t high enough to justify that and given the previous test of 9.x volts at the panel socket in bright sunshine - I’m miffed.

The ONLY thing if done in between then and now was to hook up on drive for 24 Hours and yesterday I popped the panel diode cover off to have a look (but it was filled with white silicone so I put it straight back on)

Confused now.

[edit] the van van hasn’t moved in this observation time & NOTHING is turned ON, so there should be minimal drain.

Previously registered BATTERY 12.49v / panel 0 watts/ Charging OFF / direct, bright sun

Today registered BATTERY 13.19v / panel 10 watts/ Charging BULK / overcast




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[s2bear]

I give up….

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[s2bear]

I’ve got my very own thread!

New panel arrived, put the wires to the terminals and straight from zero to 65w / 19v. Bingo.

Back to Netflix. No chillin.


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[kave]

I have had som issues as well, three failed panels in three years. Any recommendations on where to find a suitable size? Most suitable for campers are way too thick.