Volt / Amp meter (or whatever) ?!!

[JohnI.Stephen]

I am now the proud owner of a 43watt solar panel where the charge regulator glows green even when in dim light - let alone in direct sunslight ! What I would like to know is how can I tell exactly how much charge is being generated to the battery?

Thanks !

John

 

[Bazz1]

Use a volt meter. Bazz.

 

[rayc]

john, to check the actual charge you will need an amp meter. You will need to insert it in the +ve lead from the panel. Make sure the connections are sound. Make sure the wires are adequate size for the current and that they do not cause a large volts drop if you remote the meter some way away. If you use a digital one and it shows a negative value swop the leads to the meter and it will show positive.

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Many thanks for this; I think that B&Q are selling a device for around

 

[rob_jax]

John,

You can measure both the panel voltage and the current.

Just make sure you measure the voltage when the panel is doing real work - like charging a battery - because the output voltage can be 50% higher than expected under "no-load" conditions

Then check the current as recommended by Ray. Read the multi-meter manual because you will need to change the position of the probe wires on the meter.

Robert

 

[Rubix]

John,

Most important thing to remember, measure voltage in parallel, whereas current (not raisin) is measured in series with.

If you have the meter connected to measure current and then you place the meter leads "accross" the battery, you will be shorting the battery out and "pop" goes the fuse in the meter.

As rob_jax says, if you are unsure read the meter manual.