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erasmos · 16-03-2012, 19:20

(its a glass panel) on the initial inspection everything looked totally Germanic intact. Internal wiring non corroded. Thats why I went through installing the panel. I know I have to test them on a proper load, a resistor or a shunt or something like that, I was just wondering if there's some other typically fault of old panels apart from loosing efficiency. How can a controller just shut down and refuse to charge??

Would it be because the 1 amp supplied is trying to overcharge the battery? (no - because the panel doesn't light up a bulb..)..

**hellosailor** · 16-03-2012, 20:14

A controller can be almost anything these days. Many of them are set up so that if the voltage coming in drops below a useful charging voltage (i.e. 12.2?) they will shut down to avoid wasting any power at night. Hook the panel up directly to the battery, add an ammeter, and if the current flows backwards (into the panels) you'll know why the controller shut down instead.

That's probably another way to find the fault in the panel: Hook it up to a good battery in low light, wait a bit, then feel around for a hot spot(s) on the panel. Those will be the points where current is but shouldn't be flowing. Bad cells or bad diodes.

**senormechanico** · 16-03-2012, 20:27

Think of a dead panel this way.
Water pressure measured at a faucet with no flow.. 100 psi.
Turn on the water, drip drip, drip.
Check the pipes, totally corroded and full of mineral deposits.

The drip, drip, drip was supplying the pressure reading.

erasmos · 17-03-2012, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Think of a dead panel this way.
Water pressure measured at a faucet with no flow.. 100 psi.
Turn on the water, drip drip, drip.
Check the pipes, totally corroded and full of mineral deposits.

The drip, drip, drip was supplying the pressure reading.

thats great - I got the picture.

my only wonder, and the reason to bring up the issue is that my other panels sometimes give a vague 0.10 amps and the charger goes on. and with the faulty bigger AEG (giving 1 amp) it deliberately turns off. must be because the panel tries to suck out power from the batteries - or? mystery!

**hellosailor** · 17-03-2012, 11:40

"with the faulty bigger AEG (giving 1 amp) "
I don't recall seeing that you've established it is GIVING one amp, or any amps, yet. Have you?

erasmos · 17-03-2012, 12:07

'Giving' means it actually running through a resistor or appliance right? I measured short circuit current at the end of my 7 meter 7 gauge wires. which was about 1 amp on a shady day. Hence I figured that water runs..

My problem is my ammeter is an analogue clamp-on, which doesn't measure lower currents. And Im lone duck on the dock. To my discouragement today on a high sunny day I couldn't get any reading at all out of this thing with my china multimeter. So towel is thrown in.

Im about to start on a shopping venture, new panel, state-of-the-art ammeter+auto multimeter. Any recommendations for the 2 last?

**hellosailor** · 17-03-2012, 12:50

No specifics, just check out the rated accuracy on the scales that are the most use to you. One may say 2% on DC while another says 1/2%. Or one may say "plus or minus one least significant digit" while another says "plus or minus 3 or 4..."

s/vPainkiller · 29-03-2012, 12:08

Has anyone ever heard of or seen an installation of Jetion solar panels? I did a search but it didn't turn up anything on CF. Someone nearby is selling them. If they are OK would save me on shipping costs since I can pick up.

Thanks,
Scott

sww914 · 30-04-2012, 12:53

I bought 600 watts of junk ass Chinese panels for $900.00 including shipping. They're perfect. The same wattage from West Marine would cost me $3222.00 plus tax, so $3463.00. Maybe mine won't last as long.

Nicholson58 · 30-04-2012, 17:21

I bought Sanyo 220 watt panels 31 X 60. Very high rated efficiency (18.5%). These will go on the new arch over the bimini. We also bought a Morningstar MPPT charge controler. This is pretty much a 'must' for large systems and high open circuit voltage.

I met an old timer in the marina who showed me how to use nice commercial SS tube and socket fittings to make the arch. He used various deck fittings and the winches to force the bends and made remarkably good looking arches. You could also rent a large tube bender.

Ram · 06-05-2012, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

I bought Sanyo 220 watt panels 31 X 60. Very high rated efficiency (18.5%). These will go on the new arch over the bimini. We also bought a Morningstar MPPT charge controler. This is pretty much a 'must' for large systems and high open circuit voltage.

I met an old timer in the marina who showed me how to use nice commercial SS tube and socket fittings to make the arch. He used various deck fittings and the winches to force the bends and made remarkably good looking arches. You could also rent a large tube bender.

Where did you buy the panels and what were the costs?

D&D · 06-05-2012, 23:44

We're using 2 x 327W SunPower panels and a Flexmax 60 MPPT controller. The panels are mounted in a rigid frame of 50mm (2mm thick) marine 306 S/S, extending out over the davits. The overall installation weight (including the heavy MPPT) was ~50Kg.

We chose SunPower because their panels were the most efficient per sq m coverage...and we were (and still are) thrilled with the results. As we often do with many of the items that add to our cruising enjoyment, we approached SunPower to source panels for other cruisers in OZ...and Floating Impressions then became a SunPower 'partner'. We can also now source the MPPT units at attractive prices.

So we admit our bias! That said, we can also say our panels' output is terrific. Aussie cruisers interested in more details should contact us.

Ram · 07-05-2012, 00:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by D&D

We're using 2 x 327W SunPower panels and a Flexmax 60 MPPT controller. The panels are mounted in a rigid frame of 50mm (2mm thick) marine 306 S/S, extending out over the davits. The overall installation weight (including the heavy MPPT) was ~50Kg.

We chose SunPower because their panels were the most efficient per sq m coverage...and we were (and still are) thrilled with the results. As we often do with many of the items that add to our cruising enjoyment, we approached SunPower to source panels for other cruisers in OZ...and Floating Impressions then became a SunPower 'partner'. We can also now source the MPPT units at attractive prices.

So we admit our bias! That said, we can also say our panels' output is terrific. Aussie cruisers interested in more details should contact us.

What is the efficacy rating on the panels