How To Test A Bare Solar Panel With A Multimeter

You will want to ensure that you place the positive to positive and negative to negative when attaching your multimeter to the connection on the back of your solar panel.

How to test a bare solar panel with a multimeter. See how to test your solar panel for open voltage and current reading. Using a multimeter to test a solar panel. When you buy solar panels you need to check quite a few things to make sure you are getting the right kind including checking the solar panel output buying and installing solar panels requires some research to determine how many you need to get enough output to satisfy your electric needs. To test a 18v solar panel voltage output directly put your solar panel in direct sunlight set your multi meter to the dc volts setting.

While using this multimeter select. Testing your solar panel is easy. I had a look at dads multimeter and the amps were set out way simpler. Some exceptions may apply based on panel type.

You want to choose a voltage range capable of displaying the maximum possible voltage of the panel in open circuit this means that if you have a panel rated for 20 volts you should set the multi meter. Then touch the multi meter s black negative lead to your solar panel s negative wire. The amp reading on your multi meter should be close to or just under 3 5 amps. All you need is a multimeter.

Open circuit voltage can vary depending on your solar panel but the readings we are usually looking for are in the range of 15 to 23v. Touch the multi meter s red positive lead to your solar panel s positive wire. Switched multimeter this type of multimeter manually switches between the ranges to get the most accurate reading. The next step is to connect the black probe to the com labelled port and the red probe to the v ma labelled port.

3 amps is about normal since your panel may not be currently getting maximum sunlight. Results will vary depending on sun strength time of day angle of light and temperatu. I think i stuffed up explaining the amps setting on this one as some of the megas ma. As most solar panels are 12 volts the solar panel test methods are basically the same.

Simply touch the solar panel leads with the multi meter probes matching their corresponding polarity red to red black to black. You then need to touch your solar panel to the multimeter probe. If you need a multimeter you can get the innova 3320 auto ranging digital multimeter here htt. A multimeter is a device that you can use to test the voltage and current of any device.

Including the solar panels. Testing the 12 volt solar panel.