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cryztalc avatar image
cryztalc asked

My panels are not producing amperage

I have currently four panels total in a series parallel combination. I should be receiving at least around 8 amps if I read the back of the panels right. Now in the series parallel we're doing two in series and then paralleling those two and we're doing that with two sets of two using four panels. I checked all of the connections with the multimeter and they're all strong. The reason why the voltage is low for four panels is because we live in a canopy with very little direct sunlight. We can't rightly chop the trees down because the trees that are blocking the sunlight are on someone else's property. So we have to accept diminished capacity as long as it's some kind of capacity giving us power. img-20240606-020046.jpg


screenshot-20240620-124610.png

amps
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5 Answers
sean avatar image
sean answered ·

Given what you've described about the lack of direct sunlight and shading I think the output you are seeing is to be expected.

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cryztalc avatar image cryztalc commented ·
No we thought so too so we tested it we took one single panel and made sure it was in direct sunlight there was tiny little hole of direct sunlight covering the whole panel. And despite that and we did not receive any amperage both through multimeter or the Bluetooth.
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Alexandra avatar image
Alexandra answered ·

@CryztalC

Two things to check...

1. You actual config (explanation after)

2. Polarity

Explanation...

Your panels have a VOC of 24.3v.

I see 64.13v. so it is more likely 4 in series (one string). No parrallel. Or if there is it is one arbitrary solar panel so possibly the cause of poor production other than shading you mention.

Otherwise, what I would expect for 2s 2p is 48.6voc there in the app or slightly under that if they are hotter than 25°C or shaded.

What mppt do you have exactly?

Testing your one panel how did you do it exactly? I know you placed it in the sun but likely one panel is not enough to start up the mppt. (Battery voltage plus 5v.)

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cryztalc avatar image cryztalc commented ·
How we did it is we put two in series together and then parallel the two did that twice in parallel to two. As for the test we use the multimeter and then we plugged one so panel into the mppt which is a 50x100 Victron. We also just did another test with one of the two that were in series and parallel. And same result we got voltage just not amperage.
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cryztalc avatar image cryztalc cryztalc commented ·
I should add that directly in the sun each panel produces about 21 volts which would be enough based on your theory that it needs 12 for the battery and 5 for the machine it would provide more than enough for one panel. In the shade each produces anywhere from 17-18 volts depending on if it's cloudy.
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cryztalc avatar image cryztalc commented ·

img-20240620-144925-hdr.jpg


This is how we are connecting them and then we are using Y connectors negative to negative and positive to positive.



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img-20240620-144925-hdr.jpg (3.0 MiB)
jwy224 avatar image jwy224 cryztalc commented ·
Easy answer, they are facing the wrong direction!
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delf67 avatar image delf67 jwy224 commented ·
And they're unplugged!
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nickdb avatar image nickdb ♦♦ delf67 commented ·
Haven’t you tried the new power-over-wifi panels yet? ;)
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delf67 avatar image delf67 nickdb ♦♦ commented ·
Well Tesla was working on it nearly 100 years ago.....
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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ cryztalc commented ·

It's not clear how the panels are wired, or how many panels you have.

Please post a wiring diagram.


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neptuneuk avatar image
neptuneuk answered ·

If the image you posted is typical of your panel location shading conditions, that is a lot of shading.....

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Duivert NL avatar image
Duivert NL answered ·

Hi @CryztalC as kevgermany asked, provide us with a schematic, its unclear how you got them connected..

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lifeingalicia avatar image
lifeingalicia answered ·

Any partial shading will effect performance. 2 panels in series and one has shade or partial shade will draw down your efficiency (VA). 2 x 2 the shaded string will still affect the overall as the MPPT cant deliver ideal output. If you have two mppt organise the cabling to have the less shaded on one string and the others on the other. Have a look at solar panel power booster / power optimizers or if grid tied switch to micro inverters. In a string the lowest performing panel affects/restricts the string.

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