Less power from solar panel

About 80 to 100 watt

 
 
 
 
 
 
glastry
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: portaferry -county down
Age: 69
Posts: 217
Registered: 03 / 2013
My Motorhome: Mercedes-Benz hymer s550
Base Vehicle: Mercedes
Subject:

Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #1
Solar panel no longer producing power.
In good sunlight it used to produce 2 to 2.5 amps.
But recently the best I have seen is about 1.5.
Just fitted a new victron regulator (mppt 100/30)
Does not seem to have made much difference!
Looking like a new solar panel?
Any ideas?
Ally
Founder
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Muckamore, Antrim
Age: 55
Homepage: motorhomecraic.com
Posts: 32600
Registered: 08 / 2011
My Motorhome: Lunar Roadstar 780
Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.8 JTD
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #2
How recently? they are nearly useless in the winter, sun is too low.
...
 
Avatar
 
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #3
If you are comparing it to summer figures you will need to wait for brighter days with the sun high in the sky.
Not too many panels will produce much at this time of year.

2.5 amp as normal would suggest about a 30watt panel which is small. If you have room for over 100 watt it would help.
glastry
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: portaferry -county down
Age: 69
Posts: 217
Registered: 03 / 2013
My Motorhome: Mercedes-Benz hymer s550
Base Vehicle: Mercedes
Subject:

Power from solarpanel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #4
Existing panel is probably about 80/100 watt
New regulator fitted last week.
We are in Faro.
This panel used to provide enough power,even with an old Morningstar regulator,
Just wondered if there was anything left to check ,before spending the money on a new panel?
Am looking at a 225w panel,but I had hoped that the new victron. Regulator,would have produced enough from the existing panel?
...
 
Avatar
 
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #5
Check your cable connections at both ends.
baguette
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Cork
Age: 73
Posts: 2829
Registered: 11 / 2011
My Motorhome: Rapido 963F
Base Vehicle: Ducato 2.8 JTD Power
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #6
Are you on EHU, if you are remember the onboard charger will have the batteries topped up so the solar panel will have little demand on it and so be producing a very low figure if anything at all.
drifter
Craic Addict
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Donegal
Age: 74
Posts: 475
Registered: 06 / 2013
My Motorhome: Hobby 690GFS
Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.8 JTD on an AL-KO chassis
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #7
Quote by glastry

Solar panel no longer producing power.
In good sunlight it used to produce 2 to 2.5 amps.
But recently the best I have seen is about 1.5.
Just fitted a new victron regulator (mppt 100/30)
Does not seem to have made much difference!
Looking like a new solar panel?
Any ideas?


How old is the solar panel. A drop from 2.5 amps to 1.5 seems like a big drop. I strongly considering a solar panel so interested in information on them. :-)
Chevy g20
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Omagh
Age: 58
Posts: 3205
Registered: 12 / 2011
My Motorhome:
Base Vehicle:
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 02.01.2017  ·  #8
I have 2 x 60 watt panels which were an option when the van was new. They are now 24 years old and working great. They were made by BP and were a £1489 pound option when the van was purchased.
glastry
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: portaferry -county down
Age: 69
Posts: 217
Registered: 03 / 2013
My Motorhome: Mercedes-Benz hymer s550
Base Vehicle: Mercedes
Subject:

Solar panel

 ·  Posted: 03.01.2017  ·  #9
Thanks to all for usefully hints,I will get up today to view the roof,from memory the outside connection,(underneath the panel is not accessible,)
The inside connection to the regulator is new,and s good.
It's interesting Chevy,that your panels are that old and still good.
As far as. Know my panel is 7/8 years old,and in theory should still be ok.
Is there a diode or something on the back of the panel,that could have gone wrong?
Thanks
the fat controller
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Moira, Craigavon
Age: 60
Homepage: fincaangelacat.com
Posts: 9454
Registered: 04 / 2012
My Motorhome: Benimar Tessoro 481
Base Vehicle: Ford Transit
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 03.01.2017  ·  #10
There is usually some sort of box with dear knows what inside it but you will have to take the panel off to get at it
presstout1
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender: n/a
Location: Carrickfergus
Age: 70
Posts: 803
Registered: 05 / 2016
My Motorhome: Rapido 896f
Base Vehicle: Fait Ducato 2.3
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 04.01.2017  ·  #11
Might be a stupid question, but is it clean?
glastry
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: portaferry -county down
Age: 69
Posts: 217
Registered: 03 / 2013
My Motorhome: Mercedes-Benz hymer s550
Base Vehicle: Mercedes
Subject:

Is it clean

 ·  Posted: 04.01.2017  ·  #12
And the answer of course is ,no.
It was pretty dirty,just 7 weeks after leaving home,(when I had just cleaned the roof)
Now clean,but no great change so far.
jacktherev
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Co Antrim
Age: 76
Posts: 6952
Registered: 01 / 2012
My Motorhome: Adria Vision
Base Vehicle: Renault
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 04.01.2017  ·  #13
I,got a special cleaner I think it was in Hagans for solar panels and I use it once a year.
pogonogo
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Orchard county
Age: 72
Posts: 279
Registered: 12 / 2011
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 07.01.2017  ·  #14
John, do you know where I could find a hardware shop in Lagos?, I would like to try and hinge my panel for better power but I cant find a shop to buy the tools required.
the fat controller
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Moira, Craigavon
Age: 60
Homepage: fincaangelacat.com
Posts: 9454
Registered: 04 / 2012
My Motorhome: Benimar Tessoro 481
Base Vehicle: Ford Transit
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 07.01.2017  ·  #15
joberg
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Tipperary
Age: 58
Posts: 163
Registered: 11 / 2016
My Motorhome: Rapido 696f
Base Vehicle: Fiat Ducato 2.3
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 07.01.2017  ·  #16
glastry
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: portaferry -county down
Age: 69
Posts: 217
Registered: 03 / 2013
My Motorhome: Mercedes-Benz hymer s550
Base Vehicle: Mercedes
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 08.01.2017  ·  #17
Quote by pogonogo

John, do you know where I could find a hardware shop in Lagos?, I would like to try and hinge my panel for better power but I cant find a shop to buy the tools required.


Hi,. If you phone Ian, on +351 912 863 600,he will be able to tell you where to go,
His business is solar,and he is based in vila de bispo,and covers a wide area,
Good luck
glastry
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: portaferry -county down
Age: 69
Posts: 217
Registered: 03 / 2013
My Motorhome: Mercedes-Benz hymer s550
Base Vehicle: Mercedes
Subject:

Lagos hardware

 ·  Posted: 08.01.2017  ·  #18
I should also say that IZI build ,hardware store is on the N125 ,on the way to Odia'xere,might be more direct access to the bits you are looking for.!
pogonogo
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Orchard county
Age: 72
Posts: 279
Registered: 12 / 2011
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 08.01.2017  ·  #19
Thanks for all the info lads, I,ll try the izi build in the morn. Where are you now John???.
CHAUSSON
Eat's Sleep's craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: Tipperary
Posts: 6813
Registered: 02 / 2012
My Motorhome: Knaus Sport Ti 700 UFB Silverline
Base Vehicle: Renault Master 150 dci Quickshift
Subject:

Re: Less power from solar panel

 ·  Posted: 08.01.2017  ·  #20
Stumbled across this Panel on ebay while searching for something else, The manufacturer claims that it is a 100W but the seller says it is 80W, Judging by that misleading information It is impossible to get the expected output if you have been sold one of these thinking you have a 100W Panel

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/990190-…XQeW5Tbc~~
glastry
Love's the Craic
Avatar
Gender:
Location: portaferry -county down
Age: 69
Posts: 217
Registered: 03 / 2013
My Motorhome: Mercedes-Benz hymer s550
Base Vehicle: Mercedes
Subject:

Where are you now

 ·  Posted: 09.01.2017  ·  #21
Quote by pogonogo

Thanks for all the info lads, I,ll try the izi build in the morn. Where are you now John???.

In quarteira ,and going to Alvor or Silves area tomorrow.
Selected quotes for multi-quoting:   0

Registered users in this topic

Currently no registered users in this section

The statistic shows who was online during the last 5 minutes. Updated every 90 seconds.