No power from solar at all..... (1 Viewer)

[danielf]

Hi all,

I am confused.

I have two flexible solar panels on my camper . 1 x100 watt 1x50 watt. Connected to a ctek d250s mppt controller .

All worked fine until end of last summer, when I noticed in Croatia the battery want lasting very long despite sunshine.

I testes the 50 watt and no current was coming out of it.

I contacted the supplier and they had me do a load of tests , and in September the 100 watt has failed as well .

Supplier have been ok so far but haven't replace them yet., They want them back intact but seem them as suitable for gluing on !

Now the bit I am confused about is ( and I'm not an electrical dunderhead but this has me stumped ) both panels show healthy voltage. But neither will register more than 0.2 amp short circuit current.

The supplier now wants me to cut off junction boxes and test the diodes and direct connection s or take them to them.

These are the second set of flexible panels I've had in two years ....

Thoughts ???

Thanks

Daniel

 

[Richard n Ann]

What's the voltage?

 

[danielf]

Hi @Richard and Ann

Each produces in full sun 19.5 to 20 volts . No load



But hardly any current !

Daniel

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[Richard n Ann]

19.5v at 0.2a.. .. That's 3.9w then, looks like they've come to the end of their lives

 

[WillH]

Get rigid panels, they have a far longer lifespan.

 

[jockaneezer]

My flexi's failed within two years, they showed no voltage at all when you put a meter on them.

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[danielf]

Thanks all

I didn't want full weight panels as they sit on the built in top box on the Concorde and was worried about weight on the hinges . But I may have to rethink . .

Best photo I've got that I can find now:

 

[danielf]

So....

Still looking at this, once I get a sunny day I'm free I will retest.

But I'm thinking they are toast and I'm not going to go for flexible again , unless someone can recommend a good make .....

But I need a lightweight as far as possible framed panel so it can stay where the current ones are.
Daniel