How To Test Solar Panels Without Sun

Reading panel output the reading will be lower of course than in sunlight.

How to test solar panels without sun.

You will need a solar panel tester known as an amp meter. Place your solar lights as close to the light bulb as possible. To get an accurate measurement you will need to ensure that your panel is in full sunlight when you test. To measure the amp output of your solar panel you will need to attach the meter to the positive and negative.

To accurately test a solar panel you need to find the open circuit voltage and short circuit current paying mind to the cell temperature ambient temperature coefficient and the angle towards the sun. The panel collects energy from the sun thus solar power and converts it into useable power for the batteries or lights to turn on and run for a few to several hours. Then touch the multi meter s black negative lead to your solar panel s negative wire. Place the solar panels directly underneath a household light to charge them as quickly as possible without sunlight.

The further away it is from an incandescent light bulb the longer it will take your solar panel to charge. You can use a 100w lamp and move it over each cell to see if the output of each cell is about the same. Disconnect the panel from any regulator if testing an array you will need to test each panel individually. Touch the multi meter s red positive lead to your solar panel s positive wire.

If it s not there is a problem with your solar panel output. Of course solar power is far more complicated than this simplified view but the basics are what most of us need to understand about solar power and how it affects.