Solar Panel Output

[powerb]

I have just had an 80W solar panel fitted and was wondering if anyone can advise me on the sort of outputs I could expect from it under the various light conditions encountered at differant times of the year.

 

I appriciate the output will be considerably differant from a sunny July day as compared to a dull December day but would be grateful for any info on what to expect if someone out there has got experiance of solar panels.

 

Sorry if this has been raised before but did a search and nothing much came up.

 

Thanks in advanace.

[malc d]

I recently saw a website that may be of use:

www.reuk.co.uk

 

Enter " output" in their search facility and it tells you how to measure the output from solar panels

 

( Have not 'tested' it myself so can't tell you how useful it is )

 

:-|

[colin]

That's a real "how longs apiece of string" question, not least because you have not got a location. Are you looking to check the output? or get some idea of how much you can power? either way IMO it is more a case of peoples experiance of wheter a panel that size provides enough power for their needs at the time of year and location they use it, once again a little more info is required as to what you expect it to power. Saying all that I have somewhere (but can't lay my hands on it at moment) a chart showing theoretical power availible from solar at latitude and time of year, but for most people and for most aplications it is meaningless.

[powerb]

Thanks for the replies.

The purpose I installed a 80W solar panel for was mainly to keep both the leisure and vehile batteries charged while in stowage over the winter.

On my power control system there is a regulator built in which splits the charge 50/50 between the leisure and vehile batteries. there is also the facility on the control panel to get a reading in amps of the charge being generated. It was this reading I was looking at today (a very dull day) and was only getting a reading of about 0.1/0.2 amps charge and am concerned the panel might not be man enough for the job.

[colin]

My 30w panel keeps both leisure and vehicle batteries topped up 'in storage', no problem.

[spospe]

powerb

 

My solar panel is a 65 watt unit, controlled by a Steca regulator and today at midday it was putting out 500 m/A when the sun was shining briefly through the haze over Stockport.

 

The output from these solar panels at this time of year is not great and with the short day length, not a great deal of energy will be produced. There should be enough however to maintain your battery system in good condition, especially if you take your van out for a run every now and then. I am assuming in the above that you do not have any current-drawing devices running whilst the van is not in use.