Solar panel questions (following earlier posting)

[lilianroyle]

I have been given some solar panels 4 maplin 15w rigid panels and a now identified topray 535 solar panel regulator.
the regulator doesn't seem to work. Connected to the battery and switched on the battery voltage led is dead. Ditto when also connected to the solar panels.
I tested the panels for voltage output using a multimeter. On the 20 volt maximum they register 1. But on the higher maximum (200) they register 23.4. I assume the 1 is simply an indication that the voltage is outside of the multimeter range when set at that level (I've never used it before on anything other than a 12 volt supply so this reading was a bit mysterious to me) but 23 volts seems too high. Or is that not the case. I will change the fuse on the regulator and if it still seems dead will assume it isn't working. Can anyone tell me whether the voltage reading is likely to be accurate, is it a problem if the panels are producing that voltage (I thought they put out something like 17v)

 

[VicS]

I have been given some solar panels 4 maplin 15w rigid panels and a now identified topray 535 solar panel regulator.
the regulator doesn't seem to work. Connected to the battery and switched on the battery voltage led is dead. Ditto when also connected to the solar panels.
I tested the panels for voltage output using a multimeter. On the 20 volt maximum they register 1. But on the higher maximum (200) they register 23.4. I assume the 1 is simply an indication that the voltage is outside of the multimeter range when set at that level (I've never used it before on anything other than a 12 volt supply so this reading was a bit mysterious to me) but 23 volts seems too high. Or is that not the case. I will change the fuse on the regulator and if it still seems dead will assume it isn't working. Can anyone tell me whether the voltage reading is likely to be accurate, is it a problem if the panels are producing that voltage (I thought they put out something like 17v)

I expect the open circuit volts in bright sun to be over 20 volts.

The power quoted is the maximum power and usually coincides with a terminal voltage in the 15 to 17 volt range. Decent solar panel suppliers quote all these numbers and more in the specs.

 

[MarcJ]

I assume the 1 is simply an indication that the voltage is outside of the multimeter range when set at that level

Yup, I made a mistake yesterday checking a voltage on the wrong setting, my multimeter showed a "1"