Solar panels not working during the day?

[Cardo]

I bought them on the recommendation of YBW who had reviews of numerous panels. Does that say anything?

YBW don't do cheap!

 

[vyv_cox]

I bought them on the recommendation of YBW who had reviews of numerous panels. Does that say anything?

Unfortunately even the best of manufacturers go through bad times, so today's recommended product may be tomorrow's 'avoid at all costs'. Some spectacular ones on these pages of course. In my case I bought Kyocera panels around seven years ago, since when they have performed faultlessly. Recently I have read some quite negative comments about them, perhaps justified, I don't know.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Unfortunately even the best of manufacturers go through bad times, so today's recommended product may be tomorrow's 'avoid at all costs'. Some spectacular ones on these pages of course. In my case I bought Kyocera panels around seven years ago, since when they have performed faultlessly. Recently I have read some quite negative comments about them, perhaps justified, I don't know.

Viv, I accept that manufactures do go through bad times but to ignore and treat customers like they are dirt. All I asked for on four or five occasions was technical help. Someone to look at my readings or advise on the blisters. They make the panels so someone there should know. The flatly refused to offer any assistance at all. It does not instil you we confidence in their product.
All I could get to speak to was the office manager and she continually ignored my first e mails and would only reply when I sent another e mail asking if she had received the first.
As most of us know on here deal with a company that treat you badly and news gets around. Deal with a good company and that also gets around.
They have Saddam husseins PR working for them.
I certainly would never go back or recommend them.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Never did get an answer to my post #8 !

What are their individual open circuit voltages first thing and around midday?
(around midday when they have failed)?

Sorry,
These are the readings I am getting.
Below are some measurements I took at night and in the morning.
I was unable to take separate readings of the 35w panels as they are joined in the ceiling but if need be I can get to it and check but it will take some time.
Even at the time the mppt boxes went off in the morning the panels were only just warm.

last night as the sun was going down they came on late (well one did)
Battery 12.61
70w no light from mppt
15.98 v from 35w mppt

this morning i took the readings at the times stated. We are one hour ahead of you so I have put down our local time.

6am .. Both boxes on 70w showing 14.7 connected and 18.51 unconnected.
35w showing 17.3 connected and 17.3 unconnected.
It was light but the sun was still behind a hill.

7am .. Both boxes on 70w showing 16.2 connected and 20.1 unconnected.
35w showing 17.8 connected and 19.9 unconnected.
Sun just coming over hill

07.30am .. 70w box off 0.9 connected and 0.9 unconnected.
35w showing 17.6 connected and 19.4 unconnected.

08.00am .. 70w box off 0.9 connected and 0.9 unconnected.
35w showing 17.9 connected and 19.8 unconnected.

08.30am .. 70w box off 0.1 connected and 0.1 unconnected.
35w showing 17.8 connected and 19.5 unconnected.

08.45am .. 70w box off 0.1 connected and 0.1 unconnected.
35w showing 12.4 connected and 14.0 unconnected.

08.50am .. 70w box off 0.1 connected and 0.1 unconnected.
35w box off 0.1 connected and 0.1 unconnected.

Last nights battery reading was 12.61
This morning was 12.56

 

[LadyInBed]

Looks like you have diagnosed correctly as a over heating problem.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Looks like you have diagnosed correctly as a over heating problem.

Thank you lady in bed. I presume the manufacturer refused to say anything from these readings as it may call their product into question.
Good product, a solar panel that won,t work in the sun!

 

[ghostlymoron]

I'm puzzled by the title of this thread. My panel is fine during the day - it doesn't work at all at night though.

 

[Nostrodamus]

I'm puzzled by the title of this thread. My panel is fine during the day - it doesn't work at all at night though.

Look again..... Not working during the day

 

[LadyInBed]

I don't think you said who you got them from, I bought my semi's from http://www.titan-energy.co.uk

PS - they are real people who live between Poole and Wareham
No connection etc. etc.

 

[Nostrodamus]

I don't think you said who you got them from, I bought my semi's from http://www.titan-energy.co.uk

PS - they are real people who live between Poole and Wareham
No connection etc. etc.

The manufactures and very unhelpful people were at GB-Sol

 

[vyv_cox]

It says that you have missed the fundamental reason behind the magazine article in the first place. Magazines are printed to sell advertising space. Strangely those with the biggest adverts always seem to have the most highly rated products. The journalist also hopes to get a few free samples as a perk of the job.

I purchased a well known and very successful rope cutter (that every sailor I have ever spoken to has said is the best on the market) and asked the manufacturer why it had not come out on top in a recent magazine test. He told me that he suspected that it was because he'd refused to place a bigger advert in the magazine.

When I worked for a small company building sports cars they always told the journalists what to say about their product and the journalists gratefully accepted an expensive lunch and a day out driving a high powered sportscar and the commission of another monthly advertising deal signed up.

Always take everything you read in a magazine as entertainment - not fact.

Nonsense. YM have printed around 20+ articles of mine, several of them reporting destructive testing of various items including chain, connectors, shackles, C-links, anchors and other items of nautical equipment. Other articles have been on technical topics in which commercial products have been discussed and/or criticised. Never in a single instance has the editorial team made any comment or criticism of my results, which have been printed as I wrote them. In a couple of instances the manufacturer or supplier has been vociferous in his complaint about the content of articles but the magazine has supported me and my findings vigorously. No magazine employs me, I am an independent writer contributing articles to several magazines. I am still waiting for my first lunch and day out provided by any equipment supplier, whether an advertiser or not.

The author of the YM rope cutter tests, and also windlasses, is a highly respected technical journalist whose work is respected by all. If he says that the rope cutter you claim to be the best on the market did not come out top, then I believe him.