Solara Solar Panel - not working??

[alan]

I have a Solara solar panel (56W) which I bought about 4 years ago. The panel is mounted on the deck and the regulator is in the engine bay. The other day (nice and sunny) whilst doing some engine checks I noticed that the regulator charge indicator was not on. I checked the volts at the input to the regulator and got a reading of 0.7v. I checked all the connections from the panel and they are all good. The open circuit volts from the panel was also 0.7v.
Early this morning (08:30 - early for me!!) with little sun I noticed that the panel appeared to be working, as the green charge indicator was "on" at the regulator and I got a reading of 13.7v at the regulator input. (THis reading is quite low but I thought it due to the fact that it was a bit misty/cloudy.)
I decided to re-check at mid-day when the clouds had cleared somewhat and the sun was nice and high in the sky ..... and agin no output from the panel.

Anyone any ideas as to what the problem may be? I was thinking that maybe one of the "protection" diodes was breaking down at full output volts (circa 20v normally) from the panel? I presume these diodes are located in the little black sealed box where the cable is attached to the panel?

Any suggestions/similar experience would be welcome before I put my hand in my pocket yet again!!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks in advance.

Alan.
Nettuno, Italy.

 

[trouville]

Solar panels are quite tough, even though ive been told that if some cells are shaded it can damage the panel even after 18 years of hard use my simens is still working perfectly.

Twice i had the ame problem the first time broken cable i just cut off 20cms.then set her back to work!

The second time it was shaded and late afternoon i got quite a shock when there was almost no reading on the volt meter but by placing it in the sun cleaning it i had again a full reading!

Dont worry its only somthing small. Once i droped mine over board! and days later when i could go down to get it she still worked perfectly, It was in 15 meter and thick mud!! ukkk

 

[boatmike]

As its intermittent I would look for something simple like a dodgy cable or connection before doing anything else. Try to get a reading of output at the point where the cable joins the panel before doing much else. Changing a diode may not be easy as I think they are encapsulated but if you still dont get a reading at the point where the cable exits the panel then it can only be the diode or the panel itself. Try getting a reading from the other side of the diode. If you have one there and not after the diode its the diode at fault. In this case, if you can make a new connection to the panel to bridge the existing diode you can fit one remote from the panel to replace it. If you still don't get a reading the panel is boogered....... Unlikely though as they are pretty indestructable......

 

[yoda]

I have had one with a dodgy connection inside the little black box. From the symptoms it is almost certainly something like a poor connection somewhere.

Yoda

 

[Anonymous]

I have two 180W Solara panels that I bought from Barden in January - they are supposed to be guaranteed for 20 to 25 years though there might be an issue about being used on a boat - don't know. On mine, there is a black plastic terminal box and within that there are three leads (metal strips) coming from the array. Across these leads, there are two diodes. These are designed to prevent one part of the array from reverse-biassing the other (I think). I think that these are just silicon diodes and it seems unlikely that they should fail - though it is worth checking - are you OK to check diodes or do you need to be talked through it?

Check all connections for corrosion. When I spoke to the technical department in Germany a few weeks ago they told me that terminal corrosion is the most common failure mode. Just one point - the output volts drop to a very low level if any part of the panel is in significant shade, so don't let that confuse things!

Let me know how it goes, and good luck.

 

[alan]

Thanks for all the replies.

I will do some further checking and if necessary "open" the balck box and check there.

As it seems unlikely that the panel cells themselves have failed I will concentrate on the connections e.t.c.

Thanks, Lemain, but I am OK on checking diodes.

Again, thanks for the replies guys and "buon vento".

Alan.

 

[trouville]

Just in case you cant get it going, before you throw it over board i will offer to dispose of it more ecologicaly. Buy useing it without the controller on my boat!!

Thats called recycling

 

[Anonymous]

The black box on mine opened by inserting a screwdriver around small notches in the periphery. Good luck and let us know how it went

 

[alan]

Well, after a quick trip to the USA I have found time to investigate further.
Opened up the black box: and no diodes installed, and the connections were sound.

Dismounted the panel from the deck and checked again this time with panel pointed toward sun : 19.8 volts (normal)!! After messing about for a few minutes, by chance I tried with the panel in its slightly curved position (as it would be on deck) and no output!! So, with the better half's help, I measured the volts whilst flexing the panel from curved to flat and the volts went from zero to 19.8 regularly as per the flex !!!!!!

So, conclusion is that there is a "break" somewhere internal to the panel; and the original symptoms (good in morning and bad at mid-day) were due to the heating of the panel causing expansion enough to generate the problem.

Have contacted Solara (info@ ...) by e-mail twice but no replies .............. have just tried a third time direct to customer services and am hoping for a reply!
The panel is about four years old and I believe it is covered by a ten year warranty but am having difficulty in finding it clearly written in their literature.

The space on my deck (hatch cover) is perfect for this panel and it sits out of the way under the boom and doesn't get walked on; it really would be a pain to fit another type of panel as I have already done the search of available sizes and powers e.t.c. So, I am hoping Solara will respond in time for me to have cold beer for the summer hols.

Thanks for the replies which were very helpful.

Buon vento (fair winds).