Solar Panel...Max Current and maintenance

[zen navigator]

Had my Benimar Europe a couple of months and first time with Solar Panel. Now I have it, how did I ever live without it



On my panel there is a 3A fuse which is for the charging system(i think, fairly sure) Which I think is low?



My main question is what is the rating on the Solar Panel I presume is it a standard on the Europe 6000 ST so a fellow Benimar owner may know.



The solar panel size is approx 3 1/2 ft to 1 1/2 ft this is a guestimation. I usually get 2.5A on a sunny spring day. But last week it went over the 3A not for long but it was there. So thats why I question the 3A fuse rating.



Looking around it seems it is either a 60W or 80W. If 60W I guess that ties in with the 3A thing as I believe these deliver 17V(Also that seems suprisely high!)



But if 80W, in summer I should be expecting more Amps. But then we got back to this 3A fuse thing.



One additional query are there cleaning products that will improve the performance of the solar panels or just a wipe will do. Notice mine has a thin layer of grime. Does this significantly effect the performance of the Panel. I guess keeping it clean will only help



Any thoughts



Dave

 

[biggirafe]

Had my Benimar Europe a couple of months and first time with Solar Panel. Now I have it, how did I ever live without it



On my panel there is a 3A fuse which is for the charging system(i think, fairly sure) Which I think is low?



My main question is what is the rating on the Solar Panel I presume is it a standard on the Europe 6000 ST so a fellow Benimar owner may know.



The solar panel size is approx 3 1/2 ft to 1 1/2 ft this is a guestimation. I usually get 2.5A on a sunny spring day. But last week it went over the 3A not for long but it was there. So thats why I question the 3A fuse rating.



Looking around it seems it is either a 60W or 80W. If 60W I guess that ties in with the 3A thing as I believe these deliver 17V(Also that seems suprisely high!)



But if 80W, in summer I should be expecting more Amps. But then we got back to this 3A fuse thing.



One additional query are there cleaning products that will improve the performance of the solar panels or just a wipe will do. Notice mine has a thin layer of grime. Does this significantly effect the performance of the Panel. I guess keeping it clean will only help



Any thoughts



Dave

Hi Dave
The best way to check this is to get yourself a cheap avo meter (electrical meter) and then test the output. Its the only way you will be sure what you are getting. Once you have some reading you can use the below to work out the things you don't know and check the ones you do

Converting Watts to Amps

The conversion of Watts to Amps is governed by the equation Amps = Watts/Volts

For example 12 watts/12 volts = 1 amp
Converting Amps to Watts

The conversion of Amps to Watts is governed by the equation Watts = Amps x Volts

For example 1 amp * 110 volts = 110 watts

Converting Watts to Volts

The conversion of Watts to Volts is governed by the equation Volts = Watts/Amps

For example 100 watts/10 amps = 10 volts

Converting Volts to Watts

The conversion of Volts to Watts is governed by the equation Watts = Amps x Volts

For example 1.5 amps * 12 volts = 18 watts

 

[Deleted member 775]

only help i can give on this topic is the cleaning side .a clean with ordinary warm soapy water would suffice and then a quick polish with a dry cloth as they are waterproof i cannot see any problem using some ordinary window cleaner like mr muscle any grime on the pannel will be like putting sun glasses on keep the light out ps thanks biggiraffe for your post it has answered some questions i may have cheers

 

[wints]

I've got an 80 watt panel on the roof, and a free standing 50 watt panel that I move to roughly follow the sun. Both are fed through a 10 amp regulator. The most I've seen (recently) at the reg is 7.5 amps, last w/e in full sun, and this was at approx 12 noon.
I think I could've sold lecky back to the grid as both my 120 amps batts were at 100 % by 10 am, and therefore accepting hardly any of the amps available !

Allen

 

[AndyC]

Had my Benimar Europe a couple of months and first time with Solar Panel. Now I have it, how did I ever live without it



On my panel there is a 3A fuse which is for the charging system(i think, fairly sure) Which I think is low?

Depends where in the circuit the fuse is fitted, if it's in the input from the solar panel to the regulator then it's probably about right for a maximum 60W panel.

My main question is what is the rating on the Solar Panel I presume is it a standard on the Europe 6000 ST so a fellow Benimar owner may know.



The solar panel size is approx 3 1/2 ft to 1 1/2 ft this is a guestimation. I usually get 2.5A on a sunny spring day. But last week it went over the 3A not for long but it was there. So thats why I question the 3A fuse rating.



Looking around it seems it is either a 60W or 80W. If 60W I guess that ties in with the 3A thing as I believe these deliver 17V(Also that seems suprisely high!)

I don't think it would be as high as 80W, more like 50-60W, depending on the type of panel they can produce over 20V, this is regulated to an appropriate charging voltage by the regulator.

But if 80W, in summer I should be expecting more Amps. But then we got back to this 3A fuse thing.

Panel outputs are usually quoted 'before the regulator', i.e. a 60W panel with a 20V output will provide a maximum current of 3A. The output from the regulator to the batteries would be around 4A at 14V

One additional query are there cleaning products that will improve the performance of the solar panels or just a wipe will do. Notice mine has a thin layer of grime. Does this significantly effect the performance of the Panel. I guess keeping it clean will only help

I just wash ours with clean water and polish off with a dry cloth, it does make a noticeable difference if they are very dirty.

AndyC