Many people globally are going solar by investing in solar panels. It means they rely on solar panels for essential things like battery charging.
Since the solar industry is relatively new, there is so much to learn—for example, the charging, the battery process, etc.
Besides, there is so much to learn regarding using solar panels. But, for this article, we focus on how to know if the solar panel is charging the battery.
We define all the essential things to check and tips to remember to keep your battery fully charged with solar panels.
Ensure that you check out the information below to define how to know if the solar panel is charging the battery and other related FAQs on the same. Read on!
How Do I Check If a Solar Panel Is Charging a Battery?
After installing your solar panels, one of the most important things to check is whether it is charging the battery correctly. With people going solar due to its environmental-friendly features, solar panels are becoming an integral part of society, so it would help to determine if they work right.
And, of course, determining if the solar panel is charging a battery is a core thing. There are a few ways to know if the solar panel is charging the battery, including:
Check The Battery
With a solar panel system, it is only suitable to have a battery that stores solar energy from the solar panel. So, determining the battery’s voltage will help determine if the solar panel is charging the battery well.
There are steps to follow when measuring the battery’s voltage, including:
- Ensure that wires from the solar panels are disconnected. And when measuring the battery voltage, ensure you write what is displayed.
- Reconnect your wires to the solar panel to charge the battery for the day. After a few hours, measure the battery’s voltage
- If your battery’s voltage has increased, it is clear that your solar panel is charging the battery correctly.
- It is crucial to look out for any loose ends in the battery connection. To avoid corrosion, ensure that you clean every clamp before reconnecting it.
It is vital to take care of your battery by cleaning up all the dirt, and if the battery is installed outside, ensure that it is well-covered to avoid permanent damage.
Discover If Your Solar Panel Is Working Right
The solar panel is the core of your home solar system. Thus, it would be great to ensure that everything is working right.
There are a few components you need to check to define if things are working right, including:
- The solar panel naturally has a negative and positive terminal marked with a red and black probe. The red probe on your solar panel fits the positive terminal, while the black one is for the negative terminal.
- When direct sunlight falls on the solar panels, it would be best to check the DC voltage. If it is between 10 to 18 volts, the operation is correct and helpful in charging the battery.
- If the multimeter doesn’t have any voltage details, you can always recheck the connection and define that the solar panels are working right.
If the solar panel isn’t working right after checking the connection, you need to consult a technical team for assistance since it is likely that it needs repairing.
Plus, physical damage in solar panels is quite common since the devices are placed outside, prone to physical damage from animals, falling debris, hail storm, etc.
Determine If the Solar Regulator Is Working Well
Generally, a solar regulator works to maintain stability during the process of charging the battery with solar panels. It monitors the battery’s charge and stops charging if it is complete.
The regulator works to prevent overcharging of the batteries and control the current flow from the solar panels to the batteries.
Disconnecting the device is the most convenient way to determine if a solar regulator is working right. Later, directly connect the solar panel to your battery, and if you can select the current directly, the regulator may not be working right.
Check The Solar Panel Inverter
Solar inverters convert solar energy from DC to AC, ensuring that your home appliances can use power from solar panels.
Determining whether your solar panel inverter is working right or wrong is easy. After all, it has a display that can help you check for errors.
Check out the color lighting display for the day since it is when the solar system is at its best.
There are a few colors that signify different things, including:
- Green: the inverter works well
- Blinking Green: Low light
- No color: It means no light
- Orange/ Yellow: Inverter isn’t working and often results in an error code.
An error code in your solar panel inverter display means an issue with the inverter or other connected devices, such as the battery, solar panel, regulator, and wiring. It would also mean that your battery charging can be impossible with any errors in the solar system.
Check The Wirings
After checking out the essential devices and determining if there are working right, another way to know if the solar panel is charging the battery would be to check the wiring.
Use a digital multimeter to define the wires’ voltage which connects the solar panels to the regulator and battery. This process will test the wires’ current to determine if it directs enough current to the battery.
Ensure that you disconnect the wire from the solar regulator and the battery to avoid any accidents.
A digital multimeter will help you determine the voltage differences between the wires. They should measure the same and a little less than your solar panel’s voltage.
There are a few possible issues if the digital multimeter doesn’t show any results on the voltage measurements. For example, the wire connection may be wrong, making it impossible to transport the current to the battery for charging.
Ensure the wires are in the correct ports and if they are damaged. Wire damage can reduce the solar panel’s current flow, making the battery charging process less efficient.
