Testing Solar Panel Efficiency

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Hello,

How would I go about testing the efficiency on a solar panel? Thanks.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Testing Solar Panel Efficiency

    is it really the efficiency that you are going for or do you just want to be sure a panel is putting out what it should? i ask this because the efficiency is what a pv will output in relation to its area in comparison to the solar intensity falling on that area.
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #3
    Re: Testing Solar Panel Efficiency

    i was looking to test efficiency. i know you get it when dividing the area by watts, so would you first test to see how many watts the panel is putting out then divide 1000 by that number?
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Testing Solar Panel Efficiency

    First, you neeed to calibrate the sun, so you know for sure what you are illuminating it with. Outdoors at noon can vary quite a bit from day to day.
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    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

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