broken solar panel?

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System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
hello people, i wonder if you can help me, i have a 64 w unisolar panel that got connected the wrong way round to a charger controller that was already connected to the battery bank. it is now showing 2.6 volts in daylight.

is it likely the solar panel is broken or cold it just be a bad connection?

is there an easy way for me to tell if it is broken, and or fix it if it is?

thaks for any help.

si.
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  • n3qik
    n3qik Solar Expert Posts: 741 ✭✭
    #2
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    Re: broken solar panel?

    If the panel has a junction box, look inside it. Look for one/two black components with a lead on each side. These are blocking/bypass diodes. Remove them and see if the voltage gets back up to normal. If this does not work, then the panel is shot. Being a thin-film panel, they are not repairable.
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  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
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    Re: broken solar panel?

    I agree with Ken,most likely a diode. On a side not, a cold panel will actually put out MORE power when cold.

    Tony
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  • n3qik
    n3qik Solar Expert Posts: 741 ✭✭
    #4
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    Re: broken solar panel?

    Typo in post # 1
    cold = could
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  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
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    Re: broken solar panel?

    Whatss at typoo?

    T

    Duh! on my part!
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #6
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    Re: broken solar panel?

    thanks guys!

    i had a look and there weren't any diodes but in the process of taking it off the roof i got to measure the volatge across the panel before any connections and it was putting out the 18 expected volts so reasoned it must have been a dodgy connection. now everything working sweet! :D so thanks!

    simon
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