Albert Arruda
- Oct 16, 2014
- 10
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2014
- Messages
- 10
Hi everybody.
I have a small setup for lighting purposes of solar panel on my shed.
I started out with only one 25W 12V and in the summer time this was more than enough.
Sadly, come in winter the sun is just at the boarder line of the buildings in front my shed on the other side of the road, never shining on my panel.
So, that said, I set out and bought a 100W 12V panel and have it on my house attached to the wall where the sun shines for a good 3 hours. This is currently giving me an output of around 3.5A. I don't need much as my battery is only a 22amh and I am using this only for lights and a PIR flood light. Soon could have my 12V wireless drill battery being charge also.)
Anyway, the real issue is that I am now with a huge dilemma. How to connect my volt/amp meter to my solar panel. This was working before but now I just can't get it to work.
Been out there 3 times now and all I get is either volts or amps never both. I understand that the amps being measured will be on short circuit. I also understand that a volt meter must be connected in parallel with the load and an amp meter must be connected in series with the load. A bit of a debate here as to which side will it connect? The positive or the negative? It works on both sides.
My volt amp meter is a 2 thin red & black wire for isolated power supply and thick black, red and blue wire.
I have had it as thick red connected to the solar panel positive, thick black connected to the negative side of the solar panel and the blue wire going to the charge controller.
What am I doing wrong here? Any one? I am want to measure at all times my incoming volts and amps from my solar panels. These are connected in parallel by the way, so total power is 125W at 12V which should give me in ideal conditions around 10A of current.
Any help on this is truly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Albert
PS: Constant measure of amp / volts and then connect to the charge controller.
I have a small setup for lighting purposes of solar panel on my shed.
I started out with only one 25W 12V and in the summer time this was more than enough.
Sadly, come in winter the sun is just at the boarder line of the buildings in front my shed on the other side of the road, never shining on my panel.
So, that said, I set out and bought a 100W 12V panel and have it on my house attached to the wall where the sun shines for a good 3 hours. This is currently giving me an output of around 3.5A. I don't need much as my battery is only a 22amh and I am using this only for lights and a PIR flood light. Soon could have my 12V wireless drill battery being charge also.)
Anyway, the real issue is that I am now with a huge dilemma. How to connect my volt/amp meter to my solar panel. This was working before but now I just can't get it to work.
Been out there 3 times now and all I get is either volts or amps never both. I understand that the amps being measured will be on short circuit. I also understand that a volt meter must be connected in parallel with the load and an amp meter must be connected in series with the load. A bit of a debate here as to which side will it connect? The positive or the negative? It works on both sides.
My volt amp meter is a 2 thin red & black wire for isolated power supply and thick black, red and blue wire.
I have had it as thick red connected to the solar panel positive, thick black connected to the negative side of the solar panel and the blue wire going to the charge controller.
What am I doing wrong here? Any one? I am want to measure at all times my incoming volts and amps from my solar panels. These are connected in parallel by the way, so total power is 125W at 12V which should give me in ideal conditions around 10A of current.
Any help on this is truly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Albert
PS: Constant measure of amp / volts and then connect to the charge controller.
