solar problems/need guidance

[tim a]

can the solar panels have the correct voltage and produce none or little amps?

[bcroe]

Note the operating voltage, which will rise predictably in cold weather but otherwise should be
pretty stable. With 2 similar strings, your clamp on ammeter should show they both put out
about the same amount of current. A significant shift could be a panel problem; I am wondering
what is with the 2 you pulled? I have nearly 2 million panel hours with no failures.

Going out to work on more electric fences now. Bruce Roe

[tim a]

panels are up and working. thank you all for the support. I needed it. the system really dosent have any monitoring system. what would be a good one for the spr3200 sun power inverters, and what should I monitor? amps, volts watts? should I get one that keeps totals?

[Mike90250]

finally have all the panels down. found another panel with low voltage. 15v. should I just leave the two panels out of two of the strings(1 panel per string) or use them?

I'd leave them down, and balance the strings with the good panels.

[tim a]

finally have all the panels down. found another panel with low voltage. 15v. should I just leave the two panels out of two of the strings(1 panel per string) or use them?

[bcroe]

Electric fences work; simple, I put up some here. Bruce Roe

[Mike90250]

after I got quote for roof repairs my attitude to them changed 180 degrees and I started to think about them as 'rats with fur' instead of cute animals.

And Pigeons and Seagulls are rats with wings

[tim a]

I had to temp. fix roof. the hole is between 2 rows. strange thing the roof never leaked.

[tim a]

depends of the nature of the loss- if that voltage reading was taken under Vmp / Imp or in the area then yes, not much production loss would result. If it was Voc then panel could develop huge resistance somewhere but since voltmeter has high input resistance on its own it still shown some voltage. When put in string this panel wouldn't let any significant current through. Hopefully bypass diodes would still work.

I'd replace the thing after checking one more time and making sure it was not shaded during measurements.

thank you

[max2k]

found 1 hole so far. I am starting to dislike squirrels.

after I got quote for roof repairs my attitude to them changed 180 degrees and I started to think about them as 'rats with fur' instead of cute animals.

[tim a]

You are measuring open circuit voltage? With 7 in series, that voltage loss isn't going to hurt the overall performance much, but if there is an internal short, it could be a safety hazard.

thank you

[max2k]

You are measuring open circuit voltage? With 7 in series, that voltage loss isn't going to hurt the overall performance much, but if there is an internal short, it could be a safety hazard.

depends of the nature of the loss- if that voltage reading was taken under Vmp / Imp or in the area then yes, not much production loss would result. If it was Voc then panel could develop huge resistance somewhere but since voltmeter has high input resistance on its own it still shown some voltage. When put in string this panel wouldn't let any significant current through. Hopefully bypass diodes would still work.

I'd replace the thing after checking one more time and making sure it was not shaded during measurements.

[max2k]

I don't know but I think cats and hawks are pretty good at eliminating squirrels.

cats- not much, those critters outrun them easily especially on the verticals . My cat was a hunter but he couldn't catch even single one of those. They actually had a nerve and were teasing him on regular basis. The cat was able to catch a bird in one jump if it was stupid enough to fly over too low over him but not a single squirrel.

[sensij]

I found 1 panel so far with a 27.8v (should be 40v) should I leave or look for a replacement? it is in a string of 7 in series and two 7 strings in parallel

You are measuring open circuit voltage? With 7 in series, that voltage loss isn't going to hurt the overall performance much, but if there is an internal short, it could be a safety hazard.

[tim a]

I found 1 panel so far with a 27.8v (should be 40v) should I leave or look for a replacement? it is in a string of 7 in series and two 7 strings in parallel