[Rhodes22-list] Solar panel inquiry

[Charles Nieman]

Where were you when I was fighting electrical engineering in college. This is the GREATEST explanation I have ever heard (and I have heard bunches). With this knowledge I could have been an electrical engineer instead of an architect ......... naw ....... Architect is better ......... HUGE AND MANY THANKS

Charles 

On Jul 16, 2012, at 8:30 PM, jimtracyjohnston at centurytel.net wrote:

> Charles,
> In simple terms an electrical energy has two basic units, voltage and 
> amperage. Voltage is force or pressure on the electron to move in a 
> conductor, think of water pressure PSI. The amperage is the quanitiy of 
> electrons that are moving in a conductor. A squirt gun can have a great 
> deal of pressure (volts) as it squirts water, however, there is very 
> little volume or gallons per minute. The amperage is the quanity of 
> electrons that are moved i.e. gallons per minute. You need BOTH for a 
> useful electrical circuit. A test of your solor panel might indicate 
> the presence of voltage, however, if there is no amperage or quanity of 
> electrons being produced by the solor panel it can not refill your 
> battery. What would fill your bath tub first, a squirt gun with 100 PSI 
> (volts) and one pint/min. or a garden hose with 30 PSI max. but 5 
> gallon/min.? You can test a battery for voltage and get a reading, 
> however, it is "dead". Note the rating on batteries amp hours. You will 
> need to test for both voltage and amperage. Connect your solor panel to 
> any load (one wire to each end of a resistor) You measure the voltage 
> by putting a volt meter at each end of the resistor this is parallel. 
> Parellel means the electrons has a choice of going thru the resistor or 
> volt meter. Now to measure the amperage you must take one wire off the 
> load (resistor)  and put an ampmeter between the wire from the solor 
> panel and the load (resistor). This called in series and the electrons 
> have no choice, it must go thru the ampmeter and load to complete the 
> circuit. Even if there is voltage present the battery might not be 
> getting any electrons. Normally a power source will be rated watts. 
> This is the volts times the amps. Even if you have 12 volts but no amps 
> this means NO power. 12 volts times zero amps equals zero power. Good 
> Luck
> 
> Quoting PBR <pbryanriley at gmail.com>:
>> Charles,
>> There are some previous posts about batteries, panels, and charge
>> controllers.  A charged battery should be able to run your instrument
>> panel only for days easily especially with solar panel(s).  So
>> something is amiss.  Check your water levels.  Do you have a charge
>> controller?  If not, that may have contributed to earlier battery
>> degradation.  Four years is not bad, but with your light use I would
>> expect them to last longer.  To test you solar panels you can check
>> open circuit voltage with a voltmeter.  Disconnect the panels or
>> disconnect you battery with everything else off.  In good sun your
>> panels voltage shout produce an open circuit voltage significantly
>> higher than battery voltage, say 15-20 volts. 
>> -PBR
>> 
>> 
>> On Sat, Jul 14, 2012 at 1:48 PM, Charles Nieman
>> <blue66corvette at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> So I left the instrument panel on when I left the boat a few days 
>> ago and came
>> back to dead battery!! The penalty for being stupid. 
>>> 
>>> Hooked up a trickle charger to the battery and am now recharged. 
>>> 
>>> The question is, what is the best way to verify if my solar panels 
>> are still
>> operational (I think they are original equipment and few things last 
>> forever)?
>>> 
>>> And how much charge would one expect to get from fully operational solar
>> chargers?
>>> 
>>> The batteries are dated 2008, how many years could one expect these 
>> to last?
>> (boat does not have electric motor hoist or electric start on outboard;
>> batteries only power lights, AM/ FM radio, and compass/depth 
>> gauge/knot meter). 
>>> 
>>> Thanks in advance
>>> 
>>> Charles Nieman
>>> 98R22
>>> DayDream
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> 
> 
> 
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