Testing an old Solar Panel

[Ilenart]

I have an old (approx 10 years) solar panel which I can obtain for free and there is a spot above the davits where it will fit nicely. However before I go to the trouble of fitting it I am wondering what tests I can perform. In a reference book I read you should get an average of 19v in an open curcuit and around 15v under load. In full light I should be reading around 7 amps? Any other tests?

The panel is rigid / crystalline and measures 1.37m by 0.74m (5.9 by 2.4 feet). Not sure what brand. My guess is that it is around 100w.

Ilenart

[donradclife]

You can test the panel with just a multimeter, if it has amps as well as volts. As you said, the open circuit voltage should be 17-19 volts in direct sunlight. If you put the ammeter directly across the leads, you will read short-circuit amps. The amps the panel will put into a battery are typically about 80% of the short-circuit amps.

[Ilenart]

thanks Don