Callin all clever clogs ;-)

[KuzzinKenny]

Can anyone tell me a way of checkin me solar panel to see if it has a blocking diode 

there must be a test for this 

and don't start quotin A + K = Q x godzilla    :icon_wink:

cheerz

KK

[JoeDirt]

Can anyone tell me a way of checkin me solar panel to see if it has a blocking diode 

Diodes are used to make voltage go one direction... if you test your wires with a multi-meter you will get a reading one direction only. Meaning if you switch your test points you'll get a reading only on one direction.

Watch this video... it might help:

[nickjtc]

and don't start quotin A + K = Q x godzilla

Don't they teach you anything up there in the frozen north...??? :icon_wink:

Any fool knows it's x + y = M x king kong. 

Sorry for the hijack; can't help you on this one.

[KuzzinKenny]

Hey JoeDirt !! Nice Utube find  it was helpful but i'm still a bit    i can't see if me panel has any diodes cos its a small 30W portable solar panel but this is what i get with me multimeter on at Ohms.....

1k

.2 when i touch pos to neg on multimeter

1k when i touch pos to pos - neg to neg on panel

715k when i touch pos to neg - neg to pos on panel

if this makes any sense 

so does this mean there is a diode 

cheerz

KK

[KuzzinKenny]

Don't they teach you anything up there in the frozen north...??? :icon_wink:

Any fool knows it's x + y = M x king kong. 

Sorry for the hijack; can't help you on this one.

Hey nickjtc !! I realy thought it was godzilla  but as your more ejimicated than me i'll
take yer word for it that it is king kong  :icon_wink:

KK

[KuzzinKenny]

Hey JoeDirt !! Nice Utube find  it was helpful but i'm still a bit    i can't see if me panel has any diodes cos its a small 30W portable solar panel but this is what i get with me multimeter on at Ohms.....

1k

.2 when i touch pos to neg on multimeter

1k when i touch pos to pos - neg to neg on panel

715k when i touch pos to neg - neg to pos on panel

if this makes any sense 

so does this mean there is a diode 

cheerz

KK

Dump 

[Bixxer Bob]

Or bump even.... 

[nickjtc]

Dump 

[Bixxer Bob]

1k

.2 when i touch pos to neg on multimeter  this should be zero, oyu have a slight resistance somewhere but as long as you take it into consideration that's ok.

1k when i touch pos to pos - neg to neg on panel  1k will be the internal resistance of the panel

715k when i touch pos to neg - neg to pos on panel in this direction it should read 1 or very near to 1.  If indeed it is 715k and not 715 ohms, the reading you have suggests it does have a blocking diode

Why do you ask????

[JayDub]

Why do you ask????

He couldn't get the kettle to boil 

[KuzzinKenny]

Or bump even.... 

I'm also lisdexic  :icon_wink:

but it did get the reaction i wanted 

Hey BB !!  "Why do you ask????" I can't get the kettle to boil 

i want to plug the panel into me van as i dont use it very much and the winter sun might keep the battery topped up  but if there's no blockin diode it would discharge the battery overnite 

so it looks like the panel has a blockin diode 

cheerz

KK

[Bixxer Bob]

Simple test Kenny,  put your multimeter on "Amps".  With the panel in daylight  connect the panel positive lead to your multimeter red lead and the multinmeter black lead to the positive battery terminal.  Connect the negative panel lead to the battery negative.  That will read how many amps the panel is pushing out.

Now do the same with the panel covered up.  If the number of amps is now zero it has a diade and all is well.  If there are some amps and they have a minus sign in front then that's not good.

[KuzzinKenny]

Cheerz BB !! me multimeter only does ohms, volts and off  i bought it at Tandy  in the 80s  so i'll have to borrow one to do yer check 

http://www.tandyonline.co.uk

they aint got any shops but are still online 

KK

[JoeDirt]

Hey JoeDirt !! Nice Utube find  it was helpful but i'm still a bit    i can't see if me panel has any diodes cos its a small 30W portable solar panel but this is what i get with me multimeter on at Ohms.....

Sorry man... I didn't make it back to your post to see how you were doing. I was very distracted posting my Gizmo on another thread. Hopefully, Bixxer got you boiling water. 

[Bixxer Bob]

Cheerz BB !! me multimeter only does ohms, volts and off  i bought it at Tandy  in the 80s  so i'll have to borrow one to do yer check 

http://www.tandyonline.co.uk

they aint got any shops but are still online 

KK

You can get a decent digital one for about a fiver Ken

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Ammeter-AC-DC-Voltage-Checker-Tester-Digital-OHM-Multimeter-Voltmeter-/251800519897?hash=item3aa07b04d9:g:QxgAAOSwjVVVjCJL