Callin all clever clogs ;-)

[ned37]

you can still test it using volts, just not as well.  hook the meter up with the panel connected to a battery in bright sun and watch needle closely as you shade panel the needle will show a slight deflection.

[Bixxer Bob]

Happy for any of the electrical experts to correct me if I'm wrong, but my limited knowledge suggests to me that the volts setting will only test whether there are volts coming out of the panel.  It won't show whether the panel has high resistance to reverse current when the panel output drops below the battery.  It's when the panel current drops below the battery that the battery begins to discharge into the panel (which may hard the panel or even risk a fire) which is what Kenny wants to avoid.

[Bixxer Bob]

Hey Kenny,  you could use one of these to be sure:

http://www.eachbuyer.com/solar-regulator-controller-panel-charger-battery-regulator-12v-24v-30a-p37974.html?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=EDM&utm_campaign=spead_mail_20151123

Connect the solar panel output to the (funnily enough) solar panel input,  the battery to "battery" and you can even have a power output.  anything you connect to this will draw on the panel if there's enough output, or the battery if there's not.