Are dokio taking the piss ?

[osman]

So I’ve emailed dokio about my 300w panel set as they are only producing around 60w in direct strong sunlight.
they have actually answered ! But I can’t help but think they are ttp. They keep asking me to use a multI meter ,
and measure the voltage .. ok fine and it showed around 18v in shade and a maximum of 22 v in good sunlight ,
of course they use pigeon english as they are in China . But whenever I mentioned showing the actual current produced eg
watts/amps they were uninterested , just the voltage with a multimeter and no load or controller .
So not really demonstrating anything other than the panels do generate some electricity and the wiring is functioning .. am i missing something here ? Or are they avoiding the real issue … eg poor output power.By the way I use a Victron mppt controller and 10awg cables with all the correct fittings etc and the watts are measured using an app on my iPhone . I plugged two renogy 100w panels into my set up to test for sure and immediately got 160 w in the same location and weather conditions as my dokio panels gave me 60 w same load etc .

 

[Dellmassive]

So the 300w dokio is only producing 60w.

Chances are the is a crack in a cell or break In the busbar.

As the 300w units are made up of multiple 50w or 100w cell packs.

Ie the 300w panel may be 3* 100w panels.... All producing 22v but connected in parallel.

So two of the panels may have faults.... But still showing good voltage.

Current should be (upto) 6A per 100w. (18A for 300W,)

So what's the spec?

Got any pics of the panel?.

 

[Salty Spuds]

What’s the load on the panel?

 

[osman]

So the 300w dokio is only producing 60w.

Chances are the is a crack in a cell or break In the busbar.

As the 300w units are made up of multiple 50w or 100w cell packs.

Ie the 300w panel may be 3* 100w panels.... All producing 22v but connected in parallel.

So two of the panels may have faults.... But still showing good voltage.

Current should be (upto) 6A per 100w. (18A for 300W,)

So what's the spec?

Got any pics of the panel?.

So the load was just a leisure battery in this instance but I guess my fridge was having a rest .. it’s connected to the load output of the victron and can draw up to 100w when it’s angry

 

[osman]

What’s the load on the panel?

the leisure battery my blackvue cameras and a fridge is usually pulling .

 

[osman]

So the 300w dokio is only producing 60w.

Chances are the is a crack in a cell or break In the busbar.

As the 300w units are made up of multiple 50w or 100w cell packs.

Ie the 300w panel may be 3* 100w panels.... All producing 22v but connected in parallel.

So two of the panels may have faults.... But still showing good voltage.

Current should be (upto) 6A per 100w. (18A for 300W,)

So what's the spec?

Got any pics of the panel?.

I’ve tried covering each panel and it’s about the same drop each time so they all seem to be the same and I guess they must all be working !

 

[RedUn]

I'm no expert but I'd say you need a bigger load?

Battery must be fairly well charged at that voltage?

I. E. I run a fridge on my 120w panel it doesn't struggle at all, I'd imagine 300w is overkill?

 

[osman]

I'm no expert but I'd say you need a bigger load?

Battery must be fairly well charged at that voltage?

I. E. I run a fridge on my 120w panel it doesn't struggle at all, I'd imagine 300w is overkill?

I’m no expert either but generally if it is in bulk mode the battery is not that well charged . Also when my fridge kicks in it pulls more than the panel generates .. ie it’s sapping the leisure battery as well as the solar panel . That cannot be correct for a 300w panel in direct strong sunlight .

 

[osman]

Just to let you all know ,

Dokio are sending me new panels .

Thanks for the input .

Result !

 

[Dellmassive]

Result.

Looks like if you have 4x panels, they must be 75w each.... To make the 300w.

 

[osman]

Result.

Looks like if you have 4x panels, they must be 75w each.... To make the 300w.

I guess so ! When the new set arrives , I may use this old set to experiment , if they send me the same set up I’ll have three controllers so potentially three independent set ups .. over the top of course .
But I have been pondering on using one just to keep my starter battery topped up on a sunny day . ..
Whatever happens I’m just hoping to get a decent reliable set up out of all this .

 

[osman]

So now I have two panels ! (Or rather 8 panels in two sets of four )And several controllers my mind is boggling as to possibilities … if I did use both sets of panels together would I need a different controller ? I could use one panel to charge a second battery as I have the extra controllers and cables etc ..
I can see the new panel is delivering twice to three times the power depending on load .. but when the load is minimal eg just the leisure battery in absorption mode the panels behave very similar .. I

 

[signtoo]

So now I have two panels ! (Or rather 8 panels in two sets of four )And several controllers my mind is boggling as to possibilities … if I did use both sets of panels together would I need a different controller ? I could use one panel to charge a second battery as I have the extra controllers and cables etc ..
I can see the new panel is delivering twice to three times the power depending on load .. but when the load is minimal eg just the leisure battery in absorption mode the panels behave very similar .. I

Long term would you say the Dokio was worth it? I'm considering the 100w

 

[osman]

Long term would you say the Dokio was worth it? I'm considering the 100w

I’d get a victron solid panel and leave stuff like the dokio well alone … they are a nice idea but I’ve had enough of the fact that they just degrade too quickly .. the portability is a huge plus but I’ve had three on them now and everyone has had issues .