Failed Solar Panel Advice

[musttriharder]

The solar panel on my van doesn't appear to be charging anymore (last 'successful' cycle was 3 weeks ago). Oddly though, when looking at the Victron app first thing in the morning, there is voltage (but no watts / amps due to lack of sunlight), but an hour or so later, there's nothing.

I disconnected the MC4 connectors this morning to test the panel directly and got voltage @ 07:45, but when I checked again @ 09:11, I got nothing (multimeter probes are correctly inserted and contacting metal). I'm not sure what brand / rating the panel is (the black box at the back is labelled PV-XC502, which leads me to believe it's not perhaps the best panel in the world)

Would I be correct in assuming that the panel has failed, or am I doing something stupid?

If it has failed, given it appears to be bonded down, is the best way to remove using a windscreen removing wire?

Thanks for any advice

 

[Deaky]

Your charger is turned off. Go to settings and switch it back on

 

[musttriharder]

Your charger is turned off. Go to settings and switch it back on

Multimeter was connected directly into the solar panel cables, MPPT was disconnected from the circuit, so why would that matter?

Rain today, so no chance of PV voltage > 5v over battery voltage to initiate charge, but yesterday was bright sunshine and PV voltage didn't go over 12v

 

[CtotheA]

Watching this! I have the same problem, zero problems in over 2 years but I’ve the last 30 days have had the very same symptoms. I haven’t fully cleaned the panel as yet (tomorrow’s job!) let me know what you find

 

[Salty Spuds]

Loads of info & experience of this on the forum. Search for “failed solar panel”

 

[Dellmassive]

looks to me like the panel has failed.?

is you get volts say in morning,

the sun come out and you loose the volts,

its normally thermal expansion causing micro cracks in the cell connections go open circuit.

so cut the panel off. . .

fit vinyl wrap and stick down a new panel to that.


+++


get a decent branded panel


+++



******************************************************************

SOLAR:

• Solar Pwm & Mppt Controllers - How I Done It -
• Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -
• What Solar Panel & Controller? - How We Done It -
• Solar Panel Cutting Hole In Roof !!! - How We Done It -
• 300w Plus Solar Club -- How I Done It --
• Solar Sheds & Other Non-t6 Solar Projects - How We Done It -
• [Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -

My Panels:

• [Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -
• 50w 12v socket Dash Fold panel
• 50W Bluefusion Fold panel
• 200W Lensun Fold panel
• 110w Lensun Flex panel + Mag tape
• 100w Renogy Eclipse fold panel
• 160w PhotUnis Flex rear gland panel
• 100w Renogy suitcase
• 120w Bluefusion fold panel
• 200w Lensun flex panel
• 200w Renogy suitcase panel
• 100w Renogy suitcase 2021 vsn
• 150w PU flex rear gland panel
• 160w Renogy flex rear gland panel
• 200w Renogy suitcase Kit - V2
• 150W Lensun Black Flex Panel

*****************************************************

 

[musttriharder]

Watching this! I have the same problem, zero problems in over 2 years but I’ve the last 30 days have had the very same symptoms. I haven’t fully cleaned the panel as yet (tomorrow’s job!) let me know what you find

To search the forum as per @Salty Spuds advice @CtotheA, google "failed solar panel site:www.t6forum.com". I already had and was hoping someone might have replaced the diodes / electronics rather than having to replace the whole panel

This has the same panel as mine

This demonstrates similar issues

 

[musttriharder]

looks to me like the panel has failed.?

is you get volts say in morning,

the sun come out and you loose the volts,

its normally thermal expansion causing micro cracks in the cell connections go open circuit.

so cut the panel off. . .

fit vinyl wrap and stick down a new panel to that.


+++


get a decent branded panel


+++



******************************************************************

SOLAR:

• Solar Pwm & Mppt Controllers - How I Done It -
• Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -
• What Solar Panel & Controller? - How We Done It -
• Solar Panel Cutting Hole In Roof !!! - How We Done It -
• 300w Plus Solar Club -- How I Done It --
• Solar Sheds & Other Non-t6 Solar Projects - How We Done It -
• [Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -

My Panels:

• [Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -
• 50w 12v socket Dash Fold panel
• 50W Bluefusion Fold panel
• 200W Lensun Fold panel
• 110w Lensun Flex panel + Mag tape
• 100w Renogy Eclipse fold panel
• 160w PhotUnis Flex rear gland panel
• 100w Renogy suitcase
• 120w Bluefusion fold panel
• 200w Lensun flex panel
• 200w Renogy suitcase panel
• 100w Renogy suitcase 2021 vsn
• 150w PU flex rear gland panel
• 160w Renogy flex rear gland panel
• 200w Renogy suitcase Kit - V2
• 150W Lensun Black Flex Panel

*****************************************************

Thanks @Dellmassive

 

[Raul a/3]

Unfortunately these type of panels do fail and there’s nothing you can do but find a cheese wire and remove it.

 

[Salty Spuds]

To search the forum as per @Salty Spuds advice @CtotheA, google "failed solar panel site:www.t6forum.com". I already had and was hoping someone might have replaced the diodes / electronics rather than having to replace the whole panel

This has the same panel as mine

This demonstrates similar issues

It’s not the diodes. It’s cracking of the bus bars as @Dellmassive has highlighted. Very common problem.

 

[DXX]

Unfortunately these type of panels do fail and there’s nothing you can do but find a cheese wire and remove it.

You can just fit another over the top.

 

[Raul a/3]

You can just fit another over the top.

And how it’s going to help with heat on the next one? Repeat same mistake? Better go for a decent ally frame and glass, it will outlast the vehicle.

 

[DXX]

And how it’s going to help with heat on the next one? Repeat same mistake? Better go for a decent ally frame and glass, it will outlast the vehicle.

My panel is 5 years old and still going strong, on a Reflex Silver GRP Reimo roof. I’ve checked and it doesn’t get hot.
Anything not flush with the roof will cause extra drag and fuel consumption, calculate that into the lifetime of the vehicle and it’ll negate any panel cost savings I think.