Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Elec-trickery.....

untill someone with actual experience with solar panels chimes in..
what is the voltage across the left and middle terminals? middle and right, left and right ?
Im just trying to figure out why it has 3 terminals

In very low consistent light L-R = 12v, M-R =12v, M-L =0v (this is the one being shorted by the dodgy diode still connected)

I have a similar size and wattage panel, but that just has 2 connectors.
Also Rich Solar's other products also have just 2 connectors.
At a guess there are 2 panels in that one and the 3 connections are the parallel/series connections to those panels, the diode configuration would also suggest that is the case.
Your open circuit voltage across both panels should be about 22V, so again, a guess, but one panel may be broken.

I was wondering that. If one panel is shorted, that might be why you had disconnect the diode to make it work..

The BYAP shop sells a battery powered pump here...

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/shop/ ... etail.html

I'm not sure if it's 12V, but when I dragged the image into google images I found a look a like product with a file name that included " 12V" .

The search results are here

So perhaps you could ask for the specs to see if you can run it from a car battery or sommit

Cut the second diode leg, in very very weak sunlight it now reads L-R =21.8v M-R=0v M-L=0v. Looks like one panel but I think I will have to do some research
Bullwinkle sort of like that but a bit gruntier, even on most days Perth sun should give me enough power to either charge a few SLA's or directly power a water or air pump.
I don't know every time I think something is going to be easy it isn't

Interesting, wonder why there's 3 connections and 2 diodes then?
Odd.

I have a feeling it might be something to do with connecting multiple panels.
I should have told you not to cut the 2nd diode, just disconnect or desolder or whatever. If it is ok then it could still be used.

Does your multimeter have a diode test ? It looks strangely enough like a diode symbol

-->|-- kinda..

It runs a current through the diode and measures the Vf (forward voltage).
If you turn it backwards nothing should happen.

If you can salvage a diode, connect it to the + terminal of the panel (stripe furthest from terminal) then connect the stripe end to your regulator. And just connect the negative directly to the reg, or however it is supposed to be connected.
I wonder if I can draw that in ascii art ...
actually im not even going to try

Do you have a regulator ?
If not you can connect the panel directly to the battery to charge it, but you cannot leave it unattended without monitoring the battery voltage. You don't want to overcharge the battery. Connect it to the batt then put it in the sun, check the battery voltage does not go over 14.4v

Or you could build one.. (I wouldn't, too much work)
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_112335/article.html

my panel has 2 diodes and if you put a milti-metre on the various terminals, you get 12, 24 or 36 volts

Both diodes are dead and it appears on close inspection that the center terminal is not connected to anything apart from the diodes. I have a feeling SV's comment about the use to connect extra panels is correct.
So a good diode and a cheap regulator from ebay should get something going.
Sorry about hijacking your thread Bullwinkle.

My threads cant be hijacked as they rarely have a topic in the first place

you can test the panel without a reg. Just hook it up to a battery and watch the voltage, measure the current etc.