My battery has a switch to disconnect all connections while at the dock and not being used. Only the solar panel is connected. The battery goes from full charge to 50% down over a week with no other connections. The solar panel is putting out over 13 volts in the sun. Is it possible it is draining the battery overnight? Maybe the diode that suppose the keep this from happening has gone bad. It is a flexable solor panel that used to be sold by most marine stores. Probably about 10 watts.
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Disconnect
How old are the batteries? Have you tried disconnecting everything, including the solar panel and seeing where the batteries are the following week. Is it possible the batteries are bad?
How old are the batteries? Have you tried disconnecting everything, including the solar panel and seeing where the batteries are the following week. Is it possible the batteries are bad?
It is very possible that ...
the blocking diode may have failed and you are powering the panel at night from the battery. Do what Ross suggets; get a digital multimeter and test for voltage with the panel uncovered and covered. Rather than looking for a specific voltage you are going to be looking for direction of flow. If you get a negative voltage reading when the panel is covered you have reverse flow and I would suspect the diode. You should have a positive reading with the panel uncovered if not the connection polarity is reversed. There is always the possibility that you may have some stray draw in your system so you may want to test for it. Beware of bilge pump which are usually wired direct. Disconnect the negative terminal and place a test light between the terminal and battery post. If the light goes on you have a draw. Another thing you can do is charge your battery and disconnect the solar panel for a week and then test the state of charge of the battery. Good luck and let us know what you find.
the blocking diode may have failed and you are powering the panel at night from the battery. Do what Ross suggets; get a digital multimeter and test for voltage with the panel uncovered and covered. Rather than looking for a specific voltage you are going to be looking for direction of flow. If you get a negative voltage reading when the panel is covered you have reverse flow and I would suspect the diode. You should have a positive reading with the panel uncovered if not the connection polarity is reversed. There is always the possibility that you may have some stray draw in your system so you may want to test for it. Beware of bilge pump which are usually wired direct. Disconnect the negative terminal and place a test light between the terminal and battery post. If the light goes on you have a draw. Another thing you can do is charge your battery and disconnect the solar panel for a week and then test the state of charge of the battery. Good luck and let us know what you find.
Diode
If you don't have a meter, put a 12 volt light bulb in series with one of the legs of the solar panel when it is either dark or covered. If the diode is bad you should see a dim glow. Sail On... Terry
If you don't have a meter, put a 12 volt light bulb in series with one of the legs of the solar panel when it is either dark or covered. If the diode is bad you should see a dim glow. Sail On... Terry
It is the solar panel
I ran the test suggested and the panel is draining the battery. I left the battery fully charged overnight and it is still fully charged without the solar panel connected. It was drawing quite a lot according to the volt meter. Where would I find this diode and where would I get a replacement? Is it on the positive or negative side? Radio shack seems like a likly place once I find the thing and take it out. Does it look like a fuse? Thanks for everyones help!
I ran the test suggested and the panel is draining the battery. I left the battery fully charged overnight and it is still fully charged without the solar panel connected. It was drawing quite a lot according to the volt meter. Where would I find this diode and where would I get a replacement? Is it on the positive or negative side? Radio shack seems like a likly place once I find the thing and take it out. Does it look like a fuse? Thanks for everyones help!
The diode will likely look like
a little cylinder about 1/8 inch in diameter and about1/4 inch long with wire sticking out each end. they are rated by voltage and current(amps). You can connect it in line with crimping on connectors and slip a length of insulating tubing over the whole thing. There is a band on one end of the diode that denotes polarity. If you don't have a digital multimeter you should get one. They cost less than fifty bucks. and get a little book that explains all of the uses.
a little cylinder about 1/8 inch in diameter and about1/4 inch long with wire sticking out each end. they are rated by voltage and current(amps). You can connect it in line with crimping on connectors and slip a length of insulating tubing over the whole thing. There is a band on one end of the diode that denotes polarity. If you don't have a digital multimeter you should get one. They cost less than fifty bucks. and get a little book that explains all of the uses.
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