How to test a solar panel.

Great video! Short, sweet, and straight to the point yet didn’t dismissed essential details of the subject. Thank you!

Amy, always a pleasure seeing your instructional videos when searching a particular solar related subject! Thanks for teaching all of us in the fashion you teach and all the best!

Great to see you Amy. I'd add a disclaimer that you should not leave the amp reading connected for too long. The way the amp reader works is by running current through a resistor inside the multimeter, and it will get hot if it's left connected with too high current for too long. The manual of your multimeter will tell you how long you can safely measure amps.

Great video, as someone who is familiar with electrics I don't think I could have explained it any better. Nice to see settings on multimeter and probe location! Thank you!

That was a great example and cool tech teach for someone who doesn't have a clue on how to use a multi meter and would like to. Thank you.

Amy, I have watched over 50 different solar panel, solar chargers, and battery videos includeing the DIY ones. YOU have the very BEST videos! I am very happy with how you go into great detail and use clear, easy to understand diagrams in your videos. Now I understand what all of the numbers and letters stand for. And with this new video I can check the condition of solar panels! Really grateful, Thank You Very Much!

I LOVE the way you do your videos! So clear and to the point! I think you're the only one with a "testing solar panel" video that kindly and clearly explained the spark that comes from testing amperage... and how to reduce the probability (shading panel before connecting and before disconnecting). Brilliant!

I love your very good presentation, your very good age and know how, clearing 61 years myself, your an encouragement. Thank you for your video.

Love it! Straightforward and simple…and thanks for the caution re: the “spark”.

Amy, I had to look at your video to see what you were up to. I am glad when I find someone who actually knows what they are doing. I can tell you that this panel of yours act likes it is brand new and I hope that the store is still selling them. One improvement that you could have made was to hook up the tester and have the panel shaded with cardboard in front of it to keep it cooler and then quickly remove the cardboard for the current reading. Your reading for current was so high with the panel being hot that it really impressed me. And you are right about the standard test conditions. They flash test them in the Lab so they don't have a chance to get hot.

Thank you! I was very confused before I watched this video.

You are very clear and correct teaching in all your videos. Thanks for sharing

Actually, sparks should always be avoided at all costs (except as required such as in arc welding). Electrical sparks can cause transfer of metal, which when done to an electrical connector, can cause a high impedance connection, which may result in poor performance or heat generation and possible fire. Best practice is to always cover the panel, before connecting or disconnecting an ammeter (or any low impedance load, including the solar charge controller).

Hi Amy nice to see you again, thanx for the tip 👍

Good demonstration! I found out the hard way on how not to check the amperage with a meter and blew some diodes but now I like my inductive DC meter so I can check the power output without disconnecting anything

I’m learning so much from your videos, I’m grateful for your help

Thank you for your help. I had no idea how to use a multimeter and you made it super simple. I found my connection issue

Excellent! Now I just have to go buy a multi-meter. Thank you for this video, helps a ton!.

This test shows if the panel is functional... However, the problem with this test is no one ever actually uses the panels with a short circuit or open circuit. The real test is when you have an actual load like a battery that is low with a controller that is rated to use enough load to be measured. Alternatively, you may use a power analyzer that would rate the output of the panel accurately.

Dear you are so good in explaining and you are the best