Solar panels are a feasible way of generating electricity to power your household and save electricity costs.
In this recent decade, solar panels have gained quite a popularity quickly due to the significant increase in the awareness of clean energy.
If you, too, have solar panels on your roof and cannot calculate the output they produce, then keep reading our article to learn the easiest way to “how to measure solar panel output?”
When solar panels are installed on the roof of your house, they concentrate light energy emitted from the sun and then, through their photovoltaic cells or mirror, transform it into electrical power.
How To Measure Solar Panel Output?
Measuring the output produced by your solar panel is crucial to purchasing a solar panel, as it is not always the case that your 100W solar panel will generate the exact watts of electrical power.
Therefore, the most uncomplicated way to calculate the solar panel’s output is to use a multimeter, which will give you a measure for both amps and volts.
Before measuring the output, connect the multimeter to the solar panel and put it in direct sunlight.
Set the settings to DC amperage or DC volts to measure amps or volts from your multimeter. For voltage, always set the multimeter to a higher reading.
For instance, if the capacity for the solar panel is 20V, then put your measuring device to 100V to avoid errors.
To measure the output in amps again, set the reading higher than the one for your solar panel.
After obtaining a reading for both amps and volts, multiply them to get the final wattage your solar panel produces.
Factors Impacting Solar Panel Output:
Solar panel output is not only impacted by the sunlight that these panels receive, but it is also highly dependent on the kind of efficiency that the cells depict and the size of the solar panel.
Cell Efficiency:
These solar panel cells are mainly manufactured out of silicone.
Two types of semiconductors are used to make these cells: n-type silicon and p-type silicon, both of which serve different purposes.
N-type silicon has an additional electron in its outer level, whereas p-type silicone has a reduced electron in its outer level.
Both types of these silicons are layered next to each other in a solar panel cell to ensure that the solar panel works efficiently.
Each solar panel cell can convert at least 20% of the sunlight that falls on them into electricity.
Together, depending on the number of these cells, they can roughly generate 400 watts.
Therefore, the more efficient these solar power cells are, the more they convert sunlight into electrical power.
Size Of The Solar Panel:
The two primary size groups are the most typically available and commonly used sizes of solar power panels: 60 solar cell panels and 72 solar cell panels.
The 60-cell solar panels are about 3.25 feet wide and approximately 5.4 feet tall, with the efficiency of generating an electrical output ranging between 270 to 300 watts.
However, 72-cell solar panels can generate 350 to 400 watts, and this is because of the relatively bigger size that they come in and are also accompanied by an additional row of cells.
Therefore, it is evident that the external factors of the environment are responsible for the productivity of a solar panel, as each forum’s personal and unique attributes also play a vital role in the final output.
The Energy Produced By A Solar Panel:
All solar panels available on the market are rated through the amount of direct current power they can generate under ordinary conditions.
The output for a solar panel is measured in watts after the amperage (current) and volt are multiplied together, representing the panel’s hypothetical power creation under an optimal temperature and sunlight.
Different solar panels can produce various ranges of energy; a solar panel’s most frequently used energy is 250-400 watts per hour.
However, higher power ratings are preferred over lower power ratings.
Even when you go on your purchase of a solar panel, every panel will be priced according to the wattage that it can produce.
Therefore, the more you consider your solar panel wattage, the higher you will have to pay.
Easy Calculation Of Power Output Of The Solar Panel:
If you are determined to calculate the power output of your solar panel on your own, then you can do it by following the stated method.
First, observe the number of hours that your solar panel receives direct sunlight on a bright sunny day.
This is important so that your outcome does not mislead you. Secondly, you must know the wattage every solar cell installed on your roof can produce.
Start by multiplying the single wattage of a cell by the number of cells you positioned.
Followed by this, multiply it by the number of hours your solar panels got direct sunlight, and you will have your outcome.
For instance, if you live in a state that observes a dazzling sun throughout the day and is in direct contact with the solar panels for 5 hours, each cell is 5W, and you have 50 solar cells.
50 cells x 5W= 250W
250W x 5 Hours= 1250 watts-hour is roughly produced in a day.
Conclusion:
So, without further delay to the process, go and measure the output produced by your solar panel to confirm if it is generating the amount of electricity the manufacturers claimed. If not, then do not forget to register a complaint!
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