Solar Panel Question

[JWhitcomb]

I have one of those foot square trickle charge panels and need some help with the info panel. It says:

Wp=5 watts

Voc=24 volts

Isc=350 mA

Vspec=15volts

I@Vspec=324 mAmps



My guess is it a 5 watt unit but don't know what Wp means.



Voc= Volts open circut????



Isc=????



I@Vspec ??? The volts it puts out at 324 mAmps????



Thanks for the help.

 

[klenger]

Wp may mean working power, just a guess.



Voc is voltage open circuit (like you said)



Isc is probably current (I) at short circuit load



Vspec is the spec'd working voltage (15v)



I@Vspec is the current output at Vspec (15v)



Power = volts * amps = 15 * . 350 = 5. 25 Watts.



You can hook up this type of panel directly to a deep cycle battery without a chrage controller as it doesn't put out enough current to overcharge the battery. Don't expect it to do much more than make up of normal battery discharge from internal resistance.

 

[jcbrown]

You will need a diode to keep the solar panel from discharging the battery.

 

[dresslered]

Hey Jim, whatcha' going to do with all that new found power?

 

[JWhitcomb]

David, that is the one that has been mounted on the camper (just a trickle charger to keep it up while in the driveway). I am getting ready to add some of my big panels. With summer here, I want to leave the Fantastic Fan going most of the time. Damm, I hate drilling in the roof.