Solar panels provide green and clean energy and are also very effective at powering outdoor electronics without requiring any main power. They work with great efficiency for devices like outdoor lights and security cameras. However, sometimes you may encounter problems like solar panels not charging the batteries.
Let’s discuss how solar panels work and what causes problems with them. Moreover, we will discuss some troubleshooting tips that will help you regain the intended functionality of your solar panels.
Solar Battery Charging Basics
A solar battery charging system consists of 3 main components, which are the solar panels, battery, and charge controller. The solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into DC electricity. That electricity is passed to the charge controller, which regulates it to ensure that the batteries are being charged properly. Finally, the battery stores this electricity and powers the connected load for an uninterrupted operation.
In residential or commercial solar power systems, an additional component, the inverter, is used to convert the battery's DC to AC electricity to power bigger appliances.
How To Check If Solar Panel is Charging Battery?
You may connect a completely drained battery to the solar panel and leave it under the sun for some time to see if it is charging the battery. A more efficient and technical way of testing your solar panels is by using a multimeter. You can connect multimeter probes to solar panel output terminals to see their voltage output and compare that output with the rated output of your solar panels.
Another way is to check the charging indicators on your charge controller to see if the solar panel is charging the battery or not.
Why is Solar Panel Not Charging Battery?
Solar panels provide free and clean energy but sometimes they fail to operate normally and do not charge the battery. It may happen due to various reasons, and we have explained these reasons below for better understanding:
Insufficient Sunlight
The first reason is that your solar panels are not getting sufficient sunlight. This could be because you installed them at a bad location or at the wrong angle. Shades from trees and other objects may also reduce the sunlight for your solar panels.
Faulty Connections
Loose, damaged, or corroded connections from the solar panels to the controller and controller to the battery can create an inefficient system. These faulty connections create unwanted resistance in wires, so the battery does not charge efficiently.
Defective Components
Any of the three main components—the solar panels, charge controller, or battery—may lead to an inefficient system that reduces battery charging efficiency. Sometimes, inadequate wires also cause problems with solar battery charging.
Incorrect Setup
An incorrect setup of the solar electric system means that you are not connecting the components correctly or that you are using components that are not compatible with one another. So, having everything with the right specifications is crucial.
Overload or Overcharge Protection
Either your battery is overloaded, or the charge controller is detecting a state of overcharge. In either of these situations, the charge controller will prevent solar panels from charging batteries for safety reasons.
Battery Health
Lastly, your battery's health has dropped significantly and now it is unable to hold any charges. In this case, no matter how much you let the solar panels charge your battery, it will never hold charging efficiently.
Troubleshooting Steps of Solar Panel Not Charging Battery
Now that you understand the underlying problem of why your solar panel is not charging the battery. Here are the adequate troubleshooting steps you may follow to get it to work optimally again:
Insufficient Sunlight: choose the correct environment
Ensure your solar panel is installed somewhere its sunlight does not get obstructed by anything throughout the day. It is also important to align the solar panels at the correct angle to maximize efficiency.
Faulty Connections: redo and repair the connections
If your solar battery charging system has loose, damaged, or corroded connections then you must redo them to ensure efficient passage of electricity. This will aid solar panels in charging the battery.
Defective Components: replace or repair malfunctioning components
If any component in the solar battery charging system is malfunctioning, you must repair or replace it. It may include solar panels, a charge controller, wires, or a battery itself.
Incorrect Setup: make sure that every component is compatible with the system
When setting up your solar energy system, ensure that every component is compatible with one another. If any component is not compatible, it must be replaced with a compatible one for efficient performance.
Overload or Overcharge Protection: make sure that the battery is not overloaded
Check if your battery is under excess load and remove extra load. If the battery is not charging due to overcharge protection, then it is good for battery safety and charging will resume once the battery requires charging.
Battery Health: replace the battery with one having good health
Bad batteries cannot hold a charge, and when your battery’s health significantly drops, you must replace it with a good one. This will resolve the problem and improve your system's efficiency.
Bonus: Reolink Solar Panel Security Camera Recommendation
One of the best applications of solar panels is for outdoor security cameras that operate completely wireless. Here are some of our top solar panel security camera recommendations for you.
4K WiFi Dual-Lens Solar Power Security Camera – Argus Track
Argus Track is a dual-lens 4K camera that comes with auto zoom tracking functionality. It works wirelessly over dual-band WiFi and gets its power from the integrated battery. That battery charges with solar panels for the camera and provides benefits like wireless installation and seamless functionality.
4K Dual-Lens Wi-Fi Solar/Battery Camera
4K 8MP Ultra HD, Auto-Zoom Tracking, Pan, Tilt & 6X Hybrid Zoom, Color Night Vision, Dual-Band Wi-Fi.
4K Wireless 4G Solar Power Camera – Reolink Go PT Ultra
The Reolink Go PT Ultra is a 4G LTE PT camera that does not need any wired internet or power connection. It provides 4K UHD results with smart detection and color night vision. It gets power from solar panels that come with it and the built-in battery provides long run time under all conditions.
FAQs
1. Why are my solar panels not producing full power?
The most common reason why your solar panels are not producing full power is because they are not getting enough sunlight. It may happen because of bad placement when solar panels are completely or partially under shade. Moreover, dirt, debris, and aging of solar panels can reduce their efficiency.
2. How do I know if my solar panels are bad?
If your solar panels are not powering the desired load efficiency, then it is a clear sign that they are not performing well. If you see any physical damage or water seeping into the solar panels, then it means that they have gone bad.
3. What is the life expectancy of a solar panel?
Solar panels are expected to last for 25-30 years on average. However, sometimes they may keep performing after this period but with reduced efficiency.
Conclusion
Understanding why solar panels are not charging your battery will be crucial to maintaining the functionality of your electronics, such as security cameras and outdoor lights. There could be multiple reasons why your solar panels are not charging the battery. We hope that the troubleshooting steps and tips in this guide have helped you obtain optimal performance from your solar panels once again.