Why are my solar panels not generating electricity?

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asked Apr 13, 2023 in Other-Home/Garden by Jmet898 (660 points)
Why are my solar panels not generating electricity?

3 Answers

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answered Apr 14, 2023 by Wendell (41,840 points)
If your solar panels are not generating electricity it could be that you have tripped a circuit breaker or blown a fuse.

Or a wire could have come loose from the solar panel or the solar panel is bad or not getting enough sunlight.

In rare cases the solar panel may be bad but in most cases it's something else.

The solar charge controller could also be faulty or you have a loose or corroded wire that is connected to the solar charge controller.

If your solar battery is not getting fully charged it could be that there's not enough sunlight or you have a faulty solar charge controller, faulty solar battery or even bad wiring.

If your solar charge controller is not showing amps it could be faulty wiring, loose wiring or an issue or fault with the solar panels or input voltage.

The battery could also be the culprit or even the solar charge controller could be bad.

The amps will drop low if the battery is full or nearly full.

A solar charge controller should be as close to the battery as possible and in the same room or enclosure.

You should install your solar charge controller at least 3 feet or less to the battery or battery bank so that it can charge the battery better.

A solar charge controller does not have a fuse so it's important to install a fuse between the charge controller and the solar panel.

This also avoids any overheating of any wires and prevents appliances or electronics from catching fire or damaged in the event of a short circuit.

A solar charge controller will stop the electricity flow from the solar panel into the battery when the battery is fully charged.

Solar power systems will most often incorporate inverters and charge controllers to ensure trickle charging.

Batteries that are best for solar panels are the Lithium Solar Batteries.

While you can use a regular RV amp hour battery for solar the Lithium Solar batteries are best for solar panel use.

Batteries used in home energy storage typically are made with one of three chemical compositions: lead acid, lithium ion, and saltwater.

In most cases, lithium ion batteries are the best option for a solar panel system, though other battery types can be more affordable.

A solar panel lasts on average of 20 to 25 years.

However in some cases solar panels can last as long as 30 years but as the solar panels age they tend to lose the ability to charge and produce power as good as they would if new.

On average you should replace solar panels after 25 years or when they begin to charge less.

Reflected light will charge a solar panel.

You can place mirrors around your property to reflect sunlight towards your solar panels to help them charge better.

However if you can place the solar panels in the direct sunlight it will be even better.

Solar panels do charge in the shade as long as there's some daylight or some sunlight.

Although solar panels work best in direct sunlight the solar panels can and still do work some in shade or on cloudy days.

It's best however to place your solar panels in direct sunlight for the best results.

Solar panels do need cleaning to keep them from getting too dirty and blocking the sunlight.

It's best to clean the solar panels at least every few months or so unless they get dirty sooner.

Also if the solar panels get snow on them the snow should be removed or the snow will block the sunlight from reaching the solar panels and they won't charge.

Solar panels work in the rain and on cloudy days but the charging of the batteries with the solar panels on rainy days and cloudy days will be less.

You'll still have some charging and power output from the solar panels on rainy days and cloudy days but it won't be as good as it would be on sunny days.

Solar does work on rainy days but on rainy days the batteries with solar panels won't charge as fast or produce as much power.

However even on cloudy and rainy days the solar and solar panels will still work and produce some charge into the batteries.

A solar panel needs at least 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight to provide enough charge to the batteries.

However even on cloudy and raining days the solar panels will still work but just not as good.

Even though the average day is exactly 12 hours, the power you actually get on your panels is equal to about 5 to 6 hours of full sun per day.

Since the typical modern solar panel is about 12% efficient, you will get about 700 watts per square meter of panel.

Solar panels do not drain batteries at night.

Even though the sun is not shining at night and the batteries are not getting a charge the batteries will not be drained unless you leave something plugged into the inverter.

However the inverter and charge controller can drain some power off the battery at night but with a large enough battery bank that should not be much of an issue as the power drawn at night is very little.

Solar panels do work in the morning once the sun comes out.

As long as there's some daylight the solar panels will begin charging so once you get some daylight in the morning the solar panels will charge and work.

However solar panels don't work once the sun goes down as they need daylight and sunlight to produce the electricity.

Solar panels do work with ice on them as ice is clear and lets sunlight pass through.

However the solar panels tend to work much better without ice but if ice is on the solar panels your solar panels should still work and charge the batteries.

However if snow is on the solar panels the snow will block the sunlight and the solar panels will not work so you have to sweep off and remove snow from the solar panels for them to work.

Solar panels do not charge batteries at night.

To work the solar panels need sunlight or at least some daylight for the solar panels to convert the light or sunlight into electricity.

At night the light is gone so the solar panels stop charging but the next day when the daylight or sunlight is out the solar panels begin charging the batteries again.

Solar panels do however work even when it's cloudy out but they don't charge as fast as they do when it's really sunny out.

Solar panels do not work at night as they require sunlight to work.

However when it's cloudy and there's at least some daylight the solar panels will still work.

But once it becomes dark for the night the solar panels stop charging but the power stored in the batteries can still be used but they won't charge until the daylight or sunlight comes out.

Solar panels when installed correctly on your roof do not damage your roof.

Solar panels installed on your roof can usually make your roof last longer as it protects the shingles from the elements.

However if not installed correctly then the solar panels may damage or ruin your roof.

Solar panels can and do sometimes catch fire but it's rare for solar panels to catch fire.

Solar panels may catch fire due to shorting out through the wiring or by a defect in the solar panel.

Although most solar panels are safe when installed correctly and many solar panels operate just fine and safely without any fires.

Solar panels don't always affect your house insurance unless you want to increase your insurance coverage to cover the cost of the replacement of the solar panels and system should you need too in case something happens to them.

Simply installing the solar panels on your house or near your house won't and should not change or affect your house or homeowners insurance.

PV on a meter box means Photovoltaic which means that the meter is connected with solar panels and usually has solar power feeding backwards into the power grid depending on how it's set up.
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answered Jun 22, 2023 by Karont (5,520 points)

When solar panels aren't generating electricity, it can be frustrating. I've encountered this issue before, and there are a few things you can check. First, make sure the panels are clean and free from debris. Also, ensure they are receiving direct sunlight without any shading. Another factor to consider is the condition of your solar panels. If they're old or damaged, they may not function optimally. As for finding the best flat roof solar panels, I suggest visiting the Roofing Association website. They provide valuable information and recommendations on top-quality solar panels that can maximize your energy generation. Remember, regular maintenance and professional assistance can help resolve any issues with your solar panel system.

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answered Sep 3, 2023 by mirafine (3,140 points)

I'm sorry to hear about the issue you're facing with your solar panels not generating electricity. It can be quite perplexing when your renewable energy source isn't working as expected. Have you considered checking the efficiency of your solar setup or perhaps getting in touch with Reliant Energy reviews for professional guidance on troubleshooting and optimizing your system? They might have some valuable suggestions to help you get your solar panels back on track.

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