Decrease in Amps after Series Connection

[highlander]

Hey guys,

I just bought tiny solar cells as a test project to build a small solar panel. Each cell is 0.56V and 0.28A.
I've connected 6 of the cells in series and the reading is around 3.30 V, but the amps show 0.04A. Every other individual cell is 0.28A.

What could be wrong for such results?

Thanks

[inetdog]

Hey guys,

I just bought tiny solar cells as a test project to build a small solar panel. Each cell is 0.56V and 0.28A.
I've connected 6 of the cells in series and the reading is around 3.30 V, but the amps show 0.04A. Every other individual cell is 0.28A.

What could be wrong for such results?

Thanks

Problems with the interconnect wiring? Maybe one of the cells is being shaded by another in the arrangement you have wired them into?
Measure the voltage on each cell when you have the series string shorted to get .04A.

[FunGas]

It's a good idea to build a test rig before you tab the cells, to make sure they're all the same output.
A perspex sheet with guides glued down for the cell and electrical contacts is good enough, provided it doesn't move from the light source (a 100W bulb).

After you tab the cells, check them again before you build the strings.

[Sunking]

One of two possibilities.

1. You either have one or more bad cells.
2. You do not know how to measure current.

Either way it is operator error. Either you failed to test each cell before assembly, incorrect assemble, or you do not know how to test.

[highlander]

Thank you for your replies guys.

Everything is fine, bad testing was all. I built a test block with an aluminum foil and rested the first cell of the series on it. I made sure that none of the cells were shaded by each other. Both the voltage and amperage readings are fine now.
Thank you again.