Output of Solar Garden Lights from the Big Box Stores

[russ]

Why you want to use bulb when you have better option available in market? You should choose LED Lights then bulbs. LED Lights can do a better job what you want.

Maybe so and maybe no - depends on the application

[Anthony M. Thomas]

Output of Solar Garden Lights from the Big Box Stores

Why you want to use bulb when you have better option available in market? You should choose LED Lights then bulbs. LED Lights can do a better job what you want.

[SunEagle]

People try to steal advertising - they get deleted. Shysters that steal advertising are not the types you want to do business with anyway.

And I appreciate you keeping them out of the forum. Keep up the good work.

[russ]

Interesting, a sales link is removed immediately, but not before the
new "reply to a thread" with link message has gone out. Bruce
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************

People try to steal advertising - they get deleted. Shysters that steal advertising are not the types you want to do business with anyway.

[SunEagle]

Interesting, a sales link is removed immediately, but not before the
new "reply to a thread" with link message has gone out. Bruce
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************

I have noticed that sometimes I get an email when someone posts on a thread I have already posted but when I open the thread there is no new post.

So I figure a Moderator has dumped the entire new post including any offending links. Probably the right thing to do but it can be annoying when I take the time to look and find nada.

[bcroe]

replied to a thread

Interesting, a sales link is removed immediately, but not before the
new "reply to a thread" with link message has gone out. Bruce
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************

[bcroe]

Tester Components

Wow, most LED's have a very low reverse voltage spec, but I guess the one in conduction keeps the reverse voltage down. So you use 2, 8K resistors, with the parallel LED's in the middle?

Your analysis is exactly right. I went out and took off the cover; the 2 series resistors are
each 6000 ohms, 10 watts. That totals 17 watts at my array unloaded peak of 450V. Not
really much concern for short measurements times. That is about 37 ma for the LEDs which
are medium power level (sunlight you know), but they still output at far lower voltages. And
of course those bulbs are 75W (cheap). Case is plastic like a meter for safety, still looking for
a plastic cover to complete that goal; bulb socket external plastic shields also. Left over from
some outdoor motion detector lights; I use many detectors usually driving only one bulb.
Probes & wires from a broken meter. And why such an odd bunch of parts? After half a
century in electronics, you just look around, and build with whatever is on hand.

It was really cool working on my 6 strings of 360VDC MPP. Find a pair, observe polarity, put
a test lead on ground and check every wire for any possible grounded current. Much quicker
than waiting for a digital display to settle down; useless on the ground test.

Bruce Roe

[Mike90250]

.....A couple big LEDS are simply in parallel, but opposite polarity. I think I used a 10W 8000 ohm series resistor to each input lead. ....

Wow, most LED's have a very low reverse voltage spec, but I guess the one in conduction keeps the reverse voltage down. So you use 2, 8K resistors, with the parallel LED's in the middle?

[bcroe]

Bulbs

Nice, do you have a schematic of how you wired the LEDs to manage the voltage range ?

Why use 70w bulbs , why not the little 15W bulbs. 15W not enough load sometimes ?

Chose your wattage for the application. The 70W bulbs draw about 1/2A (and were
very available), used to test an 8A PV string. My 12V & 48V bulbs are far smaller.

A couple big LEDS are simply in parallel, but opposite polarity. I think I used a 10W
8000 ohm series resistor to each input lead. Like the incandescents, LEDs will respond
to a wide range. Bruce

[Mike90250]

...Here is the one I made for my array, works great. Uses 4 bulbs 120V 70W in series, same wiring
rules as 600V meter. A couple LEDs in the base show which lead is more positive, if I need to know.
It is useful from 120V to 480V. Bruce Roe

Nice, do you have a schematic of how you wired the LEDs to manage the voltage range ?

Why use 70w bulbs , why not the little 15W bulbs. 15W not enough load sometimes ?

[bcroe]

Power Test

That tells you. The diode should be conducting when the panel is producing current. It is when you put the diode the first way, it is not when you flip the diode. The first way is right.
Your multimeter is showing a voltage either way because the diode will leak a very small amount of current in the reverse direction, and your multimeter is not a heavy enough load to pull that voltage down.

A DVM is good for precision measurements, but not always best for sorting power connections. It will give
false readings on normal leakage or static charges. For a long time I have used a small light bulb to sort
out these things. It won't give a false reading, and demonstrates that some power is really there. It
can charge or discharge capacitors, and won't allow enough current to damage anything. I got called to
sort out a lot of phone stuff with a 48V bulb, while the confused DVM guys watched.

Here is the one I made for my array, works great. Uses 4 bulbs 120V 70W in series, same wiring
rules as 600V meter. A couple LEDs in the base show which lead is more positive, if I need to know.
It is useful from 120V to 480V. Bruce Roe PVTstLt.jpg

[inetdog]

Im trying to figure it out with my multimeter but its reading a voltage either way the diode goes and while it measures current with it only in one direction the milliamp rating goes down when I cover the panel. BUt flipped it only reads 0.

That tells you. The diode should be conducting when the panel is producing current. It is when you put the diode the first way, it is not when you flip the diode. The first way is right.
Your multimeter is showing a voltage either way because the diode will leak a very small amount of current in the reverse direction, and your multimeter is not a heavy enough load to pull that voltage down.

[Sunking]

Which way does my diode go?.

You do not need to know. If it works, it is correct. If not, reverse it. No harm either way. That is as easy as it gets. But the stripe or Cathode end faces away from the positive polarity of the battery. Picture is worth a thousand words.

[green]

THis is a really easy question - but for some reason no one online who answers it gives a simple answer.

Which way does my diode go?

The diode descriptions states the cathode end has a stripe... I dont know what that means in terms of which way current can travel.

So, if the panel is going directly to a battery, is the stripped end facing the panel or battery?

Im trying to figure it out with my multimeter but its reading a voltage either way the diode goes and while it measures current with it only in one direction the milliamp rating goes down when I cover the panel. BUt flipped it only reads 0.

Put it on the positive lead of the panel with the stripe end towards the battery. I like simple answers to.

[MtnXfreeride]

THis is a really easy question - but for some reason no one online who answers it gives a simple answer.

Which way does my diode go?

The diode descriptions states the cathode end has a stripe... I dont know what that means in terms of which way current can travel.

So, if the panel is going directly to a battery, is the stripped end facing the panel or battery?

Im trying to figure it out with my multimeter but its reading a voltage either way the diode goes and while it measures current with it only in one direction the milliamp rating goes down when I cover the panel. BUt flipped it only reads 0.