Question Small solar panel on roof question

[Snoracer]

On my 2014 Canyon Star, what does the small solar panel on the roof above the driver do, and how can I tell if it's working?

Tim

 

[Rich W.]

Its a 10 watt panel that keeps your start battery up. Basically a small trickle charger. I guess you could disconnect it and take a voltage reading to see what its doing but there isnt much that can go wrong with it. I have one from a Bay Star that is currently residing on my home back-up 15kw generator to keep that start battery up. It puts out about 15v uncontrolled but so little amperage (.6 or so?) that I don't think it needs a controller.

 

[Snoracer]

Thanks for the reply, Rich. Where can I disconnect it. Can I tell if it's working by taking a voltage reading on the starting battery terminals?

 

[Rich W.]

you’d have to follow the wires to see where they connect in the system. Might go straight to the battery, or maybe to a terminal block somewhere. The one on my ventana just went straight to the start batteries.

As for testing it without disconnect it, you could disconnect one of the battery terminals and then take a reading across the battery cables without getting battery voltage and what ever it reads is what the panel is putting out.

 

[Snoracer]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

[Rich W.]

This one actually came off my Ventana. Not sure what happened to the one that came off the bay star. The last two times I needed this generator I had to jump start it. Now it fires up without hesitation. Not a particularly elegant installation, but it works.