I'm a total newbie when it comes to solar panels and I recently received a small one from a friend. It's about 30x10cm and I believe it's an Intersolar panel that's at least 7 or 8 years old, maybe even older. I tested it and found it outputs around 21V in DC and 45V in AC, but I couldn't measure the amperage. The cable also looks like it might need to be replaced because it's in pretty rough shape. I'm hoping to learn how to use it, even if it's just for powering a lamp. Any tips or guidance you can provide would be hugely appreciated!
2 Answers
You should definitely check out some beginner-friendly videos on YouTube. There are many tutorials that walk you through the basics of solar panels, including how to connect everything safely. Just make sure to get some quality cables too if yours are worn out. A good video can help clarify what components you might need.
Just a heads up, the voltage output from solar panels is in DC, not AC! If you want to power something like a lamp, make sure you have the right setup. You might need a charge controller and a battery depending on what you plan to do. Have you checked out YouTube? It's got tons of basic solar 101 videos that can really help you out. Lots of great channels with schematics and easy-to-follow guides.