TROUBLESHOOTING.. LOW SOLAR PANEL OUTPUT..SAFETY FIRST...

DIY. How to troubleshoot low power output on a solar array. I noticed one of my solar arrays was falling behind the other one of the same size. It was very important to find out why. DC power deals with high amperage and can be a fire hazard. If your wires are undersized they will be hot from one end to the other during peak loads. I am all about safety and would never want to see you burn your house down. This video may be helpfull in many respecs of troubleshooting cars, RVs and or any DC setup.

[@UNIVERSITYHI]

That was way better than the Super Bowl! No commercials and my team won!!!! Yay!

[@bvisel4558]

This is going to help me. I have two identical panels and one is putting out half as much. I will definitely use my IR thermometer. Thanks for the tip.

[@gwcgwc1]

We've been teased with all kinds of goodies from your vids. OFC we want to see your tools! If you take requests then I'd be interested in your time piece collection, tools, work bench, any smithing vids, scope or optics reviews, shooting vids, diesel conversion, lead smelting/bullet casting or anything you choose to continue to produce and upload. Thanks for the informative videos OBX.

[@OBXSOLWIND]

Thats funny.. I was wondering why that thing was acting up.. Thanks..

[@byates59]

AWESOME video!!!! Love the solar system! Thanks!

[@TheTorkerman]

WOW, what a set up!!!

[@JustinCaseSolarPower]

I go over my connections with an infrared thermometer every few moths. and temp change i pull it apart clean it and fix it. There a must have if you have an off grid solar system. Nice video bro.

[@OBXSOLWIND]

The small driver is made by SnapOn. They look like little toys but they are work horses. Thank you for your kind words and may God Bless you as well..

[@sunsensational]

Love the toolbox. You can brag she's a beauty

[@ristin59]

People look at me like I'm crazy for telling them that their electrical panel connections need to be tighten because of the harmonics of electricity eventually loosens connections. It's a yearly PM for us where I work (a data center), we shoot the gear with a IR camera., for bad spots. We even have the utility company come out will were doing this to check the risers and pad mounted gear. We have had a couple of saves doing that, especially the outside gear where it's still 12,470v.

[@online_screen_name]

Definitely would like the tools video.

[@JasonAndrade427]

So I think I heard you say you have the negative connected to the disconnect, uh you typically don't break the negative and let the positive float unless you are running positivist grounding, I don't see you respond much so play safe.

[@yankey4]

Show your tools.. I am a tool guy as well.. I would love to know that that small hand drill you got is.. Man I know back be for my fire when I lost my power shed. I had a small bolt some how come lose and I lost just about 1/2 of my income power. I had to run the gass gen to cover us for 12 hrs. Thanks For showing us. God Bless.

[@wyattoneable]

Great, now I need to buy a heat indicator gun thingy. Your troubleshooting skills are spot on bud. And if you must show off, those tools would be the way to go! I'd be back to watch that but again, I'd have to start buying tools again and my wife would flip! But I could just blame it on you. lol

[@PopsQuest]

Great method! Good to hear from you, Take Care-

[@SciotoBuckeye7]

I always try to plan attic work for early in the morning before the sun starts heating things up, but that sure wouldn't work for troubleshooting solar. Good 'ole Murphy working with you up there with that dead meter battery. If I just had a nickel for everytime something like that happened... Love your setup. Very good info. Thanks

[@Derf2258]

Wow you have just showed me something, I never thought about using my temperature sensor gun to diagnose electrical connections - pure genius! I found out a long time ago that copper connections need to be tightened at least twice because the copper "relaxes" after the first tightening.

[@paverop]

Very nice video. Full of information as always. Keep up the good work and keep these excellent videos coming! Still waiting for that video on battery safety though. Hint Hint Nudge Nudge

[@gyoung7332]

Do you still have your system setup like this? Your disconnect switch had a connector then a nut then a connector then a final nut.... I don't think this is correct, I believe the connectors should all be closest to the switch with a nut going on last. The nut is only to force contact between connectors and switch(not to conduct electricity). The way you have it, the nuts must conduct the electricity....they are made of iron/steel which is not a great conductor.

[@Mrcaffinebean]

Wow great video! Looking for the heat was a cool tactic, I also leave your videos feeling smarter. Thank you!

[@big-t570]

i like to ask you i got 4-100 watt solar panel hook up and when i test them out befor the charge controller not much amps but put a load on it the amps go up? i have at + to+ and - to- is there someting wong with it ? i need some advice on it ---- thank you for any help

[@Mrcaffinebean]

Those clamp style are nifty I need to get one of those. I just have your normal style multimeter.

[@Prepmor308]

Sorry, I think I got some drool on your tool box. My apologies...(BTW, another great tutorial!)

[@shantayprueeissen8914]

You need to make some changes. Check Avasva Solutions if you want to make it right.

[@meschu]

You put out some of the best information on KZbin. Love seeing your new videos!

[@josephsmith7865]

You need a lock washer on those nuts. What a set up. You should do a video on just your solar set up.

[@TheManWithNoName93]

can you do more videos on your gun/reloading stuff, i like your set up

[@UnderTheNorthStar]

Hey, thanks for the walkthrough. Really helpful.

[@mcgee772003]

Please do a tool vid! You could also do tool and box maintenance.

[@duxnlabs]

I like this one a lot. Well-edited too. Thanks a bunch.

[@luckystrike5338]

OBX, is your system 12, 24, or 48 volts?

[@lumpythumb1305]

That sir was very interesting, Thank you.

[@OBXSOLWIND]

Thats good to here my Friend and thanks..

[@TechStories79]

Please do a video on all your tools :P

[@manofmanythingz4812]

good video..thanks

[@Prepping2endure]

Good Catch! Thanks for sharing

[@phuerter]

Use a lithium 10year battery !

[@OBXSOLWIND]

Your welcome and thank you..

[@jacobhn2]

loctite for screws. ytube it.

[@sbaker3232]

Conductive grease

[@vaughnburrows]

Show Your Tools Please

[@swall5363]

Thanks very helpful

[@jaylaw9741]

You back soon

[@excxflyr]

nice workshop

[@theplinker22]

Show your tools

[@phuerter]

Use a lithium 10year battery :>)

[@TyeWills]

TOOL VIDEO!!!