Solar panels are eco-friendly, producing green energy. Solar batteries efficiently charge outdoor electronic appliances without relying on the main power source. Solar batteries are effective powerhouses for outdoor electronic appliances like lights and security cameras. At times, you may find issues with the solar battery charging. 

Let’s look into how to check whether the solar panel is powering the battery, or when the solar battery is not charging. In this blog, we will discuss the tips to restore the functionality of your solar panels. 

Basics of Charging Solar Battery 

A solar battery charging system is made of 3 components: a solar panel, a solar battery, and a charge controller. The solar panel catches the sunlight and changes it into direct current. The DC electricity reaches the charge controller, which checks if the solar batteries are charging properly. The battery stores the current and smoothly operates the connected devices. In commercial and residential applications, an inverter helps turn the battery’s DC power into AC power. The AC power powers bigger appliances at home and in offices.

How to Check if the Solar Panel is Charging the Battery?

You can connect an exhausted battery to the solar panel and keep it under the sun to see whether the battery is charging. You may use a multimeter to check your solar panel. Connect the multimeter probes to the solar panel output terminals to check the voltage output. Compare the output with the standard output rate of solar panels. You can easily see the problem just by testing the panel. Steps you need to follow to check if your solar panel is charging the battery. 

Step 1: Take a multimeter and connect it to the solar panel terminal while placing it under sunlight. If you can’t measure the voltage, the solar panel may have a dispute. 

Step 2: Take the battery and check the voltage. The battery is not charging properly if the voltage is too high or too low. 

Step 3: Check the terminal voltage of the solar charge controller. The voltage should be under check. If it’s not, the solar charge controller may face a problem. 

Step 4: Check the equipment properly. Double-check parts like broken alternators, solar panel defects, regulators, delamination, poor battery condition, broken charge controllers, or Diodes in the solar panel. 

Step 5:  Check the setup. Check if the solar panel is placed in an area with bright sunlight. Factors like fluctuating temperature, cloudy weather, and rain may be problematic. 

Why is My Solar Panel Not Charging the Battery? 

One of the most common questions that pops into the users’ minds is – why is my solar battery not holding a charge? 

Solar panels efficiently charge batteries, but occasionally they don’t charge the battery properly due to a failure in operations. The problem may occur due to an array of reasons. Those include: 

• Lack of Sufficient Sunlight

One of the first reasons why your solar panel cannot charge the battery is the lack of proper sunlight. One of the reasons may be the setup in the wrong location or at the wrong angle. Shades of trees or other bigger objects may prevent the sunlight from reaching the solar panels and battery. 

• Faulty Battery, or Solar Panel, or Solar Charge Controller 

Inefficiency in any of the three main components – solar panels, solar battery, or charge controllers lowers the solar battery charging efficiency. Solar panels with hot spots, cracked panels, weird patterns, broken diodes, and low-quality panels fail to charge the battery. A broken battery or an incompatible battery can’t charge properly. In case the solar charge controller is broken or damaged, the battery won’t be charged. 

• Damaged Connections 

If the connections between the solar panel and the solar panel controller or between the solar panel controller and the solar battery are loose, corroded, or damaged, the battery doesn’t charge. The faulty connections create resistance in wires, and the battery does not charge properly. 

• Overcharge or Overload 

When the battery is overloaded or is in a state of overcharge, the solar panel fails to charge the battery. In these situations, the charge controller stops the solar panels from charging batteries. 

• Wrong Setup 

When the components are not set up correctly, or you are using components incompatible with one another, the battery doesn’t charge properly. Therefore, it’s important to place the components with the right specifications. 

• Battery Health 

Battery health matters. When the battery is not in a healthy state, it can’t hold a charge. In that case, how much you charge the battery, it can’t hold the charge. 

How to Troubleshoot When You Find the Solar Battery Not Charging? 

When you have understood the root cause behind your solar battery not charging, you may work on the troubleshooting ideas to charge the battery again. 

• Choose a Sunny Location for Solar Battery Charging

Make sure you place the solar panel under open sunlight throughout the day. And also align the panels at the right angle to increase the battery efficiency and performance. 

• Repair the Faulty Connections 

When the solar battery charging system has loose, damaged, or corroded connections, the charging process gets hampered. The connection needs to be repaired for a smooth electric flow. A healthy solar panel connection aids in smooth charging. 

• Replace or repair the Defective Components 

The solar battery charging system consists of a solar charge controller, a solar panel, and a solar battery. In case the system malfunctions, it needs to be repaired and replaced as needed.

• Check If Every Component is Compatible with Your Solar Panel

When you set up a solar energy system, check whether every component is compatible with one another. When the components are incompatible, you must replace them with healthy, compatible components for the best performance.   

• Check if Your Solar Battery is Overloaded

See whether your battery suffers from extra load. When you notice your solar battery not charging due to overcharge protection or overload, take immediate action. Overcharge protection is for battery safety. The charging will resume once the battery needs it. Check if the battery is overloaded. 

• Replace a Faulty Battery with A Good-Quality Battery 

Poor-quality batteries cannot hold a charge for a long time. When your battery health is down, you need to replace it. A healthy solar battery resolves the problems and boosts the system’s efficiency. 

What’s Special About Star Plus Battery Charging? 

For any of your tubular inverter battery charging issues, contact us at Star Plus Battery for immediate assistance. The electrolyte level indicator in our batteries shows the level of electrolyte in each cell, which makes maintenance very easy. If you require a solar battery, you can connect with us for the best quality inverter battery for excellent performance. Our batteries feature – 

• Low self-discharge
• Heavy-duty terminal
• Ceramic Water Level
• Excellentpartial state of Charge (PSOC) Performance  

Conclusion

Solar batteries not charging properly need a quick solution. You need to check the battery and the entire system first to know the reason behind it. Check the solar panel and battery as mentioned above, and fix them quickly. It’s easy to resolve the problem of batteries not getting charged. Proper care of the battery, panel, and other system equipment can easily solve the issue. Always monitor your solar panel and battery performance closely and take immediate action to resolve any charging-related issues.