Odd Solar Panel Behavior- Help??

[SoCal_80]

Quick backstory...I have two identical Grape Solar 100w semi flexible panels that terminate to 8mm “Goal Zero” plugs. One panel appeared to stop working on our last trip...So part of the troubleshooting process i plugged in the other panel and it worked as expected. Sometime later i plugged the “bad” panel back in and it worked for a short period of time then it began to again to provide no power (I have a inline meter to measure amps, etc). I plugged the “good” panel in and all was good again. I repeated this several times and sometimes the bad panel would momentarily come back to life. ( I am not moving the panel during testing so i am pretty certain there isn’t a loose wire issue here).

Any thoughts ? I would love to fix it rather than purchase a new panel if i dont have to.

Thank you all!
Sean



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[Hillbilly Heaven]

Could be as simple as a broken conductive trace that as panel heats up the trace opens.

 

[SoCal_80]

Agreed, likely an intermittent connection within the flrxible module.
Something flexibles are notorious for.
It could be thermal, or the slightest disturbance opens & closes that circuit.

Makes sense. Any ideas on how best to troubleshoot?

Thank you !!!


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[dreadlocks]

not really, its all embedded in plastic and these flexible ones are practically disposable with how long they last..

 

[john61ct]

Yes replace with rigid framed type if possible. Cheaper and last much longer.