How to Tell if a 12-Volt Solar Panel Is Charging

Buy a small device to measure DC voltage. Look for a digital multimeter at a local supplier or online. It should cost less than $20. The meter will have two test probes: one red and one black.

Measure the voltage at the output of the solar panel. Turn on the multimeter and turn the dial until it measures DC voltage. Place the red probe on the positive terminal of the panel and the black probe on the negative terminal. If there is sunshine directly on the front of the solar panel, the meter should show a voltage between 10 and 17 volts. If the multimeter shows no voltage, check carefully each connection on the back of the solar panel.

Measure the voltage at the point where the wires from the solar panel are connected to the battery. Disconnect the wires from the battery and measure the difference in voltage between the two wires using the probes on the multimeter. The voltage should be just a little less than what you measured on the solar panel. If the multimeter measures no voltage, check along the wires to make sure there is no break in the connection.

With the wires from the solar panel still disconnected, measure the voltage of the battery. Write down the voltage in volts. Reconnect the wires and let the solar panel charge the battery during the day. At the end of the day, measure the voltage again. You should see that the voltage of the battery has increased, indicating that it is being charged.