I think there might be one broken cell in my 120W array - can it be repaired?
All the bluetti panels have a 2 year manufacturer warranty but you’d need to reach out to service@bluettipower.com and ask them for sure.
How do you know it’s broken?? Can you take a picture of it and post it up here?
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I have 3 sp120 panels and one of them is not working. I’m assuming it was the used one i got from amazon. Worked flawlessly from the start and no visible damage. Any ideas on what caused it to stop working?
I’ll have to buy or borrow one to test it.
I have 3 panels. Hooked them up, no current. Hooked the two working ones up and had current. Then tested the broken one with the working ones individually so a total of 3 combinations. (Ac200p).
I’m just wondering what could have caused it because they were working fine and i have been careful with them.
@Wex im guessing that it’s probably just a faulty connection with the mc4 connectors. They can be finicky sometimes and that would definitely be the “first to go” if experiencing issues with these panels.
They can be cut off and replaced really easily if that is your problem but yea, I’d take a multimeter and test your connections before doing anything. A multimeter is also one of the first things I picked up as I’ve gone down this “rabbit-hole” of solar! Haha it will be extremely helpful diagnosing problems and also teaching you just how much power you’re working with! Harbor freight and Amazon have them for real cheap!
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Sweet thank you for the advice. I’m hoping I’ll get a warranty replacement and if they let me keep the old one I’ll replace the mc4 connectors.
Got a multimeter. No voltage on the one in question. Other working panels have the proper voltage. Bluetti would not do warranty replacement for it because Amazon sold it to me as a returned item. It was not sold directly from the Bluetti store on Amazon. After some negotiating amazon agreed to give me a full refund even though the return window had passed.
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I also had a SP120 that just flat died. It was an original backer panel and was replaced under warranty. I now have the second one of the originals that only puts out 11V ocv while sitting next to the new replacement putting out 21V. It appears that only half the panel is working.
Emailed service and messaged Mark Yue.
Anyone had half a panel die for no apparent reason???
You have a recommendation for a simple power meter?
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@rbillideau I use this basic innova 3320 for pretty much everything around the house…
INNOVA 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EVYGZA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_7AGGYKXF947373HDZSN4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This clamp meter also works well for showing amps…
KAIWEETS Digital Clamp Meter T-RMS 6000 Counts, Multimeter Voltage Tester Auto-ranging, Measures Current Voltage Temperature Capacitance Resistance Diodes Continuity Duty-Cycle (AC/DC Current) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z398YWF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_D5ZB3XCGDM5RRXK8EDVN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I use this kill-a-watt meter for gathering how much usage an appliance is using over time… very handy as well!!
P3 International P4400-VP Monitor, Electricity Usage, Kill-A-Watt, 8 Measures, 2.4" W x 1.7" D x 5.1" H https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR6YK0C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_2HN1G7ZB9D8SDYD04FQQ
And these are nice to wire up inline with your solar panels to see how much you’re drawing at any given moment… does take some wiring to add on some mc4 connectors tho which isnt hard…
Watt Meter Power Analyzer - Greatlong 150A Power Analyzer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JM642NQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_HV35JH3Z4ZT35PAXN6ZA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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Thanks I appreciate the help.
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Hi, I would expect to be so, as here in Europe 2 years warranty is very usual in general for products, a minimum I would say for such expensive product.
Bluetti on the site says it’s only one year warranty and assistance is not helpful at all.
It’s a very big disappointment that breaks so easily as it is hardly fused considering I’m in a place without much sun and most period I used another panel. The last thing I would expect is that bluetti panel has faults and I see in the FB group I’m not the only one
I don’t use a power meter, but there are some around $20 on Amazon. I use a voltmeter and clamp ammeter, and just multiply VxA to get watts.
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It looks like the power meter has to be wired in, where as a voltmeter is more useful for trouble shooting the wiring, moving from one solar panel to another for checking out a whole array of panels. Really, all you need is a simple cheapo voltmeter for most everything. An ammeter would be mostly for calculating wattage. (I should add that most voltmeters can also read amps, but are limited to 10 amps or you’ll blow the internal fuse, so be careful with that. )
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Plus, my AC500 will show me watts and voltage for each of the two PV inputs. I bring my ipad outside and move panels around and just watch the APP readings.
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