For a school project, I am making a solar home system. I have a battery, light bulbs, a solar charge controller, and a solar panel. The actual issue has come with me testing the solar panel. I have both a 30W and a 50W solar panel, so I am assuming the issue is not with both of these solar panels. I have been using a multi meter to test them. When it is sunny out, it usually gets over 20V. This part is fine. The issue is what happens when I measure the current of the solar panels. On the 10 Amp setting, I am measuring 0.2 Amps. This would mean that the solar panel is only producing 4 Watts. I have tried moving the solar panel and adjusting its tilt angle as well.

Additionally, when I connect a circuit with light bulbs, the light bulbs light up. These are 5W. Yet somehow the multi meter says that there is less current moving through the circuit. So this is where my questions come in:

Because it is a 10 A scale, does that mean that the .2 is actually 2 A or not?

Is there another reason that both solar panels would have this discrepancy?

Am I measuring something wrong or should I be doing it a different way?

What would you consider the best way to measure the efficiency of the system?

Really, just any advice or help that you can give would be greatly appreciative. I have been massively frustrated with how this isn't working at all well even in good sunlight and at the right tilt.

Thank you!

I have a battery, light bulbs, a solar charge controller, and a solar panel. The actual issue has come with me testing the solar panel. I have both a 30W and a 50W solar panel, so I am assuming the issue is not with both of these solar panels. I have been using a multi meter to test them. When it is sunny out, it usually gets over 20V. This part is fine. The issue is what happens when I measure the current of the solar panels. On the 10 Amp setting, I am measuring 0.2 Amps. This would mean that the solar panel is only producing 4 Watts. I have tried moving the solar panel and adjusting its tilt angle as well.

Additionally, when I connect a circuit with light bulbs, the light bulbs light up. These are 5W. Yet somehow the multi meter says that there is less current moving through the circuit. So this is where my questions come in:

Because it is a 10 A scale, does that mean that the .2 is actually 2 A or not?

Is there another reason that both solar panels would have this discrepancy?

Am I measuring something wrong or should I be doing it a different way?

What would you consider the best way to measure the efficiency of the system?

This isn't working at all well even in good sunlight and at the right tilt.