I am working on a project where I need about 20 mA to come from a particular solar panel I am in possession of. The solar panel is an MP3-25 panel, I actually have 2 which I am trying to get to work. The panel is rated at about 25 mW, and I got it to output that much power, even indoors, for a few seconds. I was testing it continuously with a multimeter, and for some reason it put out about .21 mW instead of 20-25 mW the rest of the time. I wonder if something would need to be done to lower the voltage, as it is possible at a very high voltage the panel cannot output the proper current. I am right now unable to make it produce the proper amount of power, which is quite frustrating.
What steps can I take to get the solar panel functioning? I have tried making a good connection to it in several different ways, and I have brought it outside and it still only output about .66 mW in broad daylight.
Right now I am directly shorting the panel through a current meter, perhaps that is the issue. Is there some special way to measure the current? Solar panels are meant to output current near the current they would provide in a short circuit, so I doubt this is the issue but it could be.