Observations of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse on Solar Panel Voltage Output at the Starr Ridge, Oregon Snotel Site and on a Home Solar Array in Northern California

The August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse which crossed the United States, offered an opportunity to observe the effect on the voltage output of a SOLAREX MSX-10, a 10-watt solar panel, located at the Starr Ridge, Oregon SNOTEL site. The panel was placed on the ground at a 10 percent angle, and aligned such that at the start of the eclipse the face of the panel was perpendicular to the sun, and would remain in full sun for the duration of the eclipse. Observations were taken at approximately 5 to 10 minute increments with a small handheld volt meter. Data points showed the drop and recovery of the panel output voltages during the eclipse. Panel output declines became most pronounced beginning at 87 percent eclipse coverage of the sun. Recovery of the panel output to voltage levels capable of providing charge to batteries occurred at 2 minutes after the conclusion of the total eclipse. Similar concurrent observations were taken on a home installed 32 panel solar photovoltaic (PV) network located in northern California. The eclipse effect on both voltages and the wattage produced by the panels were observed, and monetary losses calculated. (KEYWORDS: total solar eclipse, SNOTEL, solar panel, voltage output, Oregon)