Cheapest Easiest way to check used panels?

I recently bought some used panels: 345W, 43V VOC, with MC4 connectors hard wired to each panel. I tried to use a volt meter, but can't poke the probes into the MC4's far enough to get a reading. I have an old 10A PWM Charge Controller, along with an old FLA battery.

Should I just plug each panel into the Charge Controller?

Or is there an easier way to do it?

Thanks in advance!

I was thinking about getting a cheap harbor freight multimeter cutting the prongs off and installing mc4 connectors. I'm so tired of wishing I had 3 hands.

You mean to just strip the wire off of the probe wires and then splice them into MC4 connectors? So you could just unplug them and plug in regular probes for regular use?

Old Jarhead said:

You mean to just strip the wire off of the probe wires and then splice them into MC4 connectors? So you could just unplug them and plug in regular probes for regular use?

Click to expand...

Exactly

There can be volts without amps. Get a dirt cheap amp clamp and just point the panel to the sun and short the panel leads together then amp clamp it to read the amps.

Okay edit here: to check volts off MC4's don't poke the wire, touch the leads at the MC4 ends. For amps plug + into - MC4 (not till it locks, just snug) and DC amp clamp it. Or if it's under the amps rating of a meter that can read amps at the leads (10a usually for meters), set the meter up for amps and without connecting the MC4s position positive and quickly hit negative, get your reading and remove your meters negative lead.