Solar Panels : No energy flow from Eve pole ?

[pilatomic]

Hi,

I just landed my brand new scientific probe to the north pole of Eve, deployed solar panels, then started to transmit some science, and ... almost ran out of battery !

It appears that solar panels show "Direst sunlight", Sun exposure = 0.75, but energy flow = 0 !

On Kerbin, it works perfectly, and I recharged my batteries with them while orbiting Eve.

I tried to warp a bit so the sun would move, but it does not make a difference.

Tried to switch vessel too, same thing. Restarted KSP, idem.

Do you guys have any idea of what is happening there ? Am I missing something important / stupid ?

Edited May 29, 2015 by pilatomic
Answered

[NathanKell]

Welcome to the forums!

Eve's atmosphere is very thick and thus blocks a lot of solar energy. In the screenshot, the sun appears not very far off the horizon, which means that the solar rays have to travel through much more atmosphere.

See what it's like at local noon.

[pilatomic]

Arf, the screenshot was taken at noon :/

Guess i will have to send another probe, with more batteries and fuel cells.

Thank your for your answer !

[Grumman]

See what it's like at local noon.

He says he's at one of the poles, in which case there will never be a high noon.

[Streetwind]

Welcome to the forums!

Eve's atmosphere is very thick and thus blocks a lot of solar energy. In the screenshot, the sun appears not very far off the horizon, which means that the solar rays have to travel through much more atmosphere.

What, KSP actually models that now?

I had no idea.

[pilatomic]

Just sent another probe to a more "common" landing site, and yep, during the descent, I could observe the output of my solar panels decreasing with the altitude, until getting very small when I landed.

So KSP is indeed modeling this, and using fuel cells to go to Eve would be a good idea ^^

[soulsource]

Are you certain it's atmospheric absorption? Elsewhere [citation needed] it has been suggested that the temperature of solar panels affects their efficiency. Would you mind checking part temperature, for *science*?

[Feradose]

Wait if we dont get any energy, does that mean if lighting system was added, eve surface would be very dark? Thats amazing 10/10 must happen

[Starwhip]

What, KSP actually models that now?

I had no idea.

Jah, be really careful. It also has a proper curve, so solar power is nearly useless at or past Jool.

[pilatomic]

Are you certain it's atmospheric absorption? Elsewhere [citation needed] it has been suggested that the temperature of solar panels affects their efficiency. Would you mind checking part temperature, for *science*?

For sure, good thing I always take a backup battery

From the probe at the North Pole of Eve :

388°, Sun exp : 0.92, Energy flow : 0.00

From the same probe, splashed into one of Eve oceans :

425°, Sun exp : 0.68, Energy flow : 0.04

Temperature measured by a thermometer mounted near one of my solar panels

Definitely, temperature can not be the only factor !

[OddFunction]

So I guess my mini-tweakscaled single-solar panel in the service bay for my suicide lander is worthless lol. Weak.