Solar Panel Diode Installation

The basic solar photovoltaic power system commonly used in outback australia shown in fig.

Solar panel diode installation.

A blocking diode is required in each series string of solar modules between the modules and regulator battery to prevent current flowing back through the modules when the modules are shaded or during darkness. In multi panel pv strings the faulty panel or string has been bypassed by the diode which provide alternative path to the flowing current from solar panels to the load. Now if one panel is shaded the current produced by the unshaded panel can flow through a by pass diode to avoid the high resistance of the shaded panel. For solar panels we recommend you put one blocking diode on each solar panel inside an abs project box the diode needs to have a voltage and amperage rating above that of the panel.

Bypass diode in a solar panel is used to protect partially shaded photovoltaic cells array inside solar panel from the normally operated photovoltaic string in the peak sunshine in the same pv panel. Store bought panels will typically have a protection diode already in place. The blocking diode acts like a one way valve allowing current to flow only one way out of the solar module. This is where by pass diodes come into play as shown in the diagram to the right.

Namely the silicon solar cell array the voltage or charge regulator a blocking diode and a storage battery bank. A number of series parallel circuits are used within the solar array to produce the required voltage and. A solar panel it a grouping of cells in a series parallel configuration of one form or another typically inside a housing. By pass diodes will not be of use unless panels are connected in series to produce a higher voltage.