Solar Panel Protection Diode

Suppose we connect a solar panel to a battery for charging.

Solar panel protection diode.

We will discus both blocking and bypass diodes in solar panels with working and circuit diagrams in details below. Bypass diode and blocking diode working used for solar panel protection in shaded condition. This causes the solar panel to heat up and have severe power loss. In different types of solar panels designs both the bypass and blocking diodes are included by the manufactures for protection reliable and smooth operation.

When the solar panel getting proper sun rays it creates sufficient voltage to charge the battery and in this case the current will flow from the solar panel to the battery. For example a solar panel for 12v nominal voltage typically comprises 36 solar cells connected in series and it has most commonly at least two bypass diodes in the junction box i e a diode per every 18 cells. Bypass diodes are used to reduce the power loss solar panels experience due to shading. Now let s consider what happens if one of the panels in the above diagram is shaded.

So when there is light solar panel produces the voltage and if this voltage is greater than the battery voltage battery charges. The blocking diode is used in solar panel to block the reverse power flow. Every solar panel contains several bypassing diodes which are usually incorporated in the junction box. Bypass diodes in solar panels photovoltaic arrays for example assume that the output of solar panel is connected to a dc battery.

Blocking diodes will be of benefit in any system using solar panels to charge a battery.