Blocking Diodes In Solar Panels
By Erina Array
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In its most basic form, all that is needed for a solar power system is a panel to collect the sun's energy and a battery pack to retain that energy. When the sun is shimmering, the panel will create a voltage more than that of the battery, inducing the battery to be charged. Most panels will include a blocking diode (an electrical part that can only allow electricity to move in one direction- parallel circuit) making sure that the battery will not discharge via the panel when the sun is not shining as well.
There are two different types of diodes which can have a major role in the functioning of solar system panels (actually the diodes themselves can be the same since it is the means in which they are used which has two possibilities). First let us verify what a diode is and what it really does.
What is a Diode
A diode uses a semiconductor material, normally silicon, with two terminals connected. Its function in it is a most basic form to let open circuit voltage to pass in one direction but not the other. The diagram to the right shows a simple setup with two panels recharging a battery (for simplicity no controller is displayed) with a blocking diode in series with the two panels, which are also wired in series. Every time the sun shines, so long as the voltage created by the two panels is more than that of the battery, charging will take place.
However, in the dark, when no voltage is being produced by the panels, the voltage of the battery pack causes a current to flow in the opposite direction by means of the panels, draining the battery, if it weren't the blocking diode in the circuit. Blocking diodes is going to be of benefit in any system using solar panels to charge a battery. Blocking diodes are usually included in the construction of solar panels so further blocking diodes are not needed.
By-Pass Diodes
Now let's mull over what happens if one of the panels in the above diagram is shaded. Not merely will that panel not be generating any significant power, however it will also have a high resistance, blocking the movement of power produced by the unshaded panel. This is where by-pass diodes come into play as shown in the diagram to the right. Now, if one panel is shaded, the current generated by the unshaded panel can move through a by-pass diode to avoid the high resistance of the shaded panel.
By-pass diodes will not be of usage unless panels are connected in series to generate a higher voltage. They are probably to be of benefit where an MPPT Controller or String Inverter includes panels connected in series to produce an open circuit voltage well above that items minimum input voltage. Some solar panels are constructed with the cells divided into groups, every single group having an inbuilt by-pass diode. Shading of part of a panel may be a result of a tree branch, debris, or snow.
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