Solar Panel Bypass Diode Diagram

Learn how and why blocking diodes and bypass diodes are used.

Solar panel bypass diode diagram.

If your solar panel will not exceed 2 1 2 amps of current then the 3 amp version is fine. Diode and unidirectional flow of current. Bypass diode and blocking diode working used for solar panel protection in shaded condition. Solar modules with bypass diodes are manufactured because of two reasons.

In simplest terms a diode can be understood as a two terminal electronic device which allows electrical current to pass in one direction. By pass diodes will not be of use unless panels are connected in series to produce a higher voltage. For solar panels the 3 amp and 8 amp diodes can be used for this purpose. Because current flows from high to low voltage when a solar panel has cells that are partially shaded the current is then forced through the low voltage shaded cells.

Bypass diodes are useless unless the panels are connected in a series fashion to produce high voltage. 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 produced by the unshaded panel can flow through a by pass diode to avoid the high resistance of the shaded panel. This causes the solar panel to heat up and have severe power loss.

Recently some solar panels are being manufactured by the cells divided into groups with a built in bypass diode in that group. Bypass diodes are used to reduce the power loss solar panels experience due to shading. Solar panels with more charge current than this would require a larger diode such as our 85 amp diode. In different types of solar panels designs both the bypass and blocking diodes are included by the manufactures for protection reliable and smooth operation.