Why Do I Need Blocking Diodes For Solar Panels

In short as diode only passes current in one direction so the current from solar panels flows forward biased to the battery and blocks from the battery to the solar panel.

Why do i need blocking diodes for solar panels.

This is common on sailboats with a solar panel on both the port and the starboard sides. Blocking diodes are usually included in the construction of solar panels so further blocking diodes are not required. If you have multiple parallel strings of solar panels that get shaded at different times a blocking diode in series will help prevent the power from the sunny string being forced back up through the shaded string. There may be however some instances when a blocking diode can still be helpful.

The diode is able to stop this backwards flow and ensures that the energy collected is safely stored. 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. Blocking diode in a solar panel is used to prevent the batteries from draining or discharging back through the pv cells inside the solar panel as they acts as load in night or in case of fully covered sky by clouds etc. Watch our video below to learn more.

This is where a solar panel blocking diodes is used. Not only will that panel not be producing any significant power but it will also have a high resistance blocking the flow of. If you have two 175 watt panels each at 42 volts you will need two 8 amp 45 volt diodes. Now you re thinking brilliant i will just get a 12v solar panel blocking diode hold your horses.