Hello all,
I am finishing 3 identical panels rated at 80 Watts, 24 Volts, & 3.5 Amps. I have installed junction boxes on 2 of them and am in the process of configuring the installation of the diodes. When each panel is tested in optimum solar conditions they produce about 26.5 Volts each. When I install the Back Power Blocking Diode the voltage is reduced by only a few Volts. (apparently normal result) However, when I install the Bypass Diode it is a totally different story. With the Bypass Diode installed the voltage drops to 0.5 Volts. What is going on? I tried changing diodes on both panels because I thought it could be a faulty diode but I got the same results. The type of diodes I am using are these: JF 10SQ050 & DOI 15SQ045. I tried finding the specs online with no luck but I believe they are about 150 Volts and 10 Amps. I noticed that when I was changing diodes while the panels where producing power there was little sparks when the diode made contact with the proper terminal when there should not be any sparks at all if it is touching the correct terminal. The side of the diode with the silver bar is hooked up to the positive terminal and the other side to the negative. By the way I am using a multimeter to test the voltage. Perhaps there is a special way to test the voltage when the bypass diode is installed. Please help!
I am finishing 3 identical panels rated at 80 Watts, 24 Volts, & 3.5 Amps. I have installed junction boxes on 2 of them and am in the process of configuring the installation of the diodes. When each panel is tested in optimum solar conditions they produce about 26.5 Volts each. When I install the Back Power Blocking Diode the voltage is reduced by only a few Volts. (apparently normal result) However, when I install the Bypass Diode it is a totally different story. With the Bypass Diode installed the voltage drops to 0.5 Volts. What is going on? I tried changing diodes on both panels because I thought it could be a faulty diode but I got the same results. The type of diodes I am using are these: JF 10SQ050 & DOI 15SQ045. I tried finding the specs online with no luck but I believe they are about 150 Volts and 10 Amps. I noticed that when I was changing diodes while the panels where producing power there was little sparks when the diode made contact with the proper terminal when there should not be any sparks at all if it is touching the correct terminal. The side of the diode with the silver bar is hooked up to the positive terminal and the other side to the negative. By the way I am using a multimeter to test the voltage. Perhaps there is a special way to test the voltage when the bypass diode is installed. Please help!
Comment