Unconnected solar panel: bad for diodes? should I shortcut?

[Joey]

Hey all.

I've started to install solar panels on my roof. I do this in my spare time, have 16 to do (first just up) so I guess it'll take me some weeks to get them all up there.

In the mean time, there's one panel there sitting idle. Someone told me that this is bad for the panel because it won't be able to loose the energy it's building up. More specifically, the voltage that's building up on the bypass diodes is bad for them. The solution is to short circuit the panel until it's connected to the inverter.

To me this sounds a bit odd to me. The panels are designed to work in strings with a cumulative voltage of 1.000v, so one lone unconnected panel is not going to blow itself out.

Or? Anyone any thoughts on this?

Regards,

Joe

[Naptown]

No harm will be done in either case. If disconnected there is no current flowing If shorted it will just go around in circles.

[Sunny Solar]

Whoever told you that there is energy build up in a panel should never be asked another question involving electricity. AS already told no harm can come to a disconnected panel in sunlight.With the exception of a very large rock landing on the panel and smashing it.

[Joey]

Whoever told you that there is energy build up in a panel should never be asked another question involving electricity. AS already told no harm can come to a disconnected panel in sunlight.With the exception of a very large rock landing on the panel and smashing it.

I don't think the panel being connected or not is not going to make a lot of difference there either..

In any case, the count is at 5 at the moment and they're hooked up since 4 days ago. Yesterday I harvested 7.4 kWh Can't wait to get the other 11 up there!

J