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Got 10 Kyocera 210watt panels for cheap with blown diodes. They came from large utility install that was hit by lightning and after insurance replaced all the panels then the "damaged' panels were sold for scrap value. The only actual damage is that each panel has one of three diodes burned out. I can replace each diode. I started by digging out the potting material to get to the diodes (diodes buried under potting material in the junction boxes). I clipped out the bad soldered in diode in one panel and the voltage immediately jumped back up to full spec. Replaced diode and put that test panel into my existing Enphase setup yesterday and it turned a full day at full wattage with no issues. My next thought was to replace the bad diodes in the other 9 panels and then reseal the junction boxes (I live at the beach and salt air is bad here so I really want the boxes properly sealed. Anybody got a suggested good source for junction box potting agents? I notice that Dow Corning makes both PV-7010 and PV-7030...but where to get it?....and what about 'fire stop' or similar off the shelf silicon sealants? )
But here is the question for you Diode Experts! Is it a waste of time to replace the diodes if my plan is to use these panels with Enphase micro inverters? In the central inverter setup the panels came from they were part of massive string with HUNDREDS of volts going through each panel on the string and partial shade could be serious heat issue if diodes are not present and functional. But in my install with Enphase microinverters used PER PANEL the voltage in any shaded section of a single panel is going to be marginal (and each panel still has 2 of three diodes functional). Thus, waste of time to replace the diodes because in my planned microinverter install the voltage in any shaded section is too low to be a heat concern?
But here is the question for you Diode Experts! Is it a waste of time to replace the diodes if my plan is to use these panels with Enphase micro inverters? In the central inverter setup the panels came from they were part of massive string with HUNDREDS of volts going through each panel on the string and partial shade could be serious heat issue if diodes are not present and functional. But in my install with Enphase microinverters used PER PANEL the voltage in any shaded section of a single panel is going to be marginal (and each panel still has 2 of three diodes functional). Thus, waste of time to replace the diodes because in my planned microinverter install the voltage in any shaded section is too low to be a heat concern?
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