Diode and unidirectional flow of current.
Installing blocking diode solar panel.
In simplest terms a diode can be understood as a two terminal electronic device which allows electrical current to pass in one direction.
Blocking diodes installation instructions sm 335 issue c 03 11 05 marlec engineering co ltd blocking diodes a blocking diode is required in each series string of solar modules between the modules and regulator battery to prevent current flowing back through the modules when the modules are shaded or during darkness.
The diode needs to have a voltage and amperage rating above that of the panel.
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.
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.
If you have two 175 watt panels each at 42 volts you will need two 8 amp 45 volt diodes.
In this video you will learn the importance of a bypass diode in solar panel learn how to connect a bypass diode to your own solar cells to improve the eff.