How To Get The MOST Power Output From Your Solar Panels!

ATTENTION: 10a10 is a blocking diode used for many solar panels, but the diode's forward voltage is too high. Below are a few good alternatives. sb1040 to sb10100 10SQ040 to 10SQ100 or 15SQ40 to 15SQ100 SBR10U40CT to SBR10U100CT MBR10-100

Thanks for the great information, I'm definitely going to check my solar panel now.

Good information here thank you for taking the time to make these videos you explain thing well.

I've been looking into solar panels and this is very helpful information. Thank you for the excellent video!!

That was very helpful, never checked the FWBR before for a difference.

Very helpful info thanks. 🤙

Something important to keep in mind is that diodes with a lower voltage drop will tend to be more leaky, passing many milliamps with reverse polarity, and it gets REALLY bad if they are warm or hot. They are starting to make "active" diodes which have a Vdrop of single digit millivolts and very small reverse leakage just for PV systems!

New Subscriber here - absolutely! Wow Doug (I think that's your name), what a great explanation and demonstration of this effect from the different Diodes. I am NOT an electrical engineer whatsoever, but I am building a Solar/Lithium powerhouse of an RV, and like most users of Solar, I am looking for top efficiency and consistent performance from all parts of the entire electrical system/grid that I am hoping to build. This is a terrific channel, and I can't wait to get into your archived material to see what other learning modules you have for us. I have been studying Solar/Lithium (LifePo4) energy storage, and all of the related components to make my dream a reality, for about 2 years now, and for me it has been very challenging, especially the math and the electricity, but so far I know just enough to be utterly dangerous LOL. I appreciate YT content providers like you that take the time to teach us in a very straight-forward and easy to follow format - BRAVO for that! Okay, time for me to start digging into your other videos....your channel is a very exciting prospect for my afternoon learning time. Thanks again, from a new Sub - JohnInArizona

Wow thanks for the insight.

I don't know about this. thanks for sharing information, it helpful.

excellent video. 😀👍

Hey Doug. Thank you for this very interesting how to ! If I seen correctly, the voltage looked a bit higher before the diode and was much better with a lot less voltage drop. every gain helps. In my jewel thief experiments I did notice a increase in the voltage output using a full wave rectifier. Not sure why though any thoughts Doug. Has always I Liked,Shared,Added to playlists. All my best.

Great video

Enjoyed and subscribed. If I have 12 x 250watt panels for a total of 3KW, does each panel have a diode or is there some device acting like a diode for the whole system?

I might just test this out...

Nice video. Don't forget if you replace the schotke diode to get one that is rated at least 4 Amps, and check that it is connected correctly. Once the diode is connected it will be difficult to test if it's connected correctly.

10a10 are in my panels, didn't realise how lossy they are, just cheap and cheerful for manufacturers.

Awesome!!!!

The best way to get the most efficiency from your solar panels is to use a MPPT controller (max power point tracking charge controller). Solar panels seem to be current limited but produce upwards of 400V unloaded, that means if your panel is putting out 12V at 5A for example into a 12V battery its only half the power compared to it putting 5A into a 24V battery. Watts = current x Voltage. MPPT charge controllers use a micro controller to test your panel at any given moment and determine what voltage and current combination will give you the most Watts out. Also if you use the incorrect diode in some situations you could have big problems like it avalanche and causing the battery to drain back into the solar panel at night. Look up max power point tracking charge controllers and maybe make a video on those, you can also get max power point tracking grid tie inverters if you decide to avoid battery banks.

I have two 200W panels in parallel, no diode. No problem. The loss is so small that I chose to ignore it. In addition there is a power module feeding 13.8V onto the battery after the regulator, it has a reverse-blocking diode at the output anyway, so no problem. Thus, when connected to the powergrid everything takes care of itself, sometimes the voltage from the panels are higher and they do the supply, when not, the power module (grid) does - seamlessly. I expect the regulator to block reverse leakage from the battery at night, it would make sense, but I have not bothered to measure it. Oh, and no diodes between panels, I chose to skip that too, no problem. They charge the 120AH battery like champions, from empty early in the morning to fully charged at perhaps 9-10 pre noon.