Thread: What's happened here?

My money is on you get what you pay for! I weld near my sun tech panels all the time, still working perfectly, I doubt that was the issue.

Those diodes and wiring are nowhere near big enough for 150 amps. If you mean 150 watts, they would be about 4 amps (assuming 40 volt panel). Are they cheap panels? It might have just been a bad diode. Jaycar should have a suitable diode.

Aaron

Also assuming these are 12v panels, how are these arranged (wired) and what charge controller are you using. Just curious

Originally Posted by DeeJay

I installed another 6 x150 amp panels - all wired up correctly- about 2 weeks ago & after a lot of stuffing around, found that about 4 of them have blown the surrounds off - is it a diode?
Would this be Chinese crap or was it due to me welding close by?




This is the rear cover off & you can see the bare diode.
Would anybody know if Jaycar would have these? Any clues please..

David

The component on the left is a very large diode, the one on the right I dont know what it was before it let go, maybe also a diode. The question is what diode, Jaycar probably wont sell such a big diode, however you can bunch diodes together to increase the current rating I have a generator that has been running for years with a bunch of diodes instead of one. Cyclone Larry came through no power for week and gen sets where like gold. My gen blew its diodes and from my stock of components I had some smaller diodes, but still quite big, but much smaller than in the gen (I build hifi amps as a bit of a hobby). Anyway 10 years later the gen still has its quick fix diodes in it so they can stay there
Chris

Originally Posted by cafe latte

The component on the left is a very large diode, the one on the right I dont know what it was before it let go, maybe also a diode.

The diode on the right is meant to look like the diode on the left. It has blown it's case off.

Aaron

Originally Posted by Aaron IIA

The diode on the right is meant to look like the diode on the left. It has blown it's case off.

Aaron

Is it the same size though? Probably, but we cant be sure.
Chris

The diodes are blocking diodes, designed to conduct around a section of the panel that is in shade. That way a series string of panels still has some output in partial shade. A good quality 6 amp diode should in theory carry the current in a string, Jaycar should have something suitable.

Diode 6A4 400V 6A Rectifier R6 - Pack 10 | Diodes | Discrete | Active Components | PRODUCTS | ZR1044 | Jaycar Electronics

Did you have a thunderstorm? The only time I have seen something like that was the result of lightning.

John