What's happened here?

[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?


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/383.jpg

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

David

[Vern]

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.

[Aaron IIA]

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

[Vern]

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

[cafe latte]

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?


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/383.jpg

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 :D
Chris

[Aaron IIA]

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

[cafe latte]

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

[bee utey]

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 (http://www.jaycar.com.au/Active-Components/Discrete/Diodes/Diode-6A4-400V-6A-Rectifier-R6---Pack-10/p/ZR1044)

[JDNSW]

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

John

[strangy]

Can't you get the info from the good panels?

[Blknight.aus]

it was a blocking diode or bypass diode. Jaycar have them. make sure you get one thats rated for at least 3x your systems delivery voltage (Nomimal panel voltageX # panels in series) AND at least double the number of amps you're capable of delivering (max panel amps X # panels in parallel)

if that doide was only a 20V diode and you put the panel it was in in a sting of 4 panels in series it could have been seeing up to 60v (based on 12V panels with an open voltage of near enough 20V) Similarly if it was rated for 10 amps and you had 4x8 amp panels fedding it it could have been trying to carry 24 amps.

[Aaron IIA]

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

The two diodes would have been the same. They are doing the same job. The first diode bypasses the first half of the panel if it is shaded. The second diode bypasses the second half of the panel if it is shaded. Most silicone diodes have a reverse bias of over 1000 volts, so any one with a high enough current rating will be good enough. If using a germanium diode, check it's reverse bias voltage.

Aaron

[DeeJay]

The two diodes would have been the same. They are doing the same job. The first diode bypasses the first half of the panel if it is shaded. The second diode bypasses the second half of the panel if it is shaded. Most silicone diodes have a reverse bias of over 1000 volts, so any one with a high enough current rating will be good enough. If using a germanium diode, check it's reverse bias voltage.

Aaron



Correct !! They "blew" into 3 sections mostly, which I ( temporarily) re attached using rubber bands. The most amps ( battery charging) I have seen from 12 x 150 watt (12 volt) panels has been 59 amps & they are facing the sun. Of course they were the cheapest on Ebay - I suppose I can't name & shame here..


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

John
No, nothing locally since installation.


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

My bad, I meant 150 watts.
I have connected them up 4 lots of 3 @ 40-50+ Volts- I think only a couple of strings are working properly.


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


I haven't finished everything yet but I'm using Blue Solar (Victron) 150volt 85 amp charge controllers into a bank of 18x 105 amp AGM batteries. There are other strings working just great, feeding in a charge. This one ( string) was added as I have a new shed & felt these extra panels would get me through those Melbourne days that are dull..I went for these controllers as they "spill" any extra amps over 85, so basically you can't overload them.