Step 5: Adding the Blocking Diodes
I then soldered the anode of a 31DQ03 Schottky diode to the positive rail. This diode acts as a blocking diode, preventing the solar panel from discharging my battery bank at night or when shaded. Each half of the panel gets a blocking diode since the two halves will be wired in parallel. I bought a bunch of these diodes cheap on Ebay, and have been using them for a while now in my solar panels.
Next I installed the wires that leave the panel. I ran them out through a hole drilled in the hinge side of the panel. I soldered the red wire to the cathode of the diode and the black wire to the negative rail. I tied a knot in the wires for strain relief, and used blobs of silicone caulk to secure everything in place.
The other half of the panel is a mirror image of the first. I joined the wires for the two halves together outside the panel.
Once you have all the solar cells glued down and wired together, the solar panel is essentially finished. I experimented with adding plexiglass covers to both halves of the panel to protect the solar cells. However, I found that heat built up inside the panel, and the heat reduced the performance of the solar cells. Since these solar cells are much more robust than the ones I used to make my 60 Watt solar panel, I decided to omit the plexiglass. You can see the mistakes I made, and the omitted steps, and lots more about constructing this solar panel on my web site.
Next I installed the wires that leave the panel. I ran them out through a hole drilled in the hinge side of the panel. I soldered the red wire to the cathode of the diode and the black wire to the negative rail. I tied a knot in the wires for strain relief, and used blobs of silicone caulk to secure everything in place.
The other half of the panel is a mirror image of the first. I joined the wires for the two halves together outside the panel.
Once you have all the solar cells glued down and wired together, the solar panel is essentially finished. I experimented with adding plexiglass covers to both halves of the panel to protect the solar cells. However, I found that heat built up inside the panel, and the heat reduced the performance of the solar cells. Since these solar cells are much more robust than the ones I used to make my 60 Watt solar panel, I decided to omit the plexiglass. You can see the mistakes I made, and the omitted steps, and lots more about constructing this solar panel on my web site.
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You've posted a comment on my question and it seems to me that you have the answer to what I am looking for, but I would want to know if my Panel is rated at 10.4v max .223A and 2Watt Peak, what particular diode should I use to be connected in my system should I intend to charge 4 NiMH batteries rated each at 1000mA and 1.5v.
I believed you could help me with this since it seems that your experiment is relative to what I am doing and the difference is that its a smaller system.
I just want to make sure so that I wont risk of wasting everything that I have started, Thanks and it really feels good to have someone to advise me in this kind of field since I was only new.
Thanks and Best Regards
Also I think you need a controller to charge NiMH batteries