6/2/23, 4:08 PM Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels

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Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels

 Dricus De Rooij

 Off Grid

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A blocking diode and bypass diode are commonly used in solar energy systems and solar
panels. Learn how and why blocking diodes and bypass diodes are used.

Diode and unidirectional flow of current

In simplest terms a diode can be understood as a two terminal electronic device, which allows
electrical current to pass in one direction.Diodes are made of a semiconductor material, usually
silicon, although materials like selenium and germanium are sometimes used in its
construction.A diode only allows unidirectional flow of current. This is due to the fact that it
offers low (ideally zero) resistance to current in one direction and at the same time, offers high
(ideally infinite) resistance to the current in the opposite direction.This property of a diode is
extensively used in the photovoltaic industry.Figure 1 shows the most common symbol for a
diode found in a lot of circuit diagrams, however there could be variants.[caption
id="attachment_4995" align="aligncenter" width="500"]

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6/2/23, 4:08 PM Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels

Figure 1: Electrical
diagram bypass diode used for solar panel[/caption]

How are blocking diodes and bypass diodes used in solar

installations?

Diodes are extensively used in solar panel installations.Since the prevent backflow of current
(unidirectional flow of current), they are used as blocking devices. They are also used as bypass
devices to maintain the reliability of the entire solar power system in the event of a solar panel
failure.Therefore, the two main types of diodes used in a solar system are:

Blocking Diode:

A blocking diode allows the flow of current from a solar panel to the battery but prevents/blocks
the flow of current from battery to solar panel thereby preventing the battery from discharging.

Bypass Diode:

A bypass diode is used in case one of the panels of a multi panel string is faulty, it bypasses the
faulty panel by providing current an alternative path to flow and thereby maintains the continuity
of power production.

Blocking diode configuration

Figure 2 shows the simple working of a blocking diode. Electricity flows from high potential to
low potential.[caption id="attachment_4993" align="aligncenter" width="454"]

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6/2/23, 4:08 PM Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels

Figure 2: Blocking diode in

solar system[/caption]In this setup, during the day the solar panel (at high potential) produces
electricity and charges the battery (at low potential).During night, when the panel is not
producing any electricity (low potential), the battery is at a higher potential.There is a possibility
of the current flowing from the battery to the solar panel, thereby discharging the battery
overnight.To prevent this from happening, a blocking diode is installed. It allows the current to
flow from the panel to the battery but blocks the flow in opposite direction.It is always installed
in series with the solar panel.

Bypass diode configuration

Figure 3 shows the simple working of a bypass diode. In this setup, one of the solar panel is
faulty and is not producing any current.[caption id="attachment_4994" align="aligncenter"

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6/2/23, 4:08 PM Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels

width="500"] Figure 3:
Bypass diode in solar system[/caption]The bypass diode in this case provides an alternate path
for the current to flow and completes the circuit.It also prevents the current from other panels
which are working (at high potential) to flow back to the faulty panel (at low potential).Thus even
when a panel is faulty, the bypass diode still makes the whole solar system run and produce
electricity at a lower rate.The bypass diodes should be installed in parallel to the panel.

By Li on 16 Oct 2019
Hi, what the suitable blocking diode to use
for 9v 5watt solar panel?
Respond 

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6/2/23, 4:08 PM Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels

By Mohitha on 16 Feb 2019

I want uses

Respond 

By Harish on 29 Nov 2018

Nice
Respond 

By SteveNC on 14 Aug 2017

In a system with 2+ panels, wouldn't it be

better to use both a single blocking diode
between the positive battery terminal and a
bypass diode parallel with each solar panel?
Respond 

By Connor Kalvig on 22 Feb 2019

You wouldn't want to put a bypass diode

on _every_ solar panel, because that
would create a short circuit between the
battery terminals (or between the
charger terminals, whatever your setup
is). This being said, you would definitely
want to have at least one blocker diode
in addition to the bypass diodes
(multiple blockers may be necessary for
redundancy in high stress applications
or in parallel circuits, but in general they
would not be necessary).
Respond 

By Dzung Hoang on 21 Apr 2022

This reply is incorrect. The bypass diode

is reverse-biased with respect to the
battery. It is forward-biased with respect
to the solar array. The result is that the
bypass diode allows current to flow from
solar array to battery but not from
battery to solar array.
Respond 

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6/2/23, 4:08 PM Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels

By Ch on 04 Jun 2017

Good info

Respond 

By Tokoza on 11 Apr 2023

Thank you for this @Rooij.What year did you

post this?
Respond 

PLACE COMMENT

Table of contents 

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Solar Energy used in the Army

Solar Energy and Power Cuts
Selecting a Mobile Power Supply
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Why use a blocking diode in off-grid solar systems?
Solar backup power: emergency backup for solar systems
Off-grid Solar System Components: what do you need?
Blocking Diode and Bypass Diode for Solar Panels
[...]

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