Does off-grid solar confuse you? Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com Join our DIY solar community! #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com Check out my best-selling, beginner-friendly 12V off-grid solar book (affiliate link): amzn.to/2Aj4dX4 If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Solar. Low prices and great warranty, and they can take your entire house offgrid with their new Powerwalls: ts.la/william57509 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My solar equipment recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first): 12V/48V Lithium Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html Plug-N-Play Systems: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html Complete 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar and Coupon Codes: -Current Connected: SOK, Victron and High Quality Components. Best prices and warranty around: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp -Signature Solar: Cheap Server Rack Batteries and Large Solar Panels: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Ecoflow Delta Official Site: My favorite plug-n-play solar generator: us.ecoflow.com/?aff=7 -AmpereTime: Cheapest 12V batteries around: amperetime.com/products/ampere-time-12v-100ah-lithium-lifepo4-battery?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Rich Solar: Mega site and cheaper prices than renogy! Check them out: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek -Shop Solar Kits: Huge site with every solar kit you can imagine! Check it out: shopsolarkits.com/?ref=will-p -Battery Hookup: Cheap cell deals bit.ly/2mIxSqt 10% off code: diysolar -Watts 24/7: Best deals on all-in-one solar power systems, with customer support and distribution here in the USA: watts247.com/?wpam_id=3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Contact Information: I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers: Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

@richtate

Жыл бұрын

I know this is an older video but what do you do if you're using an all-in-one like an EG4 or GroWatt? You can't use multiple charge controllers...

Thanks Will for the Diode Clarification , I'm 60+ and still Learning.

@Marcus-bb7kc

3 жыл бұрын

Best we never stop learning. There a always interesting things.

@imm2mthankgod616

3 жыл бұрын

darn whipper snappers

@tim0877

2 жыл бұрын

Me too he's my go to guy for learning solar storage.

@CosmicSeeker69

2 жыл бұрын

1956 model and I said just yesterday - when I do pass I want to be the very best version of me that I could have been (bc we're all coming back again - and that's evolution). bless you Will

@g2rc

2 жыл бұрын

@@imm2mthankgod616 I know huh? Darn whipper snapper!

I'm familiar with Bypass Diodes but this is the 1st time i hear about Blocking Diodes, Thx Will *Thumbs up*

blocking diodes are good for combining batteries of different charge levels. Also important for wind systems so the batteries don't drive the wind generator as a motor

Another top quality presentation. Will, you are the finest teacher I've had in my long life. Thank you for your efforts and dedication to those of us who call you a treasure.

@tim0877

2 жыл бұрын

He is a good teacher I spent about $7,000 on solar.

Hello Will, Blocking diodes provide one other function: fault tolerance. If a panel in a parallel array experiences a short circuit, only the current from that failed panel will flow into the fault. Without blocking diodes, the current from the entire parallel-connected array will flow to the fault. I install Schottky diodes in series with every parallel panel. the loss is miniscule. This is especially important with "flexible" (bendable) panels that are constructed of flammable materials or may have flammable materials nearby. This has been an issue with the sailing community where fires have been started when "flexible" panels are placed on top of fabrics (Biminis, etc.) and constant flexing fatigues the internal cell interconnects.

@damientelle

3 жыл бұрын

excellent comment !: i am using “bonus” flex panel on the roof when anchoring (stored inside during sailing). within a month i’ve exchanged in warranty 2 flex panel showing melted area before to realyze that i’’ve forgotten the blocking diode on the bus bar for the line going to these flex panel....well the shop never complained and did apologyze for a potential Bad batch of flex panel......The panel mentionned “diode integrated in junction box” and i just made the confusion btw blocking and bypass diode. Nevertheless it seems that this “fault protection” is not really needed on hard panel.

That really cleared things up for me. I had been wondering about using diodes on my solar installation. Thanks Will!

Thanks for this video Will, I have the exact East/West use scenario you illustrated. I recently ordered and received the Watts247 combiner and am glad you pointed out where to connect the East and West pairs to take full advantage of the two blocking diodes. I mistakenly assumed there was a blocking diode on each of the 4 inputs. I’ll update my wiring now as you instructed.

@mikemotorbike4283

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you are going to have the full, safe and proper use of your equipment Nathan. Thanks to Will for this video.

Very well done. I'm running 6.5 KW of PV off grid....and this was my first introduction to bypass diodes. Thank you

It's so relaxing listening to someone that is always telling the truth. Even if it is about solar equipment. Thanks for keeping it real.

I’m an electrical engineer, and with this video you’ve shown you know your stuff. You speak a different language than I would at work so it took me a while to come around after watching a number of your videos. Thanks for the great tutorials. They’ve saved me a ton of research when designing the solar system for my van build!

Great explanation. I've been seeing more people confusing the two (or thinking they're the same thing) than not!

Very clear explanation of bypass and blocking diodes with excellent references to actual installations of panels in series and parallel. Good job, mate!

Nice to see young poeple like you, Knowing what it is about and able to explain in a properly speeded and well expressed language..... Congratulation and success to you...

LOL "back in the olden days" gee i thought that was just a couple days ago time flies when you get older Thanks Will you made my day better with a chuckle I can remember the first time i saw a thermostat on a wall (1970) no more shoveling coal in the winter or when i saw my first color tv (1965)

@drinkinslim

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, I didn't see my first color tv until the 70's. I was a little kid and I was like, "Wow, everything looks so REAL!" :)

@josepeixoto3715

4 ай бұрын

it did; especially here in Europe; Tv quality in the States was always poor, it just could not compare; @@drinkinslimyes, i have knows both ( 20 years in the US); of course i prefered the US system; why? better, MUCH richer programming, and (paid..) cable tv with no commercials at the time.

Hello Will, I've been listening to your for a several years now, and DUDE are a GREAT TEACHER. your pace and pronunciation is TOP NOTCH. especially for a younger person. It seems many seem to speed talk, and put RIGHT! at the end of each sentance. thank you for all you info. this one struck me as i'm getting ready to put panels on a roof with 2 different facing arrays, 1 S 1 W I did get your booklet a couple years ago and will be studying it prior to full hook up. I have the Blueettie AC 300 & 2 B 300's and haaven't used in 2 years. thanks again Robert

Will - thank you for sharing your expertise with the Solar community. I've learned so much from your technical videos. Would you consider making a video on proper grounding techniques: like reference grounds, earth grounds, and grounding solar panels and batteries?

I'm planning to put up a small solar system on my garage roof, so keep all this advice coming! I'm planning on making it grid-tied, with a sunny boy inverter.

Thanks, hadn't thought that way, yet. Just conceived and began implementation of plans to add some blocking diodes to my array.

Been watching your channel for around 3 months. If you can't explain something simply you don't know it enough. You sir know your onions 👍 keep them coming. I'm watching and have no solar and live in the UK where its raining constantly 😂

I m Pakistani , engineer. I m very much impressed with your explanation of diode and its parameters uses

Great explanation Will. I prefer separate charge controllers on each array. I have never needed a multi string combiner box for this reason. Now I have considered adding an array pointed to the west but it would be on a separate CC as well. I like the way you teach . Great job!

Great video Will, I designed a simple combination box using a couple of suitable circuit breakers and 2 diodes on a heat sink. This is to combine two pv strings on different sides of the roof.

Had to watch this over 5x to get it and referencing to other online sources. Very useful when you have solar panel on semi truck. I have it on the hood, roof and sides. Thanks, man.

Thanks Will. You're truly a gifted teacher (among other things)!

Thanks for the many tips and updates on solar equipment !

The circuit diagrams made it very clear, thank you Will

Excellent timing Will! Today, I just ordered a ‘4-way combiner box’, for my solar arrays. One on the east-side, the other on the west-side of my tractor barn. This very question was bugging me! I will give you an ‘update’, as I propose to try this combiner, with and without the blocking diodes. P.S. - I’m using the MDK 55A(50Amp), diode pack.

All of your teachers and instructors just HAVE to be incredibly, incredibly proud! And to them I say BRAVO! Nicely done. ;)

@drinkinslim

3 жыл бұрын

*teachers ;)

Nice presentation. 100% agreement with your description of bypass diodes. I would add that the bypass diode also prevents a reverse bias breakdown of the photovoltaic diodes. Which prevents panel fires. 99% agreement on the blocking diodes. Areas of agreement. Don't need them on a single string. Needed them with older charge controllers, not needed on new controllers. Small power loss. Parallel panels facing the same direction not needed. Except I would expect a limit where fusing would be needed. Solf Disagreement with needed on east west roof configurations. I haven't gone thorough analysis yet. So far there does not appear to be a safety issue, there maybe a performance loss. I need to think about this more. Scattered light will create enough volts to prevent current going into the panel. I do agree with the use of multiple charge controllers instead, for maximum power harvesting. One item left off, was blocking diodes prevents electric defrosting of solar panels. This technique uses backfeeding the panels with a constant current source power supply. This method not needed in the Southwest. I have not considered safety issues from rare events yet. Cars backing into trailer mount systems. I need to do more thinking for parallel configurations. Overall positive nod of my head.

I did not know the bi-pass worked in series connected panels as well I thought it was only for within the single panel itself. I thought if one series panel gets shaded the whole set sees lower performance... hence I normally wire in parallel... You taught me something knew today thanks man!

Clear, concise and accurate. I love your work and clearly you enjoy it too, THANKS VERY MUCH.

I just ordered forty 240w solar panels from santan solar today. Looking forward to starting my off grid living experience!

Thank you for the info, am always learning from you

"in the olden days" Haven't heard that statement in a while.

@kapegede

3 жыл бұрын

... the (g)olden days.."

@volvo09

3 жыл бұрын

I'm not "old" and i remember wanting to make a diy ev when people were still using 2k lbs of lead acid batteries and brushed motors. Tech moves fast! Solar is moving very fast, i'm thrilled by that. Computers and whatnot? Not too much. I just want to get more done with the equipment i have, while being able to keep it fairly simple.

@sandrisaug

3 жыл бұрын

And what about "shtring"?

@drinkinslim

3 жыл бұрын

It doesn't seem like solar has been out all that long, so it's funny hearing him say "in the olden days", LOL. On that note, I saw a re-run of Knight Rider where one of the cars in a race was powered by solar panels on its roof. Not feasible in the 80's and not feasible now, LOL. Ah, the olden days. :)

@edbouhl3100

2 жыл бұрын

Hope I live long enough to hear scornful remarks about ‘the olden days when the old folks took pictures of every meal’.

FANTASTIC video! I learned two new things! And actually had questions about.THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Thank you for your teaching, I really appreciate your teaching skills, I also love follow every of your teaching on electrical and solar works, thanks 👍

As always a very well articulated explanation of the subject at hand.

Excellent presentation, very educational.

WOW @ that part 1:15 about it dropping to 16 volts. I dont have any of those watt meters but I suspected thats what my panels were doing. Thanks for confirming that.

Thanks for the explanation of the different types of diodes.

Clear explanation for solar panels. Good job.

For just a few extra bucks you can get a second mppt for a separate array. I like that. Good explanation too.

I was wanting to hear this... Thanks!

I've often wondered in your setups how you have so many different ground solar arrays, in varying types of panels and voltages, how you keep your voltages from being limited by eachother. Now that you've mentioned using a separate MPPT per array, that all makes sense.

Thank you for your awesome explanations. I’ve learned so much from you! Our off grid systems are better having watched so many of your videos. I’m trying to replace one of my systems battery bank with a lipo bank that I will build. Still learning!

Excellent explanation. I always wondered about the purpose of the diodes on solar panels. I suppose I should look to purchase extra diodes for my solar panels in the event of an EMP surge.

Most helpful as always. Being a real novice this stuff gets a little confusing. Your explanations educate and clarify and keep it fun. I've noticed that the new Harbor Freight 100 Watt monocrystalline solar panel advises to NOT use the panels in Series.....ganged Parallel is fine though...I am confused by that.

bardzo dziękuję, świetny materiał. Jasno prosto i obrazowo wyjaśnione. życzę dużo słońca.

Done learnt me sumtin new today 😜. Seriously, another great explanation of basic circuits that everyone uses but no one ever really thinks about. 👍

Very good information! Thank you!

It is a brilliant explanation! As usual, indeed.

Sweet. My first video was replacing destroyed bypass diodes in a solar panel I was given. 👍🏼

you are the best teacher ever

very informative .... i like when you are explaining its very easy to understand

You are really helpful!! So clear - thank you.

Thank you You answered a question in my mind

Very interesting. Excellent, clear explanation!

Very good explanation. Thanks!

Will, it's great to see you putting out more videos after you took a hiatus from making them regularly. Having the studio/shop space you have is envious to many of us who are subscribers. Enjoy the fruits of your efforts!

@mdunbar04

3 жыл бұрын

Ya until he gets some new Curtains 🥰🥰

As usual, awesome tutorial 👏

What a big clarification for me. Thank you thank you!!!

Very clear explanation. Thank you.

Good that you mention using multiple MPPTs instead of using blocking diodes as this maximises your output.

Good explanation!

Very informative, thanks Will.

Another great class at Solar U.

Excellent stuff mate 🙏

Clear and concise information. Thanks

A perfect level of explanation. Detailed but not 'running through the weeds'

YAY .... very Good nugget of information :)

A very nice, straightforward explanation. 👍 from Wales U.K. 😀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

At first I was going to mount my two 180W panels in landscape orientation so I can get away with smaller tilting brackets. However given what I learned about the behavior of the cell arrangement, and the fact I have winter shading from a tree trunk (vertical cylinder), I'll go with portrait orientation for better power out when shaded.

Clear and simple Thanks

Perfect explanation.

Very well presented .

Hey Will- talking about bypass diodes. I did some testing to see what it takes for the diodes to turn on and found that when that when that loaded string of (shaded) cells output voltage drops to just less than .8 volts the diode turns on and allows current to fully bypass that that string of cells. The output of that panel or string of cells becomes zero but at least it allows current to continue to flow through the series circuit.

You're actually pretty informative. Subscribed and thumb up.

brilliant explanation .. thanks a lot

Bro, excellent explanation.bro the way u describe is simple and nice. 👏👏👏

An excellent and IMPORTANT explanation about solar panel configuration and how shading affects panels. Not so much a problem in big sky states like Arizona, but essential when driving around New England where trees line the roadways and are allowed to canopy creating a "tunnel" through the trees.

Thank for the educative video Will. About the example of two panels facing in different directions i was wondering if a solar optimizer for each panel like the Tigo TS4-A-O with just a single string would do the same optimization as a multi-string inverter with one string for each direction

Good description.

Nice video Will!!!!

Love this review

Great video Will, I'm installing two panels in series connected to an MPPT regulator in my RV, I thought I'd need to install an extra bypass diode in parallel to each panel in order to prevent the full series to stop producing energy once one of the panels were to be completely shaded. Is it correct or the built in bypass diodes in the panels already serve this particular purpose? Thank you Sir!

Thanks! Very interesting to hear about these aspects that I had no idea existed! I suspect my PWM is allowing current from the battery to go out to my single solar panel on my boat, as I read a low voltage (4-5V) when connected despite totally covered and turned upside down. Maybe a diode would be helpful there.

Thank you for the video .

I can't think of any questions, you've answered all of them. My life is complete now.

Thank you for the useful information. Can you tell me if I need a blocking diode when using the Tracer 4215bn? I noticed that my battery was discharging somehow

Thanks good practical explanation.

Will, thanks much this was great! I am probably missing something but how does a bypass diode keep from bypassing the panel all the time? If you put a bypass diode in parallel with the solar cells doesn’t it in effect short out the solar cells? Is the bypass diode a zener diode?

Good job

Great info sir..but i have a question one of my 100w panel when i connect to the battery it will drain the battery instead of charging it..should i replace the blocking diode?

Nice, informative video, though I didn't know the morning sun was from the West in Arizona :)

This was a very good course on diodes that covers most of the questions I've personally been asked on the matter of diodes. In addition though, could you address what happens when a diode goes bad, what would be the results to a solar panel and a solar array system if a bypass diode or a blocking diode failed and how to test for that? (failed in each case; open or closed state)

@googeliswiththegreys

Жыл бұрын

that is exactly what I came here to learn....didnt watch 'cause you pretty much are saying it isn't answered in this video

Great job brother keep it up.

Thanks Will

I have been looking for info on what happens when a panel has shade and how it affects the series string. I have 3 panels in series to an MPPT solar charger. It seems to pull down the out put of the whole string. If the panel’s junction boxes are sealed, how do I test to see if my panels have passing diodes?

Good job Will enjoyed your lifestream keep making your opinions public as much as you can, just remember a the majority of your subscribers respect you and your opinions though we may not agree with you that it's always nice to hear the other side of an issue.