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Diode strings are a very efficient and much misunderstood DIY way to get the most electric heat possible out of a PV solar panel array in a variety of solar conditions - far superior to bare resistance (Ohmic) heater elements. In this video I will explain how the technology works, and demonstrate it in operation on the workbench in my solar workshop. This is part 2 in a series about Solar Electric Heating with Solid State semiconductor heating elements.
Solid State Solar Electric Heating (DIY video series)
🟢 Boiling an Egg with a 20 watt solar panel and diodes: • Ultra efficient solar ...
Part 1: • Solar Heating - Solid ...
Part 2: • Video (This video)
Solar Hot Water - Early Tests: • Video
It's hard to believe, but simple diode strings (or a diode chain), which are semiconductor junctions and some of the most basic electronic components available, can actually hold the approximate Voltage of Maximum Power (Vmp) of a solar panel array nearly all day. They act almost like an MPPT DC-DC converter circuit. And they can do this without any supporting electronics. They are a practical heating element for solar electric heating and PV-to-Load applications. But there are challenges due to the current package designs available off the shelf.
Diode voltage is a logarithmic function of current passing across; or you could say the current increases exponentially with voltage. This happens to match very well with a solar panel when trying to extract all the electrical power as only heat. The end result is the interesting electrical behavior of diode strings as described in this video.
PV-to-load is the concept of attaching useful loads directly to PV solar panel arrays, bypassing the traditional battery, inverter and charge controller setup. Operating heating loads directly off of solar panels makes sense as it saves wear and tear on expensive discrete solar power components and equipment. See videos below for more information about this concept.
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20A Silicon Rectifier Diode amzn.to/4b3niOb
20A Diode variety kit amzn.to/3O5h1I3
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Music credits: by TuneTank, Pixabay