A diode connected across one or more solar cells in a photovoltaic module such that the diode will conduct if the cell(s) become reverse biased. [UL 1703] Alternatively, diode connected anti-parallel across a part of the solar cells of a PV module. It protects these solar cells from thermal destruction in case of total or partial shading, broken cells, or cell string failures of individual solar cells while other cells are exposed to full light.[to top

A diode that is placed across a portion (or all) of the cells in a PV module. Since the current of a cell is proportional to its illumination, a shaded cell in series-connected module or string will "choke" the current through the other cells. To prevent this from happening, a bypass diode a placed across a fraction of cells in a module, say eah 1/3 of the cells in a module. In this way if a portion of the module is shaded, the bypass diode can "bypass" the current around those cells, preventing the "current choking" from happening. Unfortunately, the voltage drops to a fraction of a volt, greatly reducing the power availble from the bypassed cells. Nonetheless, the total current through the module is not compromised and the output power of a partially shaded module might frop to 2/3 or 1/3 of its potential output, which is better than something close to zero

(also called a shunt diode) - A diode placed in parallel with a photovoltaic module or group of modules allowing a route for the current under conditions of shading or cell failure.

A diode connected across a solar cell in a photovoltaic module such that the diode will conduct if the cell becomes reverse biased due to shading or the failure of other cells.

A diode connected in parallel with a PV module to provide an alternate current path in case of module shading or failure. G,H I,J K,L N,O P,Q U,V W,X Y,Z This Page Page 2 Page 3 Capacitance (C): The storage of energy in an electrostatic field, which creates an opposition to a change in voltage. A capacitor has two metal plates, separated by an air space or other insulating material, across which an electrical charge can build up but not flow. Capacitance in a circuit creates a phase difference between the voltage and the current in that circuit, in which the voltage lags or peaks after the amperage. The unit of capacitance is the farad (F).

A diode connected in parallel with a PV cell to provide an alternative current path in case of cell shading or failure. Cell (photovoltaic) the smallest unit of a solar module.