A working group of the international PV Quality Assurance Task Force has been undertaking research and testing initiatives aimed at improving the design and long-term reliability of module junction ...

Bypass diodes: The Zurich University of Applied Sciences has developed a new mobile LED flasher that can test module nominal power in the field, rather than in the lab. This flasher can also detect ...

With the ongoing increase in module operating current, a reliable junction box is critical for modules which are to last for 25 to 30 years. This article will analyse which factors need to be ...

We have all had difficulty testing diodes in-circuit. Most DMM’s have a diode Vf function that measures forward drop, but what is the normal voltage drop? Analog VOM’s attempt to measure resistance of ...

The SM74611 is a smart bypass diode used in photovoltaic applications. It serves the purpose of providing an alternate path for string current when parts of the panel are shaded during normal ...

STMicroelectronics (ST) announces an innovation for solar panels aimed at allowing more of the energy from each cell to reach the power grid. The innovation replaces the simple bypass diode with an ...

A chance conversation about solar panels set Microsemi chip designer Shawn Fahrenbruch on a voyage of discovery, resulting in an active diode with a forward drop of only 50mV. It has only two ...