Static Shock!
I was sitting in the camper doing paperwork and noticed the battery voltage getting low from running the inverter. I reached up to the solar charge controller to press the button to show amps charging...
Forum Discussion
covered wagon wrote:
Thank you Camper Jeff & Kelli. I never have heard electronics damaged from static electricity. It is a new one on me.
I'm guessing the panels put out AC volts and then are converted to DC thru diodes. Enough diodes to reduce it down to around 14-15 volts dc charging.
Do you know if the diodes also act to keep from losing the electrons gained from going back into the night sky or does the controller simply shut down or open the circuit at night ?
Static discharge or EMP on a large scale is lightning which can ruin your electronics fast if unprotected and that's a maybe in close to source circumstances.
Panels produce DC Output Voltage. Some panels have blocking diodes and bypass diodes built into them or you install them. They are situated to minimize loss of output when partially shaded and to prevent back feeding of current from lesser output panels or batteries at night. Individual photo cells of the solar panel are light sensitive diodes. The bypass and blocking diodes will introduce a .7 or .4 volt drop in voltage depending on type of diode used.
Didn't have time to shop for a new controller today. Try again tomorrow. Take care...
