Date:         Fri, 3 Jan 2003 08:49:54 -0500
Reply-To:     SStones <sstones@IDIRECT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         SStones <sstones@IDIRECT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cautions, was:  Re: Solar panels are GONE!!!
In-Reply-To:  <BA3A13D0.D275%ben@volkscafe.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 04:05 PM 1/2/03 -0700, Ben wrote:
>I have disassembled one of these, and don't see any evidence of a one-way
>resistor or anything to keep current from flowing backwards on these--can
>anyone out there comment on why the battery doesn't discharge when this is
>plugged in and not generating any current, i.e. when it's dark?

One of the properties of the semiconductor in the solar panel is that it
works as a piss poor diode, only allowing current to flow in the direction
that the solar panel itself tries to flow the current. It is a very poor
way to make a diode, unless you want it for it's solar properties, and
would get hot and cause resistance in it's circuit that a good diode
wouldn't. Same as an LED, really, you don't use 'em as diodes unless you
want the Light Emitting aspect. If you were to hard wire one into your van
permanently, you might be best off to put a good diode into the circuit
along with it, to prevent possible voltage spikes from ruining your work. I
think the warning on it is there to protect their asses, perhaps the wiring
is cheap and will fall apart in time, causing the possibility of a short,
but if you were doing your own custom install, you could use great wire.