Protecting the Array from the spike

[alman]

On the ESF, I believe Tom C. wrote that when using solar to charge the battery that drives the ssg you should add a cap and a diode to primary side to protect the solar array form the spike. I would guess to put the diode in series between charge controller and battery positive and a 10,000+ uf cap in parallel to the primary battery. I am not sure of the best/simplest way. Anyone doing this without wrecking things? Al

[alman]

stupid question?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Kenowen]

Spikes

On the ESF, I believe Tom C. wrote that when using solar to charge the battery that drives the ssg you should add a cap and a diode to primary side to protect the solar array form the spike. I would guess to put the diode in series between charge controller and battery positive and a 10,000+ uf cap in parallel to the primary battery. I am not sure of the best/simplest way. Anyone doing this without wrecking things? Al

Spikes are best handled with small value capacitor or a few in 10x steps starting at .01 micro farad. Also any lead length will look like an inductor so placing them at the source (solar cell) and the final point (ssg) end will improve the quenching of the spikes.

[Guruji]

Hi guys are you saying that one can do harm to a solar panel when hooking an SSG to them?
If yes can anyone post a scheme how one should do this cap and diode mentioned?
Thanks

[alman]

thanks

kenowen,
so the reason for the .01, to .1 cap is to filter the high frequency spike as the battery will work as a big cap and absorb much of what a larger cap will absorb correct? Al

[alman]

Guruji,
The spike from the monopole will travel back to the primary battery and so if you have solar on the primary side you should protect it. Al