Well, Im continuing with my solar bike build ...
One of the issues with a solar bike or solar in general is shading, a solar bike having PV cells facing the sky at different angles and directions and not always facing the suns direction can reduce the string output so low to the point of being useless.. The problem is that the PV cells which have direct exposure to the suns rays are trying to pass their current through the shaded cell/s. To avoid this you would need a bypass diode on the cells which are prone to shading.
Bypass diodes available
4 watt cells @ 8A (6"x6")
310mV @ 9A / Voltage - Forward
Digi-Key - 95SQ015-ND (Manufacturer - 95SQ015)
$3.30 usd
1.75 watt cells (3"x6")
370mV @ 5A / Voltage - Forward
Digi-Key - CMS04QMCT-ND (Manufacturer - CMS04(TE12L,Q,M))
$0.88 usd
1.5 watt cells @ 3A
370mV @ 3A / Voltage - Forward
Digi-Key - CMS01QCT-ND (Manufacturer - CMS01(TE12L,Q,M))
$0.75usd
when the shaded cell/s voltage drops below .31 or .37 volts the diode conducts
wiring a solar cell with a bypass diode
- the diode is wired in series with the cell/s, only reversed polarity