Shorted out my solar PV panel - half voltage now. Help diagnosing?
 

I mistakenly crossed wires hooking up my 80w panel to a battery this afternoon and screwed something up.

Spark! And now it's only putting out half the rated voltage.

I've posted details and a photo (of my failed attempt to diagnose/fix it) at EcoRenovator. If anyone can offer advice, I'd appreciate it.

I done a bad thing: need advice diagnosing shorted PV panel (output = half voltage) - EcoRenovator

Depending on the type of encapsulating material you have, there may be a depotting solvent that will cleanly remove it and give you a better look.

sounds like you cooked a diode.

Mystery solved: cooked one and a half bypass diodes. :)

One blew clear apart (which is fine - the panel can work without them). But the second one fused when it melted, creating a dead short around half the cells in the panel, thus the 1/2 output.

Thanks for the help.