ABSTRACT
Several terminal designs with bypass diodes were studied at high currents and poor ventilation of the junction boxes. Strategies to limit the thermal load of bypass diodes were examined. A new compact plug and socket circuit board was developed to allow an automated low cost production of glass-resin-glass and glass-EVA-Tedlar modules. The test results showed that small junction boxes with 6 bypass diodes can be used even in non-optimized installations with poor ventilation and partial shading. Design guidelines were revised for large modules proposing a revision of published solar cell specifications to reduce hot spot risks and thermal damage of the bypass diodes in the junction box.
