FAQ:  Cont’d Discussion on selecting a blocking diode

Fortunately diodes have made a substantial leap in performance in the past 15 years.   They can run hotter and perform with more efficiency.   They have also gotten cheaper.

If you have no clue about any of the discussion points above and have a simple wind turbine / solar panel / pedal power / fuel cell / hydro generator DIY BYO project in the works,  then it’s best to do the following:

1. Use a volt meter like one of These  to measure the max voltage of your system.   Note that if you are measuring AC then you need to multiply your measurement by the square root of 1.4 to get the true peak Voltage measurement.   This is because AC measurements are taken at the RMS value.
2. Measure the ABSOLUTE max DC or AC current flowing through a single wire from your generator.   If you don’t have the tool to do this, then take a look at the available current clamps sold HERE.   If you need help figuring out how to set your system to max power mode then send an inquiry email to   (You will have to type it into your email address window).
3. After you have taken the max voltage and max current of your generating system then I recommend finding a diode with twice the current and twice the voltage rating of your measurement.   So if you measure 10 Amps,  then look for a 20 Amp diode.   If you measured 100 Volts, then look for a 200V diode.   That way you won’t have to worry as much about it breaking down and getting too hoot and having to provide a heat sink for it.

If you want to look at some available blocking diodes on Amazon you can go HERE