I'm not well-versed in the domain of electrical engineering, so please bear with me if this question is too basic.
I'm putting together an automatic watering system for my greenhouse. Basically, it's a solar panel
> voltage regulator
> schottky diode
> battery
> timer
> water pump
.
The Schottky diodes I've used so far came with the solar panels. However, I need extra ones. This is where the problem arise. What type of Schottky diode do I need?
I'm using two 9V/2W/~200mAh solar panels connected in series (18V) and I've been looking at a 40V 3A (1N5822) Schottky diode. Would this be a reasonable Schottky diode to use? The panels are connected in series in order to trickle charge a 12V lead acid battery at 13.8V.
- How do I know which Schottky diode is the right one for my use?
- What considerations do I need to take?
- How do I see what the voltage drop for this type of diode is?