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Ralph Mowery

In article , says...
e all do know that diodes and other simple-and-quick
"one way" valves for direct current do allow a bit of
backflow, right? so yes, that solar panel, at night, might
actually be doing some draining...)

Any diode worth using will have so little 'backflow' it would take
years to drain a car battery. The battery would self-discharge at a
rate so much larger than the diode would allow that it would be un
noticiable. About like the weight of a fly landing on the car making it
weigh more. Sure it does, but no practicl way of telling the added
weight.

I have a small solar panel I hook to my riding lawn mower in the winter
when it is not used for seveal months. The panel is not even in direct
sum most of the day. The first start of the year , the mower engine
turns over very fast.