Solmetric PV ANALYZER PVA-1500 Series User Manual

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SOLMETRIC PV ANALYZER™ I-V CURVE TRACER

USER’S GUIDE

PVA-1500

Versions S, V2, V3, V4, T, and HE

with SolSensor

™

300/300V2

Table of Contents5
Getting Started12
Overview12
Computer Minimum System Requirements13
Equipment13
Curve Tracer Equipment13
Solsensor Equipment14
Specifications15
PVA-1500 I-V Measurement Unit Specifications15
PVA-1500 Test Lead and Clip Specifications17
Table 2. Electrical and Mechanical Specifications for the Test Leads and Clips Provided with the Pva-150017
Solsensor Specifications18
Table 3. Solsensor Specifications18
Safety and Regulatory19
PVA-1500 Safety and Regulatory19
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes19
Declaration of Conformity20
Cleaning20
Instrument Markings20
Solsensor Safety and Regulatory21
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes21
Declaration of Conformity21
Cleaning21
Instrument Markings21
Precautions22
PVA-1500 Precautions22
Using Test Leads and Clips22
Figure 1. Pva-1500S/V2/V3/V4/T MC-4 to Alligator Clip ( Left ), and Pva-1500He Banana Jack to22
Using PV Connector Saver Jumpers23
Pv/Electrical Safety Precautions23
Battery Precautions24
Measuring High-Efficiency PV Modules25
Solsensor Precautions25
Covering the Irradiance Sensor25
Cleaning the Irradiance Sensor25
Battery Precautions25
Installation Procedure26
I-V Measurement Unit Installation Procedure26
Hardware Installation26
Software Installation26
Figure 2. Welcome Screen26
Figure 3. Prerequisites Dialog27
Figure 4. Installation Default Location Dialog27
Figure 5. Installation Complete Dialog28
Figure 6. the Software User Interface28
Updating the PV Equipment Databases29
Solsensor Installation Procedure29
Charging the Battery29
Charging the Battery on the PVA-1500 I-V Measurement Units29
Figure 7. Directory Structure of Pva Software29
Figure 8. Battery Charger Connector on the I-V Measurement Unit29
Charging the Solsensor30
Figure 9. Charger Connected30
Your Wireless Network31
Your PVA-1500/Solsensor Wireless Network31
Figure 10. the Wifi Network of the PVA-1500, Solsensor, and Your PC31
Setting up and Using the I-V Measurement Unit and Solsensor33
System Controls and Settings33
Operational States of the PVA-1500 I-V Unit and Solsensor34
Table 4. Pushbutton Led34
Setting up the I-V Measurement Unit35
Setting up Solsensor36
Figure 12. Sol Sensor Mounted on the Frame of Apv Module36
Mounting Sol Sensor to Apv Module Frame37
Figure 13. Solsensor Tool Lanyard Secured to a Racking Member37
Figure 14. Solsensor Correctly Seated Along the Upper Horizontal Leg of the Module Frame38
Figure 15. Tip of Frame Clamp Properly Seated on Inside Surface of Module Frame38
Figure 16. Thermocouple Plugged into the Tc1 Connector39
Figure 17. Locating the Thermocouple Tip on a Single Free-Standing Module39
Optimizing Wireless Transmission Range40
Figure 18. Sol Sensor Pushbutton with Led Lit . Led Blinks until Wireless Network Is Established40
Mounting Solsensor on a Tripod41
Figure 19. Tripod Mounting Setup42
Connecting to the Solar Pv Equipment43
Powering-Up the I-V Measurement Unit44
Figure 20. Example of I-V Measurement Unit Test Leads Clipped to the Buss Bars of Apv Combiner44
I-V Measurements45
Sweep Disabled45
Over-Temperature Protection45
Figure 21. Powering-Up the I-V Measurement Unit45
Sweep-To-Sweep Delay and Thermal Capacity of the PVA-150046
Table 5. Sweep-To-Sweep Delay46
Table 6. Thermal Capacity46
Operating under High-Temperature Conditions47
Over-Voltage Warnings47
PVA-1500 Over-Voltage Condition47
Over-Current Warnings48
Reverse Polarity or Zero Volts Detection48
Software Overview49
Using Projects49
Using the System Tree50
Main Screen Overview50
Menu Bar51
File Menu51
Browse Project51
Recent Projects51
Export Trace for Active Measurement51
Export Traces for Entire System51
Figure 23. File Menu51
Export Meg Test Data52
New Project52
Figure 24. the Site Info Screen of the New Project Wizard52
Figure 25. Controls in the Site Info Screen, Set for a Fixed Array with 180-Degree Azimuth52
Figure 26. most Common Settings for a Horizontal Single-Axis Tracking System53
Selecting Your PV Module54
Creating the System Tree55
Using the Symmetrical Tree Builder56
Figure 31. Finished Array Tree for a Utility56
Figure 32. the Default System Tree in the Figure 33. Controls for Editing the String Wiring Properties of Your Array Tree56
Cloning, Modifying, and Reusing a Previous Project59
Figure 34. Directory Structure Used by the Figure 35. Properties Menu59
Properties Menu60
View Menu60
Trace View Options60
Show Meg Test Tab60
Utility Menu60
Table 7. Utility Menu Description61
Help Menu64
Figure 37. Help Menu64
Table 8. Help Menu Description64
Using the Tab Screens65
Traces Tab65
Table 9. Traces Tab Description66
Figure 39. Table Tab69
History Tab70
Table 10. Table Tab Description70
Figure 40. History Tab71
Table 11. History Tab Advanced71
Meg Test Tab72
Figure 41. Meg Test Tab72
Description of the Exported I-V Data File73
Table 12. Meg Test Tab Description73
Figure 42. Headeri74
Table 13. Description of Theh74
Figure 43. the Measurement Vs75
Figure 44. the Sol Sensorm75
Figure 45. Modeld76
Table 14. Description of Thes76
Table 15. Description of Them77
Basis of Pv Performance Predictions78
Solsensor Irradiance Calibration78
Figure 46. the Voltage , Current78
Irradiance Measurement79
Prediction of PV Performance79
Translation of Measured Values to STC79
Measurement of I80
Calibration Verification80
Figure 47. Calibrationv80
Pva Pc Software Updates81
PVA-1500 and Solsensor 300V2 Firmware Updates81
Making Measurements83
Introduction83
Before You Go to the Field to Make Measurements83
Charge the Equipment83
Figure 48. Charging Icons83
Figure 49. Over-Temp Charging Icon83
Check that You Are Using the Latest PVA Software84
Create a Project in the PVA Software84
Make Sure You Have All Your Equipment84
Assure Adequate Irradiance for Your Measurements84
Making Measurements in the Field85
Measure the Open Circuit Voltage Voc85
Place the I-V Unit Near the PV Circuits to be Measured85
Connect the Test Leads to the PVA85
Launch the PVA Software85
Load Your Project86
Mount Solsensor86
Attach Solsensor Thermocouple86
Turn on the I-V Measurement Unit, and Connect Wirelessly to Your PC86
Turn on Solsensor87
Prepare the PV Source Circuits for Measurement87
Are You Measuring Strings in Parallel87
Are You Measuring High-Efficiency Modules87
Connect the Test Leads to the PV Equipment88
Select the First PV Circuit to be Measured88
Make Your First Measurement88
Figure 50. Results of an I-V88
Select the Next PV Circuit and Take Another Measurement90
View the Consistency of Your Data before Moving on90
Alerts91
Table 16. Measurement Alerts91
Data Backup92
Figure 51. Project Backups92
Troubleshooting Pva Operation93
Troubleshooting Using Status Messages93
Figure 52. Status Indicator93
Troubleshooting by Symptom97
No I-V Measurement Unit" Message97
Solsensor Parameter Values Are Not Displayed98
Communication to I-V Measurement Unit or Solsensor Briefly Drops out98
It Takes more Time than Usual to Return and Save a Measurement99
I-V Curve Does Not Reach down to the X-Axis99
I-V Trace Consists of Straight Line Segments99
Trace Is Noisy99
I-V Curve Drops to Zero Current at One or more Points99
Short Circuit Current Is Much Higher, or Lower, than Predicted by the Model100
Unstable Voltage Message100
I-V Measurement Unit Cannot be Turned on100
Thermal Fuse100
Measuring Irradiance, Temperature, and Tilt101
Introduction101
Table 17. Sensor Choices102
Measuring Irradiance with Solsensor103
Solsensor Irradiance Sensor103
Preliminary Vs Effective Irradiance103
Solsensor Precautions103
Protecting the Irradiance Sensor Element103
Cleaning the Irradiance Sensor103
Orienting and Mounting the Irradiance Sensor103
Albedo Effects104
Diffuse Light104
Determining Irradiance from the Measured I-V Curve105
Entering Irradiance Manually106
Measuring Pv Module Backside Temperature with a Thermocouple106
Selecting a Thermocouple Wire Gauge107
Selecting a Thermocouple Tip107
Selecting a Tape for Thermocouple Attachment107
Attaching the Thermocouple to the Module Backside108
Choosing a Location to Mount the Thermocouple on the Module or Array108
Measuring Pv Module Temperature with an Infrared Thermometer108
Determining Cell Temperature from the Measured I-V Curve109
Using Smarttemp to Measure Cell Temperature110
Interpreting Measured I-V Curves111
Introduction111
Inputs to the Pv Model111
I-V Curve Terminology112
Performance Factor112
Fill Factor112
The Shape of a Normal I-V Curve113
Figure 53. Definition of the Fill113
Figure 54. Anormal I-V113
Interpreting I-V Curves114
Notches or Steps116
Array Is Partially Shaded, or Non-Uniform Soiling or Debris Is Present118
PV Cells Are Damaged118
Low Current118
Uniform Soiling119
Strip Shade119
Dirt Dam119
Module Degradation119
Incorrect PV Module Is Selected for the PV Model119
Number of PV Strings in Parallel Is Not Entered Correctly in the Model119
Irradiance Changed between Irradiance and I-V Measurements119
Irradiance Sensor Is Not Oriented in the Plane of Array120
Albedo Effects (Reflection)120
Manual Irradiance Sensor Is Not Accurate120
Low Voltage121
PV Cell Temperature Measurement Is Incorrect121
One or more Bypass Diodes Are Shorted121
Rounder Knee122
Steeper Slope in Horizontal Leg123
Tapered Shade or Dirt Dam Across All Cell Groups123
Increased Shunting in PV Cells123
Less Steep Slope in Vertical Leg124
PV Wiring Has Excess Resistance124
Electrical Interconnections in the Array Are Resistive125
Series Resistance of PV Modules Has Increased125
Troubleshooting Pv Arrays125
Translation of I-V Data to Standard Test Conditions127
Parameter Definitions127
Translation Equations128

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Uyg'unJul 8, 2025
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Solmetric PV ANALYZER PVA-1500 Series Specifications

General

Brand	Solmetric
Model	PV ANALYZER PVA-1500 Series
Category	Measuring Instruments
Language	English

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Solmetric PV ANALYZER PVA-1500 Series User Manual

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Solmetric PV ANALYZER PVA-1500 Series Specifications

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