Name: Solmetric PVA-1500T
Brand: Solmetric
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7 Interpreting Measured I-V Curves  
7-6 
1. Notches or steps 
Examples of this type of deviation are shown in Figure 60, Figure 61, and Figure 62.  
 
Figure 60. The effect of partial shading on a string I-V curve.  

Table of Contents5
Getting Started13
Overview13
Computer Minimum System Requirements14
Equipment15
Curve Tracer Equipment (PVA-1500Xx, PVA-1000S, PVA-600 )15
Solsensor Equipment15
Specifications16
PVA-1500Xx I-V Measurement Unit Specifications16
PVA-1500Xx Test Lead and Clip Specifications18
PVA-1000S I-V Measurement Unit Specifications18
Specifications20
Solsensor 200/300/300V2 Specifications21
Safety and Regulatory22
PVA-1500Xx Safety and Regulatory22
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes22
Declaration of Conformity23
Cleaning23
Instrument Markings23
PVA-1000S Safety and Regulatory23
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes23
Declaration of Conformity24
Cleaning24
Instrument Markings24
Safety and Regulatory24
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes25
Declaration of Conformity25
Cleaning25
Instrument Markings25
Solsensor 300 and Solsensor 300V2 Safety and Regulatory27
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes27
Declaration of Conformity27
Cleaning27
Instrument Markings27
Solsensor (Original) Safety and Regulatory28
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes28
Declaration of Conformity28
Cleaning28
Instrument Markings29
Precautions30
PVA-1500Xx Precautions30
Using Test Leads and Clips30
Using PV Connector Saver Jumpers31
Pv/Electrical Safety Precautions31
Battery Precautions33
Measuring High-Efficiency PV Modules33
PVA-1000S Precautions33
Using PV Connector Saver Jumpers33
Pv/Electrical Safety Precautions34
Battery Precautions35
Measuring High-Efficiency PV Modules35
Precautions35
Using PV Connector Saver Jumpers35
Pv/Electrical Safety Precautions36
Battery Precautions37
Measuring High-Efficiency PV Modules37
Solsensor 300Xx, Solsensor 200, and Original Solsensor Precautions37
Covering the Irradiance Sensor37
Cleaning the Irradiance Sensor38
Battery Precautions38
Installation Procedure39
I-V Measurement Unit Installation Procedure39
Hardware Installation39
Software Installation39
Figure 2. Welcome Screen39
Figure 3. Prerequisites Dialog40
Figure 4. Installation Default Location Dialog40
Figure 5. Insert Wireless Usb Adapter Dialog41
Figure 6. Insert Wireless Usb41
Figure 7. Installation Complete Dialog42
Figure 8. Launching the Pva42
Figure 9. Splash Screen42
Updating the PV Equipment Databases43
Figure 10. the Software User Interface Shared by the43
Figure 11. Directory Structure of43
Solsensor Installation Procedure44
Charging the Battery44
Charging the Battery on the PVA-1500Xx I-V Measurement Units44
Figure 12. Battery Charger Connector on the Figure 13. Charger Connected44
Charging the Solsensor 300Xx Battery45
Charging the Battery on the PVA-1000S and PVA-600 + I-V Measurement Unit45
Charging the Solsensor Battery of the Original Solsensor46
Figure 14. Battery Charger Connector on the Figure 15. Charger Connected46
Your Wireless Network47
Your PVA-1500Xx/Solsensor 300Xx Wireless Network47
Figure 16. the W I F I Network of the Figure 17. Network Icon47
Your PVA-1000S/600 /Solsensor Wireless Network48
Figure 18. Network Diagrams49
Setting up and Using the I-V Measurement Unit and Solsensor50
System Controls and Settings50
Operational States of the PVA-1500Xx I-V Measurement Units50
Operational States of the PVA-1000S & 60052
I-V Measurement Unit52
Setting up the I-V Measurement Unit53
Setting up Solsensor54
Figure 20. Sols54
Mounting Sol Sensor to Apv Module Frame55
Figure 21. Sols55
Figure 22. Sols56
Figure 23. Tip of Frame Clamp Properly Seated on Inside Surface of Module Frame56
Figure 24. Thermocouple Plugged into the Figure 25. Locating the Thermocouple Tip on a Single Free57
Figure 26. Sol Sensor Pushbutton with58
Optimizing Wireless Transmission Range59
Mounting Solsensor on a Tripod59
Figure 27. Tripod Mounting Setup60
Connecting to the Solar Pv Equipment61
Figure 28. Example of I-V M62
Powering-Up the I-V Measurement Unit63
Figure 29. Powering - up the63
I-V Measurements64
Sweep Disabled64
Over-Temperature Protection64
Sweep-To-Sweep Delay and Thermal Capacity of the PVA-1500Xx65
Operating under High-Temperature Conditions66
Over-Voltage Warnings67
PVA-1500Xx Over-Voltage Condition67
PVA-1000S Over-Voltage Condition67
Over-Current Warnings67
Over-Voltage Protection67
Reverse Polarity Protection68
Software Overview69
Using Projects69
Using the System Tree70
Main Screen Overview70
Menu Bar71
File Menu71
Browse Project71
Recent Projects71
Export Trace for Active Measurement71
Export Traces for Entire System71
Figure 31. File Menu71
Export Meg Test Data72
New Project72
Figure 32. the Site Info Screen of the Figure 33. Controls in the Site72
Figure 34. most Common Settings for a Horizontal Single73
Figure 35. the Time Zone Control in the Figure 36. the Pv M73
Selecting Your PV Module74
Figure 37. Selection of the Pv74
Creating the System Tree75
Figure 38. Array Navigator with75
Using the Symmetrical Tree Builder76
Figure 39. Finished Array Tree for a Utility76
Figure 40. the Default System Tree in the Figure 41. Controls for Editing the String Wiring Properties of Your Array Tree76
Cloning, Modifying, and Reusing a Previous Project79
Properties Menu79
Figure 42. Directory Structure Used by the Figure 43. Properties Menu79
View Menu80
Trace View Options80
Show Meg Test Tab80
Utility Menu80
Figure 44. Utility Menu80
Help Menu83
Figure 45. Help Menu83
Using the Tab Screens84
Traces Tab84
Figure 46. Traces Tab84
Figure 47. Table Tab89
History Tab90
Meg Test Tab91
Figure 48. History Tab91
Description of the Exported I-V Data File92
Basis of Pv Performance Predictions97
Solsensor Irradiance Calibration97
Irradiance Measurement98
Prediction of PV Performance98
Translation of Measured Values to STC98
Measurement of I99
Pva Pc Software Updates99
Pva-1500V2/V3/V4/Tand Sol Sensor 300V2 Firmware Updates99
Making Measurements101
Introduction101
Before You Go to the Field to Make Measurements101
Charge the Equipment101
Check that You Are Using the Latest PVA Software101
Create a Project in the PVA Software101
Make Sure You Have All Your Equipment102
Assure Adequate Irradiance for Your Measurements102
Making Measurements in the Field102
Measure the Open Circuit Voltage Voc102
Place the I-V Unit Near the PV Circuits to be Measured103
Connect the Test Leads to the PVA103
Launch the PVA Software103
Load Your Project103
Insert the Wireless USB Adapter (PVA-1000S and PVA-600+)103
Mount Solsensor104
Attach Solsensor Thermocouple104
Turn on the I-V Measurement Unit, and Connect Wirelessly to Your PC104
Turn on Solsensor105
Prepare the PV Source Circuits for Measurement105
Are You Measuring Strings in Parallel105
Are You Measuring High-Efficiency Modules105
Connect the Test Leads to the PV Equipment106
Select the First PV Circuit to be Measured106
Make Your First Measurement106
Select the Next PV Circuit and Take Another Measurement107
View the Consistency of Your Data before Moving on107
From Time to Time, Back up Your Data108
Troubleshooting Pva Operation109
Troubleshooting Using Status Messages109
Troubleshooting by Symptom112
Measuring Irradiance, Temperature, and Tilt117
Introduction117
Measuring Irradiance with Solsensor119
Solsensor Irradiance Sensor119
Preliminary Irradiance119
Solsensor Precautions119
Protecting the Irradiance Sensor Element119
Cleaning the Irradiance Sensor119
Orienting and Mounting the Irradiance Sensor120
Albedo Effects120
Diffuse Light120
Determining Irradiance from the Measured I-V Curve121
Entering Irradiance Manually122
Measuring Pv Module Backside Temperature with a Thermocouple122
Selecting a Thermocouple Wire Gauge123
Selecting a Thermocouple Tip123
Selecting a Tape for Thermocouple Attachment123
Attaching the Thermocouple to the Module Backside124
Choosing a Location to Mount the Thermocouple on the Module or Array124
Measuring Pv Module Temperature with an Infrared Thermometer125
Determining Cell Temperature from the Measured I-V Curve126
Using Smarttemp to Measure Cell Temperature127
Interpreting Measured I-V Curves129
Introduction129
Inputs to the Pv Model129
I-V Curve Terminology130
Performance Factor130
Fill Factor130
The Shape of a Normal I-V Curve131
Interpreting I-V Curves132
Notches or Steps134
Array Is Partially Shaded, or Non-Uniform Soiling or Debris Is Present136
PV Cells Are Damaged136
Cell String Conductor Is Short Circuited136
Low Current136
Uniform Soiling137
Strip Shade137
Dirt Dam137
Module Degradation138
Incorrect PV Module Is Selected for the PV Model138
Number of PV Strings in Parallel Is Not Entered Correctly in the Model138
Irradiance Changed between Irradiance and I-V Measurements138
Irradiance Sensor Is Not Oriented in the Plane of Array138
Albedo Effects (Reflection) Contribute Additional Irradiance138
Irradiance Is too Low, or the Sun Is too Close to the Horizon139
Manual Irradiance Sensor Is Not Accurate139
Low Voltage139
PV Cell Temperature Is Hotter than the Measured Temperature140
One or more Cells or Modules Are Completely Shaded140
One or more Bypass Diodes Are Conducting or Shorted140
Rounder Knee141
Steeper Slope in Horizontal Leg142
Shunt Paths Exist in PV Cells or Modules142
Module I Sc Mismatch143
Tapered Shade or Dirt Dam143
Less Steep Slope in Vertical Leg144
PV Wiring Has Excess Resistance or Is Insufficiently Sized144
Electrical Interconnections in the Array Are Resistive145
Series Resistance of PV Modules Has Increased145
Troubleshooting Pv Arrays145
Translation of I-V Data to Standard Test Conditions147
Parameter Definitions147
Translation Equations148

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Brand	Solmetric
Model	PVA-1500T
Category	Measuring Instruments
Language	English

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