Home
Solmetric
Measuring Instruments
PVA-1500T
Solmetric PVA-1500T User Manual
5
of 1
of 1 rating
150 pages
Give review
Manual
Specs
To Previous Page
To Previous Page
Loading...
8 Translation
of I-V Data
to Standard Test Condition
s
8-4
This page is in
tentionally left blank
.
149
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
5
Getting Started
13
Overview
13
Computer Minimum System Requirements
14
Equipment
15
Curve Tracer Equipment (PVA-1500Xx, PVA-1000S, PVA-600 )
15
Solsensor Equipment
15
Specifications
16
PVA-1500Xx I-V Measurement Unit Specifications
16
PVA-1500Xx Test Lead and Clip Specifications
18
PVA-1000S I-V Measurement Unit Specifications
18
Specifications
20
Solsensor 200/300/300V2 Specifications
21
Safety and Regulatory
22
PVA-1500Xx Safety and Regulatory
22
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
22
Declaration of Conformity
23
Cleaning
23
Instrument Markings
23
PVA-1000S Safety and Regulatory
23
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
23
Declaration of Conformity
24
Cleaning
24
Instrument Markings
24
Safety and Regulatory
24
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
25
Declaration of Conformity
25
Cleaning
25
Instrument Markings
25
Solsensor 300 and Solsensor 300V2 Safety and Regulatory
27
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
27
Declaration of Conformity
27
Cleaning
27
Instrument Markings
27
Solsensor (Original) Safety and Regulatory
28
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
28
Declaration of Conformity
28
Cleaning
28
Instrument Markings
29
Precautions
30
PVA-1500Xx Precautions
30
Using Test Leads and Clips
30
Using PV Connector Saver Jumpers
31
Pv/Electrical Safety Precautions
31
Battery Precautions
33
Measuring High-Efficiency PV Modules
33
PVA-1000S Precautions
33
Using PV Connector Saver Jumpers
33
Pv/Electrical Safety Precautions
34
Battery Precautions
35
Measuring High-Efficiency PV Modules
35
Precautions
35
Using PV Connector Saver Jumpers
35
Pv/Electrical Safety Precautions
36
Battery Precautions
37
Measuring High-Efficiency PV Modules
37
Solsensor 300Xx, Solsensor 200, and Original Solsensor Precautions
37
Covering the Irradiance Sensor
37
Cleaning the Irradiance Sensor
38
Battery Precautions
38
Installation Procedure
39
I-V Measurement Unit Installation Procedure
39
Hardware Installation
39
Software Installation
39
Figure 2. Welcome Screen
39
Figure 3. Prerequisites Dialog
40
Figure 4. Installation Default Location Dialog
40
Figure 5. Insert Wireless Usb Adapter Dialog
41
Figure 6. Insert Wireless Usb
41
Figure 7. Installation Complete Dialog
42
Figure 8. Launching the Pva
42
Figure 9. Splash Screen
42
Updating the PV Equipment Databases
43
Figure 10. the Software User Interface Shared by the
43
Figure 11. Directory Structure of
43
Solsensor Installation Procedure
44
Charging the Battery
44
Charging the Battery on the PVA-1500Xx I-V Measurement Units
44
Figure 12. Battery Charger Connector on the Figure 13. Charger Connected
44
Charging the Solsensor 300Xx Battery
45
Charging the Battery on the PVA-1000S and PVA-600 + I-V Measurement Unit
45
Charging the Solsensor Battery of the Original Solsensor
46
Figure 14. Battery Charger Connector on the Figure 15. Charger Connected
46
Your Wireless Network
47
Your PVA-1500Xx/Solsensor 300Xx Wireless Network
47
Figure 16. the W I F I Network of the Figure 17. Network Icon
47
Your PVA-1000S/600 /Solsensor Wireless Network
48
Figure 18. Network Diagrams
49
Setting up and Using the I-V Measurement Unit and Solsensor
50
System Controls and Settings
50
Operational States of the PVA-1500Xx I-V Measurement Units
50
Operational States of the PVA-1000S & 600
52
I-V Measurement Unit
52
Setting up the I-V Measurement Unit
53
Setting up Solsensor
54
Figure 20. Sols
54
Mounting Sol Sensor to Apv Module Frame
55
Figure 21. Sols
55
Figure 22. Sols
56
Figure 23. Tip of Frame Clamp Properly Seated on Inside Surface of Module Frame
56
Figure 24. Thermocouple Plugged into the Figure 25. Locating the Thermocouple Tip on a Single Free
57
Figure 26. Sol Sensor Pushbutton with
58
Optimizing Wireless Transmission Range
59
Mounting Solsensor on a Tripod
59
Figure 27. Tripod Mounting Setup
60
Connecting to the Solar Pv Equipment
61
Figure 28. Example of I-V M
62
Powering-Up the I-V Measurement Unit
63
Figure 29. Powering - up the
63
I-V Measurements
64
Sweep Disabled
64
Over-Temperature Protection
64
Sweep-To-Sweep Delay and Thermal Capacity of the PVA-1500Xx
65
Operating under High-Temperature Conditions
66
Over-Voltage Warnings
67
PVA-1500Xx Over-Voltage Condition
67
PVA-1000S Over-Voltage Condition
67
Over-Current Warnings
67
Over-Voltage Protection
67
Reverse Polarity Protection
68
Software Overview
69
Using Projects
69
Using the System Tree
70
Main Screen Overview
70
Menu Bar
71
File Menu
71
Browse Project
71
Recent Projects
71
Export Trace for Active Measurement
71
Export Traces for Entire System
71
Figure 31. File Menu
71
Export Meg Test Data
72
New Project
72
Figure 32. the Site Info Screen of the Figure 33. Controls in the Site
72
Figure 34. most Common Settings for a Horizontal Single
73
Figure 35. the Time Zone Control in the Figure 36. the Pv M
73
Selecting Your PV Module
74
Figure 37. Selection of the Pv
74
Creating the System Tree
75
Figure 38. Array Navigator with
75
Using the Symmetrical Tree Builder
76
Figure 39. Finished Array Tree for a Utility
76
Figure 40. the Default System Tree in the Figure 41. Controls for Editing the String Wiring Properties of Your Array Tree
76
Cloning, Modifying, and Reusing a Previous Project
79
Properties Menu
79
Figure 42. Directory Structure Used by the Figure 43. Properties Menu
79
View Menu
80
Trace View Options
80
Show Meg Test Tab
80
Utility Menu
80
Figure 44. Utility Menu
80
Help Menu
83
Figure 45. Help Menu
83
Using the Tab Screens
84
Traces Tab
84
Figure 46. Traces Tab
84
Figure 47. Table Tab
89
History Tab
90
Meg Test Tab
91
Figure 48. History Tab
91
Description of the Exported I-V Data File
92
Basis of Pv Performance Predictions
97
Solsensor Irradiance Calibration
97
Irradiance Measurement
98
Prediction of PV Performance
98
Translation of Measured Values to STC
98
Measurement of I
99
Pva Pc Software Updates
99
Pva-1500V2/V3/V4/Tand Sol Sensor 300V2 Firmware Updates
99
Making Measurements
101
Introduction
101
Before You Go to the Field to Make Measurements
101
Charge the Equipment
101
Check that You Are Using the Latest PVA Software
101
Create a Project in the PVA Software
101
Make Sure You Have All Your Equipment
102
Assure Adequate Irradiance for Your Measurements
102
Making Measurements in the Field
102
Measure the Open Circuit Voltage Voc
102
Place the I-V Unit Near the PV Circuits to be Measured
103
Connect the Test Leads to the PVA
103
Launch the PVA Software
103
Load Your Project
103
Insert the Wireless USB Adapter (PVA-1000S and PVA-600+)
103
Mount Solsensor
104
Attach Solsensor Thermocouple
104
Turn on the I-V Measurement Unit, and Connect Wirelessly to Your PC
104
Turn on Solsensor
105
Prepare the PV Source Circuits for Measurement
105
Are You Measuring Strings in Parallel
105
Are You Measuring High-Efficiency Modules
105
Connect the Test Leads to the PV Equipment
106
Select the First PV Circuit to be Measured
106
Make Your First Measurement
106
Select the Next PV Circuit and Take Another Measurement
107
View the Consistency of Your Data before Moving on
107
From Time to Time, Back up Your Data
108
Troubleshooting Pva Operation
109
Troubleshooting Using Status Messages
109
Troubleshooting by Symptom
112
Measuring Irradiance, Temperature, and Tilt
117
Introduction
117
Measuring Irradiance with Solsensor
119
Solsensor Irradiance Sensor
119
Preliminary Irradiance
119
Solsensor Precautions
119
Protecting the Irradiance Sensor Element
119
Cleaning the Irradiance Sensor
119
Orienting and Mounting the Irradiance Sensor
120
Albedo Effects
120
Diffuse Light
120
Determining Irradiance from the Measured I-V Curve
121
Entering Irradiance Manually
122
Measuring Pv Module Backside Temperature with a Thermocouple
122
Selecting a Thermocouple Wire Gauge
123
Selecting a Thermocouple Tip
123
Selecting a Tape for Thermocouple Attachment
123
Attaching the Thermocouple to the Module Backside
124
Choosing a Location to Mount the Thermocouple on the Module or Array
124
Measuring Pv Module Temperature with an Infrared Thermometer
125
Determining Cell Temperature from the Measured I-V Curve
126
Using Smarttemp to Measure Cell Temperature
127
Interpreting Measured I-V Curves
129
Introduction
129
Inputs to the Pv Model
129
I-V Curve Terminology
130
Performance Factor
130
Fill Factor
130
The Shape of a Normal I-V Curve
131
Interpreting I-V Curves
132
Notches or Steps
134
Array Is Partially Shaded, or Non-Uniform Soiling or Debris Is Present
136
PV Cells Are Damaged
136
Cell String Conductor Is Short Circuited
136
Low Current
136
Uniform Soiling
137
Strip Shade
137
Dirt Dam
137
Module Degradation
138
Incorrect PV Module Is Selected for the PV Model
138
Number of PV Strings in Parallel Is Not Entered Correctly in the Model
138
Irradiance Changed between Irradiance and I-V Measurements
138
Irradiance Sensor Is Not Oriented in the Plane of Array
138
Albedo Effects (Reflection) Contribute Additional Irradiance
138
Irradiance Is too Low, or the Sun Is too Close to the Horizon
139
Manual Irradiance Sensor Is Not Accurate
139
Low Voltage
139
PV Cell Temperature Is Hotter than the Measured Temperature
140
One or more Cells or Modules Are Completely Shaded
140
One or more Bypass Diodes Are Conducting or Shorted
140
Rounder Knee
141
Steeper Slope in Horizontal Leg
142
Shunt Paths Exist in PV Cells or Modules
142
Module I Sc Mismatch
143
Tapered Shade or Dirt Dam
143
Less Steep Slope in Vertical Leg
144
PV Wiring Has Excess Resistance or Is Insufficiently Sized
144
Electrical Interconnections in the Array Are Resistive
145
Series Resistance of PV Modules Has Increased
145
Troubleshooting Pv Arrays
145
Translation of I-V Data to Standard Test Conditions
147
Parameter Definitions
147
Translation Equations
148
5
Based on 1 rating
Ask a question
Give review
Questions and Answers:
Need help?
Do you have a question about the Solmetric PVA-1500T and is the answer not in the manual?
Ask a question
Solmetric PVA-1500T Specifications
General
Brand
Solmetric
Model
PVA-1500T
Category
Measuring Instruments
Language
English
Related product manuals
Solmetric PVA-1500S
142 pages
PV ANALYZER PVA-1500 Series
128 pages
Need help?
General
To Previous Page
