vii
REVERSE POLARITY PROTECTION ........................................................................................................................ 2-56
3 SOFTWARE OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................ 3-1
USING PROJECTS .................................................................................................................................................... 3-1
USING THE SYSTEM TREE ...................................................................................................................................... 3-2
MAIN SCREEN OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 3-2
MENU BAR ............................................................................................................................................................. 3-3
File Menu .......................................................................................................................................................... 3-3
Browse Project ............................................................................................................................................. 3-3
Recent Projects ............................................................................................................................................. 3-3
Export Trace for Active Measurement ......................................................................................................... 3-3
Export Traces for Entire System .................................................................................................................. 3-3
Export Meg Test Data .................................................................................................................................. 3-4
New Project .................................................................................................................................................. 3-4
Selecting your PV Module ....................................................................................................................... 3-6
Creating the System Tree ......................................................................................................................... 3-7
Using the Symmetrical Tree Builder ........................................................................................................ 3-8
CLONING, MODIFYING, AND REUSING A PREVIOUS PROJECT ............................................................................... 3-11
Properties Menu .............................................................................................................................................. 3-11
View Menu ..................................................................................................................................................... 3-12
Trace view options... .................................................................................................................................. 3-12
Show Meg Test Tab .................................................................................................................................... 3-12
Utility Menu .................................................................................................................................................... 3-12
Help Menu ...................................................................................................................................................... 3-15
USING THE TAB SCREENS..................................................................................................................................... 3-16
Traces Tab....................................................................................................................................................... 3-16
Table Tab ........................................................................................................................................................ 3-21
History Tab ..................................................................................................................................................... 3-22
Meg Test Tab .................................................................................................................................................. 3-23
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPORTED I-V DATA FILE ................................................................................................. 3-24
BASIS OF PV PERFORMANCE PREDICTIONS .......................................................................................................... 3-29
SolSensor Irradiance Calibration .................................................................................................................... 3-29
Irradiance Measurement .................................................................................................................................. 3-30
Prediction of PV Performance ........................................................................................................................ 3-30
Translation of Measured Values to STC ......................................................................................................... 3-30
Measurement of I
sc
.......................................................................................................................................... 3-31
PVA PC SOFTWARE UPDATES ............................................................................................................................. 3-31
PVA-1500V2/V3/V4/T AND SOLSENSOR 300V2 FIRMWARE UPDATES .............................................................. 3-31
4 MAKING MEASUREMENTS........................................................................................................................... 4-1
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 4-1
BEFORE YOU GO TO THE FIELD TO MAKE MEASUREMENTS ..................................................................................... 4-1
Charge the equipment ....................................................................................................................................... 4-1
Check that you are using the latest PVA software ............................................................................................ 4-1
Create a Project in the PVA software. .............................................................................................................. 4-1
Make sure you have all your equipment ........................................................................................................... 4-2
Assure adequate irradiance for your measurements .......................................................................................... 4-2
MAKING MEASUREMENTS IN THE FIELD ................................................................................................................ 4-2
Measure the open circuit voltage Voc ............................................................................................................... 4-2