Electronics Weekly
“Similar products can often struggle to obtain accurate readings due to high capacitance levels and are incapable of recording data continuously without overheating,” claimed the company, regarding the analyser. “Having to disconnect an I-V curve tracer until it cools down is disruptive. PVA-1500HE2 operates with a swift sweep-to-sweep delay of 9s at open-circuit voltage below 1,350V. This results in the ability to measure 3.5 MW within an hour.”
On the same day, Fluke introduced the similarly-named PVA-1500T2 analyser and curve tracer, which shares the 30A limit with solar modules of below <19% efficiency, but can only handle 10A for modules of ≥19% efficiency.
The above figures are at 25°C ambient. By 45°C cooling intervals are required.
An associated ‘SolSensor’ includes a silicon photodiode for measuring incident light, with a spectral response that can be adjusted for multi and mono-crystalline cells as well as cadmium telluride and other thin film technologies.
It has two external thermocouple inputs for measuring module backside temperatures. “Effective cell temperature can also be calculated directly from the measured I-V curve per IEC 60904-5,” said the company.
A number of PVA-1500xx kits have been prepared, combining one of the analysers with, for example, its TiS75+ thermal camera, 393 FC solar clamp meter, 87V industrial multimeter and 1537 insulation resistance tester.
Training packages have been prepared for all of the products above, said Fluke, which acquired Solmetric, the source of the analysers, late last year.
Find the PVA-1500xxx data brief here
