testing PV modules [RE-wrenches]

[Richard Perez, Home Power magazine]

<x-flowed>Hello Wrenches

Home Power has done some PV testing in the past. We did not make any 
judgements, we just published the data (IV curves). As soon as we get 
time, we're going to do it again. In spite of Hugh's opinion, we do 
do real world testing and publish the results. I passed on Gipe's 
article because of its vendetta against the Airs.

I think that independent testing is a better idea than having HP do 
it. This sounds like an excellent job for the RE Laboratory. Testing 
of this sort is a full time job.

While the rudimentary IV curve testing we have done here is accurate, 
we really need to know more. Each module should be logged for energy. 
I'd like to know things such as number of watt-hours produced by 
different modules mounted on the same rack. This will require daily 
data logging over time. Each module should be data logged for amps 
once per second. Also data logged should be system voltage, solar 
insolation, and back of module temperature. Just updating and 
processing this data is a large job.

Data could be continually published on the web and occasionally in Home Power.

I agree that manufacturers' specifications don't tell us what we need 
to know to effectively design and install RE systems. In the case of 
PVs, they are rated at 25 degrees C cell temperature. In the case of 
inverters, the specifications ignore powering reactive loads.

Real world testing in working systems is really the only way we'll 
ever get the info we need.

Richard
-- 
------------------------------------
Richard Perez
Home Power
PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520  USA
Tele: 530-475-3179
FAX: 530-475-0836
Subscriptions: 800-707-6585
mailto:richard.perez at homepower.com
Web: http://www.homepower.com

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