PV Performance Tests.pdf

Photovoltaics

Bob-O

Schultze did

the wiring &

rewiring of the

PV modules,

and manually

rotated the

rheostats.

All photos by

Michael

Hackleman

Above: Home Power’s “Democracy Rack”

Richard

Perez

operated the

analog to

digital

converter and

the Mac

Powerbook

that logged

the PV

performance

data.

PV Performance Tests

Richard Perez and Bob-O Schultze

E ver wonder exactly how much

power a PV module makes? Ever

wonder how much power a PV

still makes after years of exposure to

the sun? We have. We placed just

about every make module widely

available on our “Democracy Rack”, out

in the sun. Then we measured their

electrical output, temperature, and solar

insolation. Here is what we found.

oldest module (the ARCO 16–1000) has seen over

twelve years of sunshine.

The Test Jig & Procedure

The data for these tests was taken and logged on a

Macintosh Powerbook 160 computer. We used a

Remote Measurements Systems ADC–1 analog to

digital converter to make most of the measurements.

We set up the ADC–1 to sample and log the PV’s

voltage, current, and the sun’s solar insolation. The

analog to digital converter measured and logged each

of these three parameters twice a second. The ADC–1

measured module current using a shunt (10 Amperes,

10 milliVolt, 0.1% accuracy). A Fluke 80T-150U

temperature probe and Fluke 87 DMM were used to

measure both module temperature and air

temperature. A Li-Cor 200SB pyranometer measures

insolation. This data was taken at Agate Flat, Oregon

(42° 01’ 02” N. 122° 23’ 19” W.) at an altitude of 3,320

feet.

Third in a series…

This is the third time we have published current vs.

voltage information and curves for PV modules during

the last four years. The first “hot weather” test was

published in Home Power #24, pages 26–30. The

second “cold weather” test was published in Home

Power #33, pages 17–20. Most of the modules we

tested have seen over five years of service in the sun

and weather. The youngest module (the BP Solar

BP585) has only seen one year’s service, while the

All modules are mounted in the same plane. This

assures equal access to sunlight. Their tilt was 30°

which is within 0.5° of perpendicular to the sun when

we made these tests (20 August 1995). All modules

Home Power #49 • October / November 1995

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic module under test

All of these terms and units are standards used by the

entire photovoltaic industry to rate their products. We

used manufacturer’s ratings at a 25°C. (77°F) module

temperature. In the comparison tables that follow:

Li-Cor

Pyranometer

Voltage

• Rated value is the maker’s performance

specifications.

• Measured value. Our measured data.

• Percent of Rated”. A comparison of our measured

results with the maker’s ratings.

Analog

Digital

Converter

RMS-ADC1

52.3

The graphs show module current vs. module voltage.

In order to better present this information graphically,

we limited the voltage axis of the graph to 12 to 18

Volts. We did, however, log all the data from 0.5 Volts

to the module’s open circuit voltage. If anyone wishes a

complete electronic copy of all of the data we took, you

can find it on the Home Power BBS at 707-822-8640 or

send a floppy disk (please specify Mac or IBM) with

SASE return mailer to Richard Perez at Home Power.

Temp

Shunt

10 A. 100 mV.

Current

Rheostat

3 W , 300W

Rheostat

3 W , 300W

Most of these modules have had their performance

measured by us during the summer of 1991. We

reported on their hot weather performance in Home

Power #24, page 26. What follows here is another hot

weather test on the same group of modules. All are

now older and we are looking for degradation in

module performance over time. We found no

degradation that we could measure in any of these

modules. In fact, some of them actually tested better

than they did four years ago!

Rheostat

25 W , 25W

Home Power's

PV Test Jig

Macintosh

Powerbook 160

computer

were measured with the same instruments in the same

places. Ambient air temperature was 31°C. (88°F.) to

35°C (94°F.) with a slight breeze blowing (4 to 7 MPH).

Please note that these are hot weather tests. PV

modules are rated at a 25°C (77°F). temperature. The

data we took here was from modules whose

temperature was from 49°C (120°F) to 55°C (131°F).

Heat causes the PV’s maximum power to decrease.

This is why almost all of the modules do not make as

much power as their maker rated at 25°C. All modules

are listed alphabetically by manufacturer’s name.

A note on how this data is presented.

Each module tested has two sets of data presented

here. Each PV module has a table giving the

manufacturer’s specifications and our “in the sun”

measured data. Each module also has a graph

showing the actual current vs. voltage measurements

we made.

BP Solar BP585

This is a one year old PV module that we purchased on

the open market. It has 36 series connected, single

crystal, PV cells. This module was made in Australia

using the patented “laser grooving” technique. We’ve

had this module out in the sun for one year.

Here is an explanation of the short-hand terms used in

the tables.

• “Isc” is module short circuit current, in Amperes.

• “Voc” is module open circuit voltage, in Volts DC.

• “Pmax” is maximum module power, in Watts.

• “Vpmax” is the voltage which the module develops at

its maximum power point, in Volts DC.

• “Ipmax” is the current the module produces at its

maximum power point, in Amperes.

• “PV Temp” is the temperature of the module (back

side), in degrees centigrade (°C.).

• “Insolation” is solar insolation, in milliWatts per square

centimeter.

Carrizo ARCO 16-2000

This is a 13.5 year old, used, ARCO 16-2000 module

we purchased years ago on the open market. It has 33

series connected, single crystal, round PV cells. We’ve

had this module out in the sun for the last 5.5 years.

We estimate that this module has spent most of the last

12 years in service. While the potting compound

surrounding the cells is extensively browned, the

module still delivers good performance. We measured

Home Power #49 • October / November 1995

Photovoltaics

BP Solar BP585 - 1 year in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

BP Solar BP585

Value

of Rated

Isc

5.00

5.43 108.6% Amperes

Voc 22.03

18.70

84.9% Volts

Pmax 85.00

68.78

80.9% Watts

Vpmax 18.00

14.36

79.8% Volts

Ipmax

4.72

4.79 101.5% Amperes

PV Temp

51 202.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

106 106.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

ARCO 16-2000 - 5.5 to 12 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

ARCO 16-2000

Value

of Rated

Isc

2.55

2.30

90.2% Amperes

Voc 20.50

16.84

82.1% Volts

Pmax 35.00

27.23

77.8% Watts

Vpmax 15.50

13.22

85.3% Volts

Ipmax

2.26

2.06

91.2% Amperes

PV Temp

52 208.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

106 106.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

Carrizo Super Gold Trilam - 1 year in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

Carrizo Super Trilam

Value

of Rated

Isc

7.00

8.67 123.9% Amperes

Voc 21.00

20.52

97.7% Volts

Pmax 105.00

103.70

98.8% Watts

Vpmax 16.60

14.07

84.8% Volts

Ipmax

6.30

7.37 117.0% Amperes

PV Temp

50 198.0%

Insolation

100

106 106.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

Kyocera LA361K51 - 5.5 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

Kyocera LA361K51

Value

of Rated

Isc

3.25

3.42 105.2% Amperes

Voc 21.20

18.46

87.1% Volts

Pmax 51.00

43.14

84.6% Watts

Vpmax 16.90

13.96

82.6% Volts

Ipmax

3.02

3.09 102.3% Amperes

PV Temp

55 220.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

109 109.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

Home Power #49 • October / November 1995

Photovoltaics

Siemens M55 - 5.5 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

Siemens M55

Value

of Rated

Isc

3.35

3.67 109.6% Amperes

Voc 21.70

18.72

86.3% Volts

Pmax 53.00

48.02

90.6% Watts

Vpmax 17.40

14.64

84.1% Volts

Ipmax

3.05

3.28 107.5% Amperes

PV Temp

54 216.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

109 109.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

Siemens PC4JF - 2 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

Siemens PC4JF

Value

of Rated

Isc

4.80

5.01 104.4% Amperes

Voc 22.00

18.43

83.8% Volts

Pmax 75.00

59.05

78.7% Watts

Vpmax 17.00

13.42

78.9% Volts

Ipmax

4.40

4.40 100.0% Amperes

PV Temp

49 196.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

109 109.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

Solarex MSX60 - 5.5 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

Solarex MSX60

Value

of Rated

Isc

3.86

3.94 102.1% Amperes

Voc 21.10

18.02

85.4% Volts

Pmax 58.90

44.22

75.1% Watts

Vpmax 17.10

13.69

80.1% Volts

Ipmax

3.50

3.23

92.3% Amperes

PV Temp

54 216.0%

Insolation

100

108 108.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

Solec S50 - 4.5 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

Solec S50

Value

of Rated

Isc

3.30

3.35 101.5% Amperes

Voc 20.30

18.16

89.5% Volts

Pmax 50.00

38.93

77.9% Watts

Vpmax 17.00

13.66

80.4% Volts

Ipmax

3.00

2.85

95.0% Amperes

PV Temp

50 200.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

109 109.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

Home Power #49 • October / November 1995

Photovoltaics

Sovonics R100 - 7.5 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

Sovonics R100

Value

of Rated

Isc

2.74

3.00 109.5% Amperes

Voc 25.00

18.27

73.1% Volts

Pmax 37.00

29.24

79.0% Watts

Vpmax 17.20

13.23

76.9% Volts

Ipmax

2.10

2.21 105.2% Amperes

PV Temp

51 204.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

108 108.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

UniSolar UPM880 - 2.5 years in the sun

Rated Measured Percent

Value

UniSolar UPM880

Value

of Rated

Isc

1.80

2.03 112.8% Amperes

Voc 22.00

19.60

89.1% Volts

Pmax 22.00

22.39 101.8% Watts

Vpmax 15.60

14.26

91.4% Volts

Ipmax

1.40

1.57 112.1% Amperes

PV Temp

52 208.0%

° C.

Insolation

100

108 108.0% mW/sq. cm.

Volts

its maximum power at 27.23 watts, up 1.5 watts from

the 25.88 watts we measured four years ago. Not bad

for a teenaged PV module.

Siemens PC4JF

We tested a PC4JF Siemens module sent to us new by

its maker. This was a current production, single-crystal,

PV module. This module contains 36 series connected

PV cells. We’ve had this module out in the sun for the

last 2 years.

Carrizo Super Gold Trilam (3 @ ARCO M52L)

This module was sent to us by Carrizo for testing. It

consists of three used ARCO M52L laminates

connected in series. We’ve had this module in the sun

for one year, but these laminates have obviously seen

sunshine before. The hot weather performance of this

used module is very good, it made 98.8% of its 25°C

power rating even though it was at 50°C.

Solarex MSX60

We tested a 5.5 year old, MSX60 Solarex module that

we purchased new on the open market. This module

contains 36 series-connected square PV cells. We’ve

had this module out in the sun for the last 5.5 years.

We measured maximum output power at 44.22 watts,

up 0.1 watts from four years ago.

Kyocera LA361K51

We tested a K51 Kyocera module that we purchased

new on the open market. This module contains 36

series-connected, square, multicrystal PV cells. We’ve

had this module out in the sun for the last 5.5 years.

We measured maximum power at 43.14 watts, up over

3 watts from its test four years ago.

Solec S50

The Solec S50 is a single crystal silicon module using

36 series connected square cells. This module was

purchased retail and has been out in the sun for 4.5

years. This is an older model module and was made

eight years ago. We measured a maximum power of

38.93 Watts.

Siemens M55

We tested a M55 Siemens module sent to us new by

its maker. This was a current production, single-crystal,

PV module. This module contains 36 series-connected

square PV cells. We’ve had this module out in the sun

for the last 5.5 years. Hot weather performance is good

at 48.02 watts, up about 3 watts from four years ago.

Sovonics R-100

This is an amorphous silicon module. We’ve had this

module out in the sun for the last 7.5 years. We

measured a maximum power of 29.24 Watts, up 2.4

Watts from our testing four years ago.

Home Power #49 • October / November 1995

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