Design and production of a portable solar test device to test, the characteristic values and the classification of solar panels

The electric output performance of crystalline silicon and thin film PV modules are generally measured under standard test conditions (STC), ensuring a relatively independent comparison and output evaluation of different solar PV modules. STC is an industry-wide standard to indicate the performance of PV modules and specifies a cell temperature of 25°C and an irradiance of 1000 watt/m2 with an air mass 1.5 (AM 1.5). These correspond to the irradiance and spectrum of sunlight incident on a clear day upon a sun-facing 37 degrees tilted surface with the sun at an angle of 41.81 degrees above the horizon. This condition approximately represents solar noon near the spring and autumn equinoxes in the continental United States with surface of the cell aimed directly at the sun. However, these conditions are rarely encountered in the real-world. In this study, DC voltmeter and DC ammeter has been used which has RS485 communication protocol. Open circuit voltage (Voc) , short circuit current (Isc), maximum voltage under load (Vmp) and maximum current under load (Imp) of different power solar panels have been measured after that compared with label values. Additionally, Open circuit voltage (Voc) , short circuit current (Isc), maximum voltage under load (Vmp) and maximum current under load (Imp) values have been transferred to touchable Liquid crystal display (LCD) with the aid of RS485 protocol for user benefit. With aid of this portable test device also can measure personal solar panel power as small scale project and detect defect modules of in photovoltaic farm as large project. Key Words: PV Modules, Testing Measurement and Classification System for the PV Panels