Quantification of pulsed solar simulators

Paul Boughton

Ensuring the uniform quality of solar cells, modules and panels is critical for PV manufacturers as part of their quality control best practices. 

Solar simulators are used to simulate sunlight in testing the reliability and performance of solar cells and panels. 

Pulse solar simulators can be used to test large solar panels at a fraction of the cost of continuous solar simulators. Monitoring, measuring, and classifying a pulse solar simulator is necessary to provide complete and consistent information on cell performance, but it is also difficult to do.

Now SPECTRAL EVOLUTION offers the SR-1901PT spectroradiometer for testing and classifying pulsed solar simulators. The instrument is compact, portable, and easy to set up and use. The SR-1901PT has a spectral range of 280-1900nm. 

Other features include:

* Detectors: One 512 element UV-enhanced silicon photodiode array and one 256 element TE-cooled extended InGaAs photodiode array;

* 1-50msec integration time;

* Bluetooth I/O connection;

* External TTL port and phototrigger with SMA-905 port;

* 0-100 millisecond trigger delay increment;

* External TTL≤5µsec trigger jitter;

* Photodetector jitter - ≤100nsec;

* Spectral match for AM1.5;

* DARWin SP-PT Data Acquisition software includes added features such as spectral match reports, auto-integration and auto-ranging, and automatically saves data as ASCII files for use with 3rd party software.

The unit includes NIST traceable irradiance calibration, 1.2 meter dual fiber optic with custom diffuser and built-in phototrigger, 100-240 volt/50-60hz power supply, and a dustproof, waterproof foam-lined case for shipment and storage. O901PT.