Steve's Blog

Prova 210 I-V curve tracer

At work I have access to a Prova 210 Solar Panel Analyser / I-V curve tracer.

It is a very handy instrument for testing solar panels and analysing their I-V-P curves.

This is lifted from the Test Equipment Shop mentioned above.

• I-V Curve Test for Solar Cell.
• Max. Solar cell/module Power (Pmax) search by auto-scan: 60V, 12A.
• Best Resolution: 1mV, 1mA.
• Manual Single Point I-V Test.
• Max. Voltage (Vmp) at Pmax.
• Max.Current (Imp) at Pmax.
• Voltage at open circuit (Voc).
• Current at short circuit (Isc).
• I-V curve with cursor.
• Efficiency (%) calculation of solar panel.
• Real time data logging.
• RS232C (to USB Bridge) cable for PC.
• Optional printer (model:300XP/310XP) to hardcopy I-V curve.

The data from the Prova 210 is comprehensive. Here is a sample screen shot from a sample I took off a random panel in May 2011. May is not a good performing month for Melbourne.

Click for a bigger one

The screen shot displays an IV / P graph. The data displayed on the side is self explanatory. It has all the relevant data for when I took the sample. The meter is very handy for checking the specs of a panel. I did some experimenting blocking off various cells to see how the output was affected.

I will post up the results of shading a cell in the future later in the year when we have more cloud free days that are easier to conduct the test in. The day I took the original data was an overcast day and I was trying to capture the data in between clouds.

5 Comments to Prova 210 I-V curve tracer

1. 

   What a great program!

   Regards,
   Janette
   http://www.sunconnect.com.au/why-sun-connect/products/solar-cells/
Janette on October 26th, 2011
2. 

   Can this Prova 210 measure the solar irradiance W/m2 ?
CK on January 9th, 2013
3. 

   It can only measure the panel output, not actual irradiance directly.
Steve on January 9th, 2013
4. 

   Hi there,

   Is this tester can only be used for one PV at one time? Let say my PV connected in series(2 pieces), can I measure directly from the output?
Prem SM on June 6th, 2013
5. 

   The Prova 210 can only handle a maximum of 60V, so the VOC (voltage – open circuit) of your panels dictates whether you have to test one at a time or can test the two in series. If the voltage with the panels in series is less than 60V, then you can test them in series.

   Testing them one at a time is better though as you can compare panel A with panel B.
Steve on June 10th, 2013

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