Technical articles

How to test solar panels
When the String Tester application is activated, the Z200 Analyzer will set up a series of measurements based on deriving the basic solar cell impedance, which gives the user a fast overview of the general health state of the PV module string under test.

Find disconnects in PV strings
Photovoltaic disconnect finder The Z200 PV Analyzer is multi-function tester, that can also be used to measure the position of a disconnect in a string of solar PV modules.

Photovoltaic ground fault testing
According to the Photovoltaic Systems textbook (published by NJATC), a solar PV ground fault is “the condition of current flowing through the grounding conductor.”

Solar panel mapping tool
The Z200 PV Analyzer may be used much like a conventional cable tester for PV modules. The Z200 can generate frequencies that can be picked up and heard, with a handheld pickup across all cables and modules in solar PV systems.

Optimising power plant maintenance
Solar Photovoltaic Operations & Maintenance (O&M) companies can benefit from analyzing the service cost base. The competition is tough these days and the question is whether the business can be made more profitable. In this blog, you will read about 5 easy steps where costs may be reduced. Solar PV O&M companies can sharpen the competitive edge and even increase earnings.

Detection of potential induced degradation
Potential-induced degradation or PID is a failure mode in solar cells caused by voltage stress on the PID module. PID can affect both crystalline and thin-film modules, to an extent depending on the material and environment. Often manufacturers promise PID-free solar cells but still this solar degradation is observed in the field.

Photovoltaic single module test
The Z200 PV Analyzer may be applied for individual PV module tests and measurements, even when the instrument is connected to the string terminals. The procedure is to first measure a baseline, and then subsequently shading the PV modules one by one, while impedance data is collected by the Z200.