Polygrid Ltd
Freelance solar PV technical and advisory services, Nottinghamshire, UKThe emazys test instrumentation is a seriously useful and essential tool for those wanting to do meaningful string testing and have additional tools for troubleshooting. The series resistance (Rs) values are particularly useful for identifying anomalous impedance values, and periodic comparison for indicators of deterioration in connector integrity as an example.
Rs measurement as a tool for tracking connector integrity over time
Tim Hickman uses the Z300 PVT as part of a broader approach to meaningful string testing that goes beyond routine compliance checks. For Tim, the value of the instrument lies not just in fault finding, but in its ability to support periodic comparison of Rs values across visits, enabling early identification of deteriorating connector integrity before it becomes a manifested fault.
This approach reflects a professional understanding that many PV faults develop gradually. Having a repeatable, quantitative baseline for series resistance turns what would otherwise be invisible degradation into something measurable and actionable.
Tim brings 15+ years of experience across commercial and off-grid solar installations in the UK and internationally, including projects in the Philippines and Zambia. His work spans everything from large-scale commercial O&M to humanitarian solar installations for NGOs.
