Amprobe SOLAR-500 User Manual
SOLAR-500
Solar Analyzer
Users Manual
• Mode d’emploi
• Bedienungshandbuch
• Manual d’Uso
• Manual de uso
SOLAR-500
Solar Analyzer
Users Manual
July 2009, Rev.1
©2009 Amprobe Test Tools.
All rights reserved. Printed in Taiwan
English
Limited Warranty and Limitation of Liability
Your Amprobe product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for 1 year from the
date of purchase. This warranty does not cover fuses, disposable batteries or damage from accident,
neglect, misuse, alteration, contamination, or abnormal conditions of operation or handling. Resellers
are not authorized to extend any other warranty on Amprobe’s behalf. To obtain service during the
warranty period, return the product with proof of purchase to an authorized Amprobe Test Tools
Service Center or to an Amprobe dealer or distributor. See Repair Section for details. THIS WARRANTY
IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY. ALL OTHER WARRANTIES - WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STAUTORY INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR MERCHANTABILITY,
ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. MANUFACTURER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY.
Since some states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of an implied warranty or of
incidental or consequential damages, this limitation of liability may not apply to you.
Repair
All test tools returned for warranty or non-warranty repair or for calibration should be accompanied
by the following: your name, company’s name, address, telephone number, and proof of purchase.
Additionally, please include a brief description of the problem or the service requested and include
the test leads with the meter. Non-warranty repair or replacement charges should be remitted in the
form of a check, a money order, credit card with expiration date, or a purchase order made payable to
Amprobe® Test Tools.
In-Warranty Repairs and Replacement – All Countries
Please read the warranty statement and check your battery before requesting repair. During the
warranty period any defective test tool can be returned to your Amprobe® Test Tools distributor
for an exchange for the same or like product. Please check the “Where to Buy” section on www.
amprobe.com for a list of distributors near you. Additionally, in the United States and Canada InWarranty repair and replacement units can also be sent to a Amprobe® Test Tools Service Center
(see address below).
Non-Warranty Repairs and Replacement – US and Canada
Non-warranty repairs in the United States and Canada should be sent to a Amprobe® Test Tools
Service Center. Call Amprobe® Test Tools or inquire at your point of purchase for current repair
and replacement rates.
In USA In Canada
Amprobe Test Tools Amprobe Test Tools
Everett, WA 98203 Mississauga, ON L4Z 1X9
Tel: 877-AMPROBE (267-7623) Tel: 905-890-7600
Non-Warranty Repairs and Replacement – Europe
European non-warranty units can be replaced by your Amprobe® Test Tools distributor for a
nominalv charge. Please check the “Where to Buy” section on www.amprobe.com for a list of
distributors near you.
European Correspondence Address*
Amprobe® Test Tools Europe
In den Engematten 14
79286 Glottertal, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 7684 8009 - 0
*(Correspondence only – no repair or replacement available from this address. European
customers please contact your distributor.)
A) Front Panel
SOLAR-500
Solar Analyzer
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SOLAR-500
Solar Analyzer
1) F1Button: (Reserved)
2)
F2 Button: (Reserved)
3)
Battery Charge Button
When Solar Module Analyzer is turned
on, press BATTERY CHARGE button to
recharge batteries (please do not use
regular batteries for recharging)
4) (Buzzer) Button
Press this button to turn on/off the
beeper (low Power) alarm function
5) I/V/P Select Button
Select display of I-V/ V-I curve, P-V/P-I
curve, or both curves
6) Test Button
Single point I-V test based up specified
value
7) Scan Button
Manual scan I-V curve test based upon
specified value
8) Auto Scan Button
Auto scan I-V curve test
9) LCD
LCD displays measurement data and
curves
10) Setup Button
Enter/Exit SETUP menu
11) Button
(1) In a curve, press it to move the
cursor left
(2) In SETUP menu, press it to
decrement value by 1
12) Button
In the SETUP menu, press p button to
select previous item
13) Button
In the SETUP menu, press qbutton to
select next item
14) Button
(1) In a curve, press it to move the cursor
right
(2) In SETUP menu, press it to increment
value by 1
15) Begin Button
Start scanning point (current) setting
16) End Button
Stop scanning point (current) setting
17) Rec Button
(1) Record the present measurement data
(2) How to clear recorded data: keep
pressing REC button and turn on the
analyzer, then all the data recorded in
the analyzer will be deleted
18) Graph Grid Button
Display/Cancel graph grid
19) I/V Curve Button
Select I or V as horizontal coordinate
20) Power Button
Turn on/off the power of Solar Analyzer
B) Rear Panel
1
2
SOLAR-500
Solar Analyzer
1) Communication Window
To connect Solar Analyzer
with PC via USB cable
2) Stand
3) Battery Cover
4) Screw of Battery Cover
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C) TOP Panel (Connectors)
1) T+ Terminal (Kelvin Clips)
2 ) T- Terminal (Kelvin Clips)
3) Terminal Reserved for Factory Test
4)
±DC 12V
4
1 23 4
5 7 68
5) I+ Terminal (Alligator Clips)
6) I- Terminal (Alligator Clips)
7) V+ Terminal (Alligator Clips)
8) V- Terminal (Alligator Clips)
SOLAR-500 Solar Analyzer
CONTENTS
SYMBOLS, WARNINGS AND PREPARATION ........................................................2
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION ............................................................................ 2
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 3
OPERATION ...........................................................................................................7
Preparation .......................................................................................................7
Precaution ........................................................................................................8
Connecting Diagram ........................................................................................ 9
Selected Condition of Auto Scan, Manual Scan, or Test Auto Scan ..............10
Auto Scan .........................................................................................................12
Manual Scan .....................................................................................................13
Single Point Test ...............................................................................................14
Save Testing Results .........................................................................................15
Clear recorded testing data .............................................................................16
Setup Menu ......................................................................................................17
SPECIFICATION .....................................................................................................18
Electrical Specifications ....................................................................................18
General Specifications .....................................................................................19
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR ............................................................................... 20
Battery Replacement / Recharging .................................................................21
Fuse Replacement ............................................................................................22
PC CONNECTION, SOFTWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION .......................24
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 24
Operating Environment .................................................................................. 24
Hardware .........................................................................................................24
Connecting Procedures ...................................................................................24
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ..................................................................................25
Install Application Program ............................................................................ 25
Install USB Driver ............................................................................................. 25
SOFTWARE OPERATION .......................................................................................26
Start Executing Program ................................................................................. 26
Parameter Setting............................................................................................27
Save/Print LCD .................................................................................................. 28
Download.........................................................................................................29
Auto Scan Solar Module ..................................................................................31
1
SYMBOLS
Caution ! Refer to the explanation in this Manual
Caution, Risk of Electric Shock
This equipment is not for measurements performed for CAT II, III, and IV
Please remove all the test leads before performing maintenance,
cleaning, battery replacement, fuse replacement, etc
Earth (Ground)
DC--Direct Current
Conforms to relevant Australian standards
Complies with European Directives
Do not dispose of this instrument as unsorted municipal waste.
Contact a qualified recycler for disposal.
WARNING!
Do not operate this instrument in the presence of gasoline, natural gas,
propane, or in other combustible atmospheres.
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
Your shipping carton should include:
1 SOLAR-500 Solar Analyzer
1 Carrying Bag
1 Users Manual
1 AC Adaptor
1 RS232C (to USB Bridge) Cable
8 Rechargeable Batteries
1 Software CD
1 Software Manual
1 Kelvin Clips (6A max, 1 pair)
If any of the items are damaged or missing, return the complete package to
the place of purchase for an exchange.
2
INTRODUCTION
The SOLAR-500 can be used in Quality Control for Production Line, Warehouse
or Site of Installation.
Manufacturers of solar panels can test the characteristics for quality control
purpose in the production line. Due to the advantage of portability of the
unit, quality inspectors can randomly pick samples of solar panels and test
them in the warehouse to assure quality before shipment.
Installation engineer can randomly test samples of solar panels at site to verify
the quality of solar panels used at site of installation.
Example A: Identify the Solar Power System Requirement
Measure the actual maximum power (Pmax), voltage (Vmaxp), and current
(Imaxp) at maximum power. Instead of using the rated maximum power, the
system designer needs to be aware of the actual solar power from the solar
panel under actual operating condition. So designer can actual know how
many pieces of solar panels are required to generate specific power.
The voltage and current under actual operating condition (in the morning, at
noon, and in the afternoon) are required for system designer to design the
optimal charging system, so most of the solar power can be absorbed and
stored in the battery.
Users can test the characteristics of solar panel at different time of day
and store the data. Then design can know if the solar system can generate
appropriate power at any time.
3
Example B: Maintenance of Solar Panels
Abnormal I-V Curve (Cells at the corner of solar panel are defected)
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Abnormal I-V Curve (defected cells scattered over the solar panel)
The technicians or maintenance engineers can store the characteristics data
of solar panels in the beginning. And compare the characteristics data in the
weekly, monthly or yearly maintenance. If the characteristics of any solar
panels are different from the previous data, technicians or maintenance
engineers can further identify the problems of solar panels.
For example, if any cells of solar panels are damaged, the I-V curve would
be very different from a typical curve. If the solar panels are covers by a lot
of dust, the I-V curve or the maximum power would be much lower than
previously stored data. Once defected panels are found, technicians or
maintenance engineers can replace them with new panels
Example C: Verify the Best Installation Angle of Solar Panels
Engineers can collect data of installation angle at different date and time
by using the unit at site of installation. The data can be used as reference to
design automated angle adjustment system. Or the data can be used to select
an optimal angle for a fixed angle installation.
5
Feature
• I-V Curve Test for Solar Cell.
• Single Point I-V Test.
• Maximum Solar Power (Pmax) search by auto-scan.
• Maximum Voltage (Vmaxp) at Pmax.
• Maximum Current (Imaxp) at Pmax.
• Voltage at open circuit (Vopen).
• Current at short circuit (Ishort).
• I-V curve with cursor.
• Efficiency (%) calculation of solar panel.
• Scan delay setting. (0 ~ 9999 mS)
• Solar panel area setting. (0.001 m2 ~ 9999 m2)
• Standard light source setting. (10 W/m2 ~ 1000 W/m2)
• Min. power setting for alarm function.
• Built-in Calendar Clock.
• Rechargeable batteries with built-in charging circuit.
• RS232C (to USB Bridge) cable for PC.
• Option: portable thermal printer (model: 300XP) to print (hardcopy) the
LCD displays of Solar Module Analyzer.
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