Atec Profitest User Manual

PROFITEST PV
Peak Power Measuring Instrument and Curve Tracer
for PV Modules and Strings
(Measurement at Capacitive Load)

• Generator voltage up to 1000 V DC, current up to 20 A DC

• Measurement of short-circuit current ISC, open circuit
voltage UOC, instantaneous peak power of a solar cell Pmax,
internal series resistance RS, and internal parallel resistance RP

• Automatic conversion of momentary measured values to STC

• Patented calculation process for evaluating PV generators
without knowledge of the manufacturer’s specifications.

• Patented calculation process for determining the generator’s
internal series resistance based solely on a measured charac­teristic I-U curve.

• Separate measurement of temperatures at the irradiation sen­sor and the back of the module for increased measuring
accuracy.

• High level of intrinsic safety thanks to included load discon­nector (1000 V/32 A DC) for all-pole disconnection of the
measuring instrument from the PV generator

• Calibrated irradiation sensor per IEC/EN 60904-2 with inte­grated Pt1000 temperature sensor

• Integrated customer database* with bidirectional data exchange

• Integrated module database with bidirectional data exchange

• Software for graphic visualization, evaluation and report generation
with integrated database

* in preparation

3-349-632-03

1/5.11

Applications

The PROFITEST PV allows for the measurement of characteristic
I-U curves, as well as individual photovoltaic modules and strings.

With the help of a patented process, the instrument is capable of
ascertaining peak power, internal series resistance and internal
parallel resistance directly on-site “with only one measurement and
without entering module data”, which are then indicated at a high­resolution color graphic touch-screen which is suitable for use in
sunlight. Troubleshooting in PV systems, as well as documenta­tion of system quality, are executed quickly and economically dur­ing initial start-up and subsequent testing without a long learning
curve. This simple yet decisive test assures safety for the cus­tomer and eliminates consequential costs for the installer. Mea­sured peak power can, for example, also be used in order to
determine peak ratio. Beyond this, acquired characteristic curves
make it possible to draw further conclusions regarding the electri­cal characteristics of the measured module or string. And thus the
instrument is also suitable for R&D.

Features

• Internal data memory for up to several thousand measurements

• Acquired characteristic I-U curve is highly accurate thanks to
steady measurement at the capacitive load

• Displayed (calculated) values: peak power P
resistance R
values: U

, internal parallel resistance RP, instantaneous

S

, I

, P

pmax

pmax

, UOC, ISC, FF, T

max

, internal series

Pk

, T

mod

, E

ref

TRMS

• Power and temperature measurement via four-conductor
cable for error-free results

• Sensors for irradiation and temperature are integrated by
means of analog technology with a rugged data transmission
line. As a result, irradiation can always be measured in real­time, and irradiation fluctuations are reliably detected within
the millisecond range. As a rule, measurement data cannot be
transmitted continuously with solutions based on radio trans­mission, and thus only a snapshot is provided. However, irra­diation typically changes by up to several hundred W/m
in the millisecond range.

• Continuous display of momentary irradiation and temperature
provides information regarding measuring conditions.

• Universal input allows for use with commercially available irra­diation reference sensors, assuring trouble-free on-site use of
adapted sensors and sensor replacement.

• Operation of the PROFITEST PV via a PC with direct import of
results (e.g. for continuous measurement)

• External power pack with broad-range input for charging the
batteries, and for continuous operation of the measuring
instrument

• Open interfaces allow for operation of the instrument in spe­cial applications as well

• High level of intrinsic safety thanks to included load discon­nector (1000 V / 32 A DC)

2

even

GMC-I Messtechnik GmbH

PROFITEST PV
Peak Power Measuring Instrument and Curve Tracer for
PV Modules and Strings (Measurement at Capacitive Load)

Regulations and standard in accordance with which the test instrument is
manufactured and tested:

IEC 61010-1/EN 61010-1/
VDE 0411-1

EN 60529
VDE 0470, part 1

DIN EN 61326-1
VDE 0843-20-1

Regulations and Standards for Use of the Test Instrument

IEC 62446
VDE 0126-23

Safety requirements for electrical equipment for
measurement, control and laboratory use
– General requirements

Test instruments and test procedures
Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code)

Electrical equipment for measurement, control and
laboratory use –
EMC requirements – Part 1: General requirements

Grid connected photovoltaic systems –
Minimum requirements for system documentation,
commissioning tests and inspection

Characteristic Values

Standard Measuring Ranges

Voltage
[V]

25, 100, 500, 1000 2, 5, 10, 20 -40 to +100° C

The measuring ranges can be combined with each other. The
measuring instrument automatically selects the ideal measuring
range.

Current
[A]

Temperature Irradiation

with Pt1000

0 to 1300 W/m²
(standard sensor)

• Irradiation reference sensor (Phox) with integrated Pt1000
temperature sensor

• Supplementary measurement of temperature at the back of
the module is possible (a second Pt100 input is provided)

• Commercially available reference sensors such as the ISET-

• Connection is only permissible to direct voltage sources with

®

Sensor
nection

current limiting (e.g. photovoltaic generators)

can be connected via interference-free cable con-

Sensor Connection Pin Allocations

Temperature (external): 4 pin female chassis socket, Lumberg KFV40
Pin 1: current source + (~1 mA)
Pin 2: Pt100 +
Pin 3: Pt100 –
Pin 4: current source – (~1 mA)

Irradiance: 8 pin female chassis socket, Lumberg KFV81 (plug: SV81)
Pin 1: irradiance +
Pin 2: Pt1000 (reference) +
Pin 3: irradiance –
Pin 4: current source + (~1 mA)
Pin 5: current source – (~1 mA)
Pin 6: unused (do not connect)
Pin 7: unused (do not connect)
Pin 8: Pt1000 (reference) –

Computer Unit

Miniature industrial PC, real-time clock, no moving mechanical
parts such as hard disks, fans etc.

A-D sampling rate: max. 100 kHz, resolution: 12 bit
Measuring accuracy for characteristic I-U curve better than 1%,

peak power ±5%
Data from several thousand measurements are automatically

saved at the device permanently (flash memory)

Measuring Unit

Sampling rate Max. 100 kHz,
Resolution 0.01 to 0.25 V, 0.005 to 0.001 A

(depending on selected measuring range)

Measuring accuracy Better than 1%

Ascertainment of Peak Power

Tol era nc e ±5 %
Reproducibility ±2%
Measurement duration for separate measurement of individual

modules: > 20 ms (approx. 100 pairs of measured values), and
thus the capacitive characteristics of the device under test have
no influence on measurement.

• 4-conductor measurement cable to the generator prevents
systematic voltage measuring errors

Ambient Conditions

Accuracy 0 to + 40° C
Operation 0 to + 40° C
Storage –10 to + 85° C (without batteries)
Relative humidity

Operation 10 to 90% (non-condensing),

no condensation allowed

Storage 5 to 95%

no condensation

allowed

Power Supply

Rechargeable batteries

Power consumption Approx. 40 W
External power pack In: 90 to 263 V AC, 47 to 63 Hz, 40 W,

• UL approval

• Integrated charge controller for protection against overcharging
and excessively depleting the batteries

• Charge level indication by means of LED on the housing
(status display on the PROFITEST PV)

Lead-acid, 12 V / 3.4 Ah
(continuous operation: approx. 3 hr.),

Out: 16 V DC

2 GMC-I Messtechnik GmbH