Portable I-V Power Tester for Photovoltaic Power Plants: On-Site I-V Characteristic Testing of PV Strings

Designed for photovoltaic (PV) power plants, this portable I-V power tester supports measurements up to 1500V and 20A, and is compatible with PV strings with a power rating of up to 30kW. It captures key parameters—including open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and maximum power—while simultaneously recording irradiance and back-sheet temperature. It is an ideal tool for power plant operations and maintenance (O&M) as well as third-party testing services.

The portable I-V power tester performs I-V characteristic testing on solar modules and PV strings, with an upper limit of 1500V and 20A, supporting strings up to 30kW. In natural sunlight, the device rapidly acquires operational parameters—such as open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and maximum power—while utilizing high-precision irradiance and temperature sensors to record real-time environmental data (irradiance and back-sheet temperature), providing a comprehensive context for performance evaluation.

Featuring an integrated, portable design, the device is easy to carry on-site. It offers an intuitive user interface and a streamlined testing workflow, with one-click data export capabilities. A single test for an individual module or string takes only 5 seconds, ensuring high testing efficiency. Equipped with a high-precision capacitive load and a wide-range irradiance sensor, the unit performs stable, continuous I-V sweeps. The captured signals generate high-resolution I-V curves, minimizing test deviations caused by fluctuating environmental conditions and ensuring consistent, accurate results.

This portable I-V power tester is primarily used to assess the power output and conversion efficiency of PV modules and strings. It is well-suited for various applications, including power plant commissioning, routine O&M, and troubleshooting. Third-party testing organizations can leverage its standardized testing procedures to generate reliable data, while O&M personnel can use it to quickly identify issues such as power degradation or module anomalies. It serves as a highly versatile on-site testing tool for the entire lifecycle of a photovoltaic project.