Keysight Technologies Installation and Maintenance of Solar Photovoltaic Systems Using handheld and benchtop solutions for solar energy applications Application Note02 Keysight Installation and Maintenance of Solar Photovoltaic Systems - Application Note Contents 1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................................................3 Solar Power Ecosystem ..........................................................................................................................................................................5 Markets for Solar Power Generation ......................................................................................................................................................5 Solar power generation for residential ..............................................................................................................................................5 Solar power generation for commercial and industrial ....................................................................................................................5 Solar power generation for power providers ....................................................................................................................................6 2. Components in Solar Photovoltaic Systems ..........................................................................................................................................5 3. Solar Panels: Collecting Solar Energy ....................................................................................................................................................6 Considerations for Installing Solar Panels ............................................................................................................................................6 Tasks for Validating and Maintaining Solar Panels ...............................................................................................................................6 Locating faulty PV cells and panels ..................................................................................................................................................6 Troubleshooting PV panel strings ......................................................................................................................................................7 Determining the performance of solar cells and panels ................................................................................................................12 4. Cables and Interconnects: Routing Solar Energy ..................................................................................................................................9 Considerations for Installing Cables and Interconnects .......................................................................................................................9 Tasks for Validating and Maintaining Cables and Interconnects .........................................................................................................9 Locating faulty cables and interconnects .........................................................................................................................................9 Verifying the installation of cables and interconnects and checking for performance degradation ..........................................10 5. Charge Controllers and Batteries: Storing Solar Energy ....................................................................................................................11 Considerations for Installing Charge Controllers and Batteries ........................................................................................................11 Tasks for Validating and Maintaining Charge Controllers and Batteries ...........................................................................................11 Inspecting, monitoring, and testing the battery ............................................................................................................................12 Testing the solar charge controller .................................................................................................................................................12 6. Solar Inverter: Converting Solar Energy ...............................................................................................................................................13 Considerations for Installing Solar Inverters ........................................................................................................................................13 Tasks for Validating and Maintaining Solar Inverters .........................................................................................................................13 Measuring the quality of the power produced by the solar inverter .............................................................................................14 Monitoring and troubleshooting the operation of the solar inverter ............................................................................................15 7. Smart Meters, Transformers, and Ground Fault Switches: Monitoring and Metering the Generated Electricity ...........................16 Considerations for Ensuring Safe, Reliable, and Dependable Operation of Solar PV Systems .......................................................16 Tasks for Validating and Maintaining Smart Meters, Transformers, and Ground Fault Switches ...................................................16 8. Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................................................................................16 9. References ..............................................................................................................................................................................................17