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Portable Photovoltaic Array Tester

The Spi-Array Tester™ 5000 is a rugged, portable system capable of measuring and recording the current and voltage (I-V) characteristics of a photovoltaic module.

The tester can measure modules or arrays with output power from 10 watts to 50 kilowatts. The tester is computer controlled and is packaged in a portable, sturdy case. The accompanying notebook computer is a lightweight, portable unit and is provided with all software required to operate the Spi-Array Tester.

The computer software prompts the operator to enter site and module information, then sweeps the module I-V curve in less than one second. The irradiance and temperature levels are automatically recorded. The output is auto-scaled within two selectable voltage and current ranges and transferred to the computer for display and/or storage.

The tester calculates the values of output power, current, voltage, and fill factor. Corrections for temperature and irradiance may be made through the convenient software package. Other pertinent information, such as date and module identification, is displayed and stored in the data file.

Thousands of curves can be retained in the computer's memory. A rechargeable battery provides 4 hours of operation and can be charged from 110/240 VAC or from a 15-30 VDC source, such as a PV module.

Specifications

Voltage (fixed bi-polar mode operation)	600 V ± 18 mV 60 V ± 1.8 mV
Current (fixed bi-polar mode operation)	100 A ± 3 mA 10 A ± 0.3 m A
Irradiance Input (Input Voltage)	0 - ± 0.5 V
Temperature Input (Thermocouple)	Type "K"
Equipment Dimensions (excluding computer system and console)	Width: 50.2 cm (19.75 in.) Length: 39.4 cm (15.53 in.) Height: 19.0 cm (7.48 in.)
Equipment Weight, Net (excluding computer)	14 kg (30 lbs)
Recharging Power (DC or AC)	DC: 15-30 V, 2-4 A AC: 100-240 V, 2 A, 50/60 Hz, Single Phase
Battery	3 Amp-hour sealed lead acid
Certifications

Features and Benefits

Fast and flexible Data typically taken in 200 milliseconds Easy to operate Portable, for field measurements Stores thousands of curves in memory Quickly measures I-V characteristics of modules or arrays Output power ranging from 10 watts to 50 kilowatts Automatic normalizing of data to desired temperature and irradiance Temperature measured by Type-K surface probe thermocouple Includes Output scales within two selectable voltage and current ranges Reference cell for irradiance measurements Type-K thermocouple and laptop computer Options Portable printer for printing hard copies in the field