Climatic Chambers for test standard IEC 61215

This international standard lays down IEC requirements for the design qualification and type approval of terrestrial photovoltaic modules suitable for long-term operation in general open-air climates, as defined in IEC 60721-2-1. It applies only to crystalline silicon modules types. A standard for thin-film modules has been published as IEC 61646. This standard needs many climatic chambers.
 
This standard does not apply to modules used with concentrated sunlight. This object of this test sequence is to be determined the electrical and thermal characteristics of the module and to show, as far as is possible within reasonable constraints of cost and time, that the module is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure in climates described in the scope. The actual lifetime expectancy of modules so qualified will depend on their design, their environment and the conditions under which they are operated.
 
Eight modules for qualification testing (plus spares as desired) shall be taken at random from a production batch or batches, in accordance with the procedure given in IEC 60410. The modules shall have been manufactured from specified materials and components in accordance with the relevant drawings and process sheets and have been subjected to the manufacturer’s normal inspection, quality control and production acceptance procedures. The modules shall be complete in every detail and shall be accompanied by the manufacturer’s handling, mounting and connection instructions, including the maximum permissible system voltage.
 
If the bypass diodes are not accessible in the standard modules, a special sample can be prepared for the bypass diode thermal test. The bypass diode should be mounted physically as it would be in a standard module, with a thermal sensor placed on the diode. This sample does not have to go through the other tests in the sequence.
 
When the modules to be tested are prototypes of a new design and not from production, this fact shall be noted in the test report.