Solar PV System Data Collection and Testing
Introduction
In this activity, we studied two Solar PV systems. We collected technical information from the solar panel data sheet and checked the panel voltage using a digital multimeter. We calculated the total voltage and total power from the number of panels.
Solar PV System 1 – Panasonic Solar
| Parameter | Reading |
|---|---|
| Total Panels | 20 |
| Single Panel Voltage | 37.3 V |
| Panel Efficiency | 16.7% |
| Current | 20 A |
| Power of One Panel | 370 W |
| Maximum System Voltage | 1500 V |
Calculations
1. Total Voltage
Formula:
Total Voltage = Number of Panels × Voltage of One Panel
= 20 × 37.3
= 746 V
2. Total Power
Formula:
Total Power = Number of Panels × Power of One Panel
= 20 × 370
= 7400 W
= 7.4 kW
Solar PV System 2 – Vikram Solar
| Parameter | Reading |
|---|---|
| Total Panels | 6 |
| Single Panel Voltage | 39 V |
| Panel Efficiency | 20% |
| Current | 13 A |
| Power of One Panel | 545 W |
| Maximum Panel Voltage | 41.80 V |
Calculations
1. Total Voltage
Formula:
Total Voltage = Number of Panels × Voltage of One Panel
= 6 × 39
= 234 V
2. Total Power
Formula:
Total Power = Number of Panels × Power of One Panel
= 6 × 545
= 3270 W
= 3.27 kW
Practical Testing
We used a digital multimeter to check the DC voltage of the solar panels. The red probe was connected to the positive terminal and the black probe to the negative terminal. We compared the multimeter reading with the data sheet value. The voltage can change according to sunlight and weather conditions.
