The Oriel® I-V Test Station takes a modular approach to your I-V measurements. Today's photovoltaic devices incorporate a wide range of efficiencies, so your application may require only a small area and generate a higher current, or may require a large area of illumination but generate low current. To address this, Oriel has created basic IV systems that incorporate an appropriate source/meter, cabling, interface, and measurement software into separate models for 1amp, 3 amps, 5 amps, or 10 amps. The choice of model is based on the current generated by the device.
Oriel's PVIV-2.0 software runs I-V measurements and calculates critical parameters such as short circuit current (Isc), current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (ff), maximum output power (Pmax), cell efficiency, and other standard photovoltaic cell parameters.
In addition, Oriel offers a wide range of Solar Simulators, sampling chucks, probing devices, test stations which allow you to customize a complete I-V solution that meets all your needs. In addition, your choices can be integrated at the factory and delivered as a turn-key system if desired. A typical configuration includes a source/meter, reference cell, cell holder, probing assembly, and measurement software, depending upon the configuration required. These products are all designed to work with any Oriel Solar Simulator.
The current generated by the cell under test determines which model (1 amp, 3 amp, 5 amp, or 10amp) is appropriate. The user can mix and match the correct cell holder size, Solar Simulator size and current (amp) requirements as well as the accessories needed to put together a complete test station.
Among the accessory choices:
●Basic sample positioning chuck
●Temperature controlled vacuum chuck
●Electrical probing (Single Point or Bus-Bar)
●Chiller
●Calibrated Reference Cell
●Vacuum Pump
●Optical Table or Work Station
Cell Holder Assembly
Various cell holders are available to allow for precise positioning of the device under test. These chuck assemblies are fixed in position with respect to the solar simulator beam. The cell position can be maintained with precision despite the simplicity of the design. Vacuum positioning capability and temperature control are available options on some models.
PVIV-VAC-CHUCK.
Temperature Controlled/ Vacuum positioning cell holder for 2x2 through 6x6 cells
The reference cell in its cell holder adapter.
Reference Cell and Meter
A reference cell is a suggested option which consists of calibrated reference solar test cell and an digital display where the measured solar simulator irradiance and the cell temperature are displayed. These values are entered in the software to accurately perform the I-V characterization. The calibrated reference cell can also be used independently of the I-V Test Station, for tuning the solar simulator power level to other test conditions. The Reference Cell is also available as a separate item. For more details, see Reference Solar Cell and Meter.
Reference Meter.
Software
The PVIV 2.0 is a LabVIEW based I-V measurement software suite with an intuitive, easy to use interface.
A number of critical cell performance parameters are calculated as well as displaying the raw I-V curve. Device ID and User Name can be easily entered from the main user interface, where the configuration set up and the raw data are easily saved into a tab delimited .txt file format report. The software menu also includes a Print Window function, so the measured plot can be printed.
Oriel IV Test Station Version 2.0 functions include:
Calculates critical parameters such as short circuit current (Isc), current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (ff), maximum output power (Pmax), maximum output voltage (Vmax), maximum output current (Imax) cell efficiency (η) ,Shunt Resistance 1 sun (R@Isc), Series Resistance 1 sun (R@Voc) ,Shunt Resistance Dark IV (RShunt), and other standard photovoltaic cell parameters.
- Organization of measurement settings in “Recipes” which can be easily saved and recalled. This approach replaces that of using configuration settings and measurement settings, utilized in version 1.2 and earlier PVIV software
- Viewing of multiple IV measurement results simultaneously
- Multiple data presentation formats for enhanced visualization
- More complete results files stored in tab-delimited ASCII format
- Ability to load previously stored data from disk
- Option to perform “Dark IV” measurements
- Support for new PVIV 10A I-AMP current amplifier hardware
I-V Curve obtained by the Oriel I-V Test Station.
Computer
A computer is not supplied with the Oriel I-V Test Station.
Minimum system requirements to run the software are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Computer Requirements
| Operating System |
Windows XP SP3 (32bit) / Windows 7 (32bit) |
| Processor |
Minimum 2GHz |
| Disk Space |
600 MB |
| Memory (RAM) |
2.0Gb |
| Screen Resolution |
1024 x 768 |
| Communication Ports |
USB |
| Peripherals |
CD Drive |
Workstation
A workstation is not included with the basic PV-IV Tester. Newport offers many differnt options for tables and work stations to integrate your PV-IV system. Please contact your sales engineer to discuss your requirements.
Typical PV-IV configuration including optional temperature controlled vacuum chuck and electrical probing kits. Computer shown to display software interface and is not included with the PV-IV models.
