MEDIUM UNITS

Solaronix offers a complete solar testing environment based on a reliable design with over 12 years of experience developments. The Solixon units benefit from the same steady-state reliability while offering room temperature testing (25°C) and high-end Class A spectrum for sample characterization and aging, this unit combine the functions of solar simulato and light soaking in one unit.

Our solution is certified to IEC 60904-9:2007, ASTM E927-05 and JIS C 8912 standards.

The Sunirad product line is intended for light-soaking with thermal control of the samples at 50°C. Both product lines benefits from the same exceptional characteristics of the Lumixo named Light engines.

Solixon product is compliant with the tests list describe below

Maximum power determination (MPP) test according to IEC 61215 and IEC 61646 norms

Measurement of temperature coefficient test according to IEC 61215 and IEC 61646 norms

Performance at low irradiance according to IEC 61215 and IEC 61646 norms (with filters option)

Light soaking test according to IEC 61646 norm

Our vision

A good product must have no hidden cost.

Solixon, Exclusive Continuous Solar Simulators and Light Soaker

The Solixon equipment from Solaronix generates a perfectly true sun-like illumination, up to Class A rating, over large areas. This unmatched behavior enables accurate solar simulation independent of the type of photovoltaic material. It is perfectly suited for the characterization of present and future solar cells absorbing over of a broad range of wavelengths, such as mono and poly-silicon tandem cells, multi-junctions cells, or organic and hybrid solar cells.

The unique features of the Lumixo light engine affords:

✓ High fidelity Class A spectrum
✓ Adjustable power to simulate partial sun illuminations from 30% to 110% sun
✓ Possibility to combine light soaking and solar simulation functionalities with the same equipment

Sunirad, Our Light Soaker Product Line

The Sunirad equipment features Lumixo light engines with an emitter that is spectrally matched to the type of solar cells under test.

The Class A units are suited for light-soaking of crystalline silicon solar cells, and for the aging of compound semiconductor based thin film solar cells. The spectral emission of the Class-A unit is specifically suited for the light soaking of amorphous silicon solar cells (a-Si) and standard Dye Solar Cells (DSC).

Our light soaking machines are built to be run continuously 24/7, allowing for long term tests lasting several months. They all share the benefits of:

✓ Active thermal management of samples for temperature accuracy
✓ Optimized power consumption and low residual heat
✓ Light soakers available with superior spectrum quality

Sunirad A-45 to Sunirad A-100 (for a-Si)

Sunirad A-45 is the low-cost light soaker dedicated to amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells, or other solar cells having a similar spectral response. This machine features Class A spectrum, specifically optimized for tandem cells, multi-junctions cells, or organic and hybrid solar cells, using only one Lumixo light engine and additional halogen bulbs.

Thanks to an excellent overlap of the Lumixo light emitter with the a-Si spectral response, an actual irradiance of 1000 W/m2 is obtain at nominal full-sun short-circuit current on a-Si cells.

Common Solixon & Sunirad Characteristics

Solaronix' exclusive Lumixo light engine
Standard or custom sizes, ranging from half a square meter up to several square meters
Continuous operation for long term testing
Uniform sample illumination through carefully designed reflectors
Drawer style sample holder for easy sample manipulation
Thermostated sample holder
Small footprint and optimized form factor
Remotely or locally operated
Vacuum chuck

Note: Solar simulator classification is defined as per IEC 60904-9 by three letters describing spectrum, irradiance non-uniformity and temporal stability performances.

Solixon A-45 Sunirad A-45	Solixon A-70 Sunirad A-70	Solixon A-100 Sunirad A-100

Class:
ABA or ABB	ABA or ABB	ABA or ABB
Active surface:
450 x 450 mm	700 x 700 mm	1000 x 1000 mm
Weight:
~140 kg	~160 kg	~180 kg
Cooling capacity:
Solixon +20°C to +80°C Sunirad +35°C to +80°C	Solixon +20°C to +80°C Sunirad +35°C to +80°C	Solixon +20°C to +80°C Sunirad +35°C to +80°C
Power requirement:
3P+N 380-400 VAC 50-60 Hz max. 2.8 kW, nominal 2.2 kW	3P+N 380-400 VAC 50-60 Hz max. 4.1 kW, nominal 3.5 kW	3P+N 380-400 VAC 50-60 Hz max. 7.4 kW, nominal 6.2 kW
(1P+N available upon request)

Turn-key solution

The computer, the solar simulator, the electronic load and the I-V Measurement software is configured in our factory to ensure easy and fast installation on site.

Electronic Load

Coupling our solar simulator to a performant electronic load results in high quality measurements which most demanding users require nowadays.

Measurement equipment are available in two types, Basic or Professional system

Basic measurement system

Our IV-System Basic is built around the well-known Keithley 2401 Source meter. This proven instrument has all it takes to measure IV-curves (both dark and illuminated) on solar cells. The available current range has a minimum of 10 pA and a maximum of 1A, where the voltage ranges from 1µV to 20V. Unlike the more expensive Keithley source meters that interface by USB, this instrument can only be controlled by a GPIB interface. In our basic IV-System we include a GPIB/USB interface to make sure there are no issues in getting the source meter connected to a computer.

When measuring solar cells it is very important to use a thermostated sample holder. Sample holders prevents heating up of the solar cell material.

Another important parameter for solar cell metrology is the temperature. A high precision, class A Pt100 temperature sensor including computer interface (USB) is included with this basic IV-System.

Note that the Tracer IV-Curve Software is required to operate the IV-System Basic.

Key features

Tool for measuring IV-curves (both dark and illuminated)
Current range min. 10pA and max. of 1A
Voltage range 1µV to 20V
Including GPIB interface
Including class A Pt100 temperature sensor with computer interface

Professional measurement system

Our IV-System Pro is built around the well-known Kepco Bob bi-polar power supply and 3 Agilent DMMs to realize high quality data acquisition on current, voltage and reference cell. These proven instruments have all it takes to measure IV-curves (both dark and illuminated) on solar cells and modules.

The current range is ±4A, where the voltage range is ±100V. Other ranges are available on request.

When measuring solar cells it is very important to use a thermostated sample holder. By using thermostated sample holder to prevents heating up of the solar cell material.

Another important parameter for solar cell metrology is the temperature. A high precision, class A Pt100 temperature sensor including computer interface (USB) is included with this Profesionnal IV System.

I-V Measurement Software

To ensure a correct powerful control of the equipment, the user-friendly Tracer IV-Curve software is required for each I-V Measurement system. The numerous functions range from doing basic I-V curve measuremens to most advanced analysis.

Tracer is the all-in-one solution for the measurement and elaboration of IV-curves for solar cells and modules. Tracer is the core application that will help you to characterize your solar cells and modules. Many institutes and laboratories all over the world work hard on the development of new materials and technologies for photovoltaic applications. One of the main techniques to characterize these devices is to measure its IV curve. An IV curve can be taken from a solar cell by changing the voltage while measuring the light generated current.

It seems logical for this measurement to use a standard power supply, because a power supply is normally used to provide a variable voltage and current. Unfortunately this would not work for solar cells. A solar cell generates current, so you will need to have a power supply that sinks this generated current instead of providing it. This can be done with a so called bi-polar power supply (or electronic load). This is a power supply that can sink and source current at both positive and negative voltages. There are many instruments on the market that can be used as a bi-polar power supply. Some of them are just bi-polar power supplies while others integrate measurement and control capabilities as well.

Tracer will let you define and setup a system based on different instruments to measure your IV curves. You can add multiplexers to automatically measure multiple cells by using one single measurement system, implement contact checking and measure monitoring solar cells.

Some examples of the supported hardware:

Keithley 2400 series
Keithley 2600 series
HACKL Electronic Loads
Kepco BOB
B&K Electronic Loads
Toellner loads info
EKO MP-180 Curve Tracer
National Instruments Data Acquisition
MODBUS / Ethernet controlled instruments

Naturally Tracer natively supports the control of all Keithley 2400 and 2600 series source meters. These instruments have proven their strength over time for the measurement of solar cells. They range from 0.1fA – 20 Amperes. Tracer is developed with the latest Microsoft.NET Technology, which resulted in a modern ‘Microsoft Office' look and feel. A stable operation on the Microsoft Windows platform is guaranteed.

I-V Software main window

Preset configurations are available to ensure fast setting-up of the system.

Tracer Configurator

Before you start working with Tracer, you will have to configure your system. This is done by the Tracer Configurator. A tool that completely defines the setup you want to use. Tracer intends to support most instruments available on the market to use as an IV-curve measurement system. You can use for example a Kepco Bop bipolar power supply, add 2 Agilent 34410A DMMs to measure voltage and current, use a National Instruments DAQ card to control the Kepco Bob and get that unused Keithley 2000 DMM to measure a pt100 sensor for the solar cell temperature. This can all easily be deined in the configurator.

Information

1 x Reference solar cell is included with Solixon A-45, Solixon A-70 and Solixon A-100. Additional reference can be ordered according your request.

Available options

Silicon Reference cell (open or shunted version)
GaAs Referenc cell
Solar cell IV-Converter (dedicated readout unit for reference cells).

Complete environment included

1 x Solixon A-45, Solixon A-70 or Solixon A-100.
1 x Basic or Professional measurement system
1 x IV Tracer software
1 x Silicon Reference cell
2 x Solar cell probes, low resolution micromanipulator
2 x Solar cell probes, high resolution micromanipulator
1 x PC computer under Windows 7 Pro