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Annex 1

Criteria of Test and Evaluation

Basis The requirements for testing base upon the state of technology and recognized technical regulations of VDE and DIN-standards as well as international standards, which may be partially used for the definition of the tests. Furthermore, the long-term experiences in fields of testing and certification of the TV Rheinland Group incorporate in the assessment. The following standards are applied directly or indirectly or are used as technical basis for the measurements to be performed. PV-Module
Standard IEC 60904-1 IEC 60904-2 IEC 60904-2-am1 IEC 60904-3 IEC 60904-5 IEC 60904-6 IEC 60904-6-am1 IEC 60904-7 IEC 60904-9 IEC 60904-10 IEC 61215 IEC 61646 IEC 61683 IEC 61727 IEC 60364-7-712 EN IEC 61730 EN 50380 IEC 61853-1 Definition Photovoltaic devices; part 1: measurement of photovoltaic current-voltage characteristics Photovoltaic devices; part 2: requirements for reference solar cells Photovoltaic devices; part 3: measurement principles for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with reference spectral irradiance data Photovoltaic devices, part 5: determination of the equivalent cell temperature (ECT) of photovoltaic (PV) devices by the open-circuit voltage method Photovoltaic devices, part 6: requirements for reference solar modules Photovoltaic devices - part 7: Computation of spectral mismatch error introduced in the testing of a photovoltaic device Photovoltaic devices - part 9: Solar simulator performance requirements Photovoltaic devices - part 10: Methods of linearity measurement Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules; design qualification and type approval Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval Photovoltaic systems - Power conditioners - Procedure for measuring the efficiency Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Characteristics of the utility interface Electrical installations of buildings - Part 7-712: Requirements for special installations or locations - Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualificationPart 2, Part 1 Datasheet and nameplate information for photovoltaic modules Photovoltaic (PV) module performance testing and energy rating Part 1: Irradiance and temperature performance measurements and power rating

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Environmental testing Standard

IEC 60068-2-1 IEC 60068-2-1-am1 /am2 IEC 60068-2-2 IEC 60068-2-2-am1 /am2 IEC 60068-2-3 IEC 60068-2-6 IEC 60068-2-21 IEC 60068-2-27 IEC 60068-2-30 IEC 60068-2-30-am1 IEC 60068-2-33 IEC 60068-2-33-am1 IEC 60068-2-75

Definition
Environmental testing; part 2: tests; test A: cold Basic environmental testing procedures; Part 2: Tests; Test B: Dry Heat Basic environmental testing procedures; Part 2: Tests; Test Ca: Damp Heat, steady state Basic environmental testing procedures; Part 2: Tests; Test Fc: Vibration (sinusoidal) Basic environmental testing procedures; Part 2: Tests; Test U: Robustness of terminations and integral mounting devices Environmental testing; Part 2: Tests; Test Ea and guidance: Shock Basic environmental testing procedures; Part 2: Tests; Test Db and guidance Basic environmental testing procedures; Part 2: Tests; Guidance on change of temperature tests Environmental testing; Part 2: Tests; Test Eh: Hammer tests

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Performance of testing The tests and the sample distribution are performed according the attached test plan. In each category the following items are addressed with given total- and sub-weightings:

1) Documentation (total weighting 10%)

Criteria Verification of IEC 61215 certifications Verification of IEC 61730 certifications CE marking/declarations Component certifications (junction box, cable, connector) Declaration of origin Data sheet verification acc. EN 50380 Type label / name plate verification acc. EN 50380 Verification of mounting/installation manual acc. IEC 61730-1
Total

Weighting [%] 25 25 5 10 5 10 10 10
100

2) Performance (total weighting 20%)

Criteria Initial degradation after 20 kWh/m (acc. IEC 50380) Manufacturer given tolerances Deviances from nominal values Temperature coefficient of Pm at 1000W/m Weighted relative efficiency reduction at selected temperature/irradiancematrix measurements acc. IEC 61853-1 (see table below)
Total

Weighting [%] 5 10 50 10 25
100

Irradiance [W/m] 1000 800 600 400 200 100 15 7% 11%

Module temperature [C] 25 7% 17% 17% 7% 50 14% 20% -

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3 ) Safety (total weighting 20%)

Criteria General insulation properties acc. IEC 61215 (10.3) General wet leakage properties acc. IEC 61215 (10.15) Accessibility Tests acc. IEC 61730-2 (MST11) Impulse voltage test acc. IEC 61730-2 (MST14) High voltage Test acc. IEC 61730-2 (MST14 and MST 16) Inspection of creepage and clearance distances acc. IEC 61730-1
Gesamt

Weighting [%] 20 20 10 20 20 10
100

4) Aging behaviour (total weighting 30%)

Criteria Thermal cycling test (200 cycles) acc. IEC 61215 (test 10.11) Visual inspection Control measurements (Insulation, wet-leakage, power) Thermal cycling test additional 200 cycles (400 cycles total) Visual inspection Control measurements (Insulation, wet-leakage, power) Potential induced degradation (PID test): Output power degradation Damp heat test 1000h acc. IEC 61215 (test 10.13) Visual inspection Control measurements (Insulation, wet-leakage, power) Damp heat test additional 1000h (2000h total) Visual inspection Control measurements (Insulation, wet-leakage, power) Mechanical load test 2400 Pa acc. IEC 61215 (test 10.16) Visual inspection Control measurements (Insulation, wet-leakage, power) Mechanical load test 5400 Pa acc. IEC 61215 (test 10.16) Visual inspection Control measurements (Insulation, wet-leakage, power)
Total

Weighting [%]

8 17

4 8

8 17

4 8

4 5

4 5
100

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5) Workmanship (total weighting 15%) Criteria Sealing / Adhesive / Potting (Silicone, etc.) Sharp edges test acc. UKL 1703 String / cell alignment Soldering appearance Contaminants Bubbles Backsheet foil / labels General appearance / cell grid / cell colours Electroluminescence initial Electroluminescence after Damp heat Electroluminescence after mechanical load tests Electroluminescence after thermal cycling Electroluminescence after PID
Gesamt

Weighting [%] 7 10 7 10 8 8 8 7 7 7 4 7 10
100

6) Other criteria (total weighting 5%) Criteria Product warranty Power warranty Warranty conditions Ease of installation
Gesamt

Weighting [%] 30 30 15 25
100

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