Device for testing solar home systems

• US 6,351,130 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Kuhmann, Jérôme, Preiser, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/720,592
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/106, 320/123, 307/66, 307/87, 323/205, 324/426
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/10 Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for testing solar home systems including at least one of each of the following components: a photovoltaic solar generator, a battery, a charge controller and a load. According to the invention, connecting means are provided. These enable the device to be connected to the at least one charge controller, the at least one charge controller having been uncoupled from the other components; to the at least one solar generator, to the at least one battery and to the at least one load. The device also includes testing means with which all the components can be tested individually and within their typical operational connections to each other in order to determine the parameters and states which are characteristic to the operativeness of the solar home system being tested. Display means for displaying the parameters and states that are tested are also provided. The inventive device enables less qualified employees to reliably test solar power installations with all the components which are interconnected on an interruptible bridge since the device is easy to connect to all the components in their entirety using the connecting means and since the test can be carried out automatically without manual intervention in connections of the solar power installation.

Claims

1. A device for checking at least one solar installation, said at least one solar installation having at least one photovoltaic solar generator, at least one battery, at least one charge controller, at least one load, and a connecting rail accepting a bridge and interconnecting the at least one photovoltaic solar generator, the at least one battery, the at least one charge controller and the at least one load, said connecting rail including assigned socket terminal strips and always being electrically interrupted during testing at the location for connecting to the bridge, said device comprising:

a testing means for determining characteristic parameters and conditions of the functioning capability of the solar installation, said testing means including connector strips for insertion in the assigned socket terminal strips of the connecting rail, and a means for selectively connecting the at least one photovoltaic generator, the at least one battery, the at least one charge controller and the at least one load to the testing means; and

a display means for displaying said characteristic parameters and conditions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the testing means and display means are connected across voltage converters for supplying external energy to the at least one battery.

3. The device of one of the claims 1 or 2, further comprising the testing means including an adjustable reference voltage source.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein, in each setting of the testing means and display means for testing the solar installation, the adjustable reference voltage source is connected to the at least one charge controller and an intrinsic consumption and switching threshold of the at least one charge controller is determined.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising the testing means including a temperature sensor for determining the surrounding temperature.

6. The device of one of the claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

control means for controlling the testing means;

switching means for connecting elements for testing; and

the testing means including a self testing means for testing control means and switching means.

7. The device of one of the claims 1 or 2, further comprising the testing means including a solar generator testing means for testing an open circuit voltage and a short-circuit current of the at least one solar generator, wherein the at least one battery and the at least one load are not connected to the at least one charge controller.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising the testing means including a reference solar generator for determining the incident irradiation from the sun.

9. The device of one of the claims 1 or 2, further comprising the testing means including a battery test means for testing the at least one battery, wherein the open circuit voltage of the at least one battery is measured with the at least one solar generator connected to the testing means and the charging current of the at least one battery is measured with the at least one load not connected to the testing means.

10. The device of one of the claims 1 or 2, further comprising the testing means including a load testing means for testing the at least one load, wherein the voltage and the current of the at least one load and the voltage of the at least one battery are measured with the at least one solar generator not connected to the testing means.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the testing means is portable.

12. A solar power test system for testing a solar installation including:

at least one photovoltaic solar generator;

at least one battery;

at least one charge controller; and

at least one load;

the solar power test system comprising;

a connecting rail for accepting a bridge for interconnecting the at least one photovoltaic solar generator, the at least one battery, the at least one charge controller and the at least one load, said connecting rail including assigned socket terminal strips;

a testing means for determining characteristic parameters and conditions of the functioning capability of the solar installation, said testing means including;

connector strips for insertion in the assigned socket terminal strips of the connecting rail;

a means for selectively connecting the at least one photovoltaic generator, the at least one battery, the at least one charge controller and the at least one load to the testing means; and

a display means for displaying said characteristic parameters and conditions, wherein the connecting rail is always electrically interrupted during testing at the location for connecting to the bridge.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the testing means is connected via voltage converters, for supplying external energy, to the at least one battery.

14. The system of one of the claims 12 or 13, further comprising the testing means including an adjustable reference voltage source.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein, in each setting of the testing means and display means for testing the solar installation, the adjustable reference voltage source is connected to the at least one charge controller and an intrinsic consumption and switching threshold of the at least one charge controller is determined.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising the testing means including a temperature sensor for determining the surrounding temperature.

17. The system of one of the claims 12 or 13, wherein the testing means includes:

control means for controlling the switching means;

switching means for connecting elements for testing; and

a self testing means for testing the switching means.

18. The system of one of the claims 12 or 13, further comprising the testing means including a solar generator testing means for testing an open circuit voltage and a short-circuit current of the at least one solar generator, wherein the at least one battery and the at least one load are not connected to the at least one charge controller.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising the testing means including a reference solar generator for determining the incident irradiation from the sun.

20. The system of one of the claims 12 or 13, further comprising the testing means including a battery test means for testing the at least one battery, wherein the open circuit voltage of the at least one battery is measured with the at least one solar generator connected to the testing means and the charging current of the at least one battery is measured with the at least one load not connected to the testing means.

21. The system of one of the claims 12 or 13, further comprising the testing means including a load testing means for testing the at least one load, wherein the voltage and the current of the at least one load and the voltage of the at least one battery are measured with the at least one solar generator not connected to the testing means.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the testing means is portable.

23. A test system for checking components of a solar installation comprising:

means for determining characteristic parameters and conditions of the functioning capability of the solar installation;

a connecting rail having a disconnectable bridge for interconnecting components of the solar installation and socket terminal providing connection to the components;

said means for determining including connector strips for insertion in the socket terminal strips of the connecting rail; and

a display means for displaying said characteristic parameters and conditions.