Flash Testing

Since 1999 ECN has the disposal of a 'class A' flash tester. The working of the tester is based on the fast exposure with a Xenon-light. The irradiation during a flash, goes from a maximum value of about 1300 W/m² to 0 in just milliseconds. The advantage of the fast exposure of a PV module is, that the temperature of the object that is being measured during the measurement does not change or hardly changes due to the radiated capacity of the lightsource. The ECN tester is also provided with the possibilty to flash a PV panel at different temperatures (see specifications). This installation is reasonably unique in its kind. The PV panel can be mounted behind a double-glazing door of a climate chamber.