SOLAR SYSTEM MEASUREMENT
Check that your system performs as it was designed
Solar system measurement service
| No. | Service item | Target / inspection | Frequency | Equipment / measuring instrument / inspection method | Unit | Applicable standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF OPERATING CONDITION OF PV MODULES / STRINGS / DC CABLES | |||||
| 1 | IV curve test and operating condition assessment of PV strings: / – Open-circuit voltage of PV module (Voc) / – PV module voltage at maximum power point (Vmpp) / – PV module current at maximum power point (Impp) / – Short-circuit current (Isc) / – PV module peak power (Pmax) / – IV curve test of PV module. / – Operating condition assessment of PV module. | PV string | 4 times/year | HT Instruments SOLAR IVe (15A, 1500VDC) / Solmetric PVA-1500 | string | TCVN / 11855-1:2017 / IEC 62446-1:2017 |
| 2 | Insulation resistance measurement and insulation condition assessment of PV strings: / – Insulation resistance of PV String (+) to Ground. / – Insulation resistance of PV String (-) to Ground. / – Insulation resistance of PV String (+) to PV String (-). / – Condition assessment and potential faults of DC cable system and DC cable trays. | PV string | 4 times/year | HIOKI IR4053 | string | QCVN QTĐ-5:2009/BCT / IEC 62446-1:2017 |
| 3 | Thermal scanning of PV system to detect anomalies (broken, cracked or shattered PV modules, dirt, scratches, oil stains, objects on modules, physical damage, deformation, cracked cells, etc.): / – Thermal scanning with a drone thermal camera to identify and zone abnormal PV arrays. / – Thermal scanning with a handheld thermal camera to assess and identify anomalies of each PV module within an array. | PV module | 4 times/year | Drone thermal camera / Handheld thermal camera Fluke VT04 | panel | IEC 62446-1:2017 |
| 4 | Count of PV modules shaded by sunlight or shadows / PV module surface free of water pooling or film build-up / PV modules free of cracks or breakage (usually caused by bird-hunting pellets or locations near roads) / Check for corrosion of PV module busbars / (usually caused by rear backsheet damage and moisture ingress) | PV module | 4 times/year | Visual observation, statistics by time slot | panel | |
| 5 | Type and condition assessment of rooftop DC cable trays / Zinc coating thickness measurement / Abnormality and risk assessment of DC cable tray system | cable tray | 4 times/year | Visual observation, specialised equipment, statistics and assessment. | system | |
| 6 | PV module cleaning | PV module | 4 times/year | Specialised tools | Mwp | |
| II | INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF INVERTER OPERATING CONDITION | |||||
| 1 | Measurement and analysis of Inverter power quality: / – Check operating voltage compliance. / – Check operating frequency compliance. / – Check DC current injection. / – Check voltage harmonics. / – Check current harmonics. / – Check voltage flicker. / – Check negative-sequence component of phase voltage. / – Check power factor. | Inverter | 1 time / year | Fluke 435ii | system | Circular No. 39/2015/TT-BCT and Circular No. 30/2019/TT-BCT, as amended and supplemented |
| 2 | Thermal scan and detect abnormalities of Inverter: / – Check Inverter AC cable lug connection points / – Thermal scan and detect abnormalities at AC connection points. / – Thermal scan and detect abnormalities at DC MC4 connection points | Inverter | 4 times/year | Fluke VT04, M | pc | |
| 3 | Check and assess the external condition and operating status of Inverter: / – Check noise level and abnormal sounds of Inverter. / – Check cooling fan of Inverter (dust, operating status, etc.). / – Check abnormal alarms and warnings of Inverter per manufacturer recommendations. | Inverter | 4 times/year | Visual check and dedicated software | pc | |
| 4 | Check and assess Inverter installation work: / – Check Inverter installation method per manufacturer recommendations. / – Check Inverter layout and installation spacing per manufacturer recommendations. / – Check sealing tightness at connection points per manufacturer recommendations. | Inverter | 1 time | pc | ||
| 5 | Check and assess the MC4 connector type and connections at Inverter: / – Check that the MC4 connector type used at the Inverter connection meets manufacturer standards. / – Check MC4 joint tightness, water ingress risk, and abnormalities (burning, deformation, etc.) of MC4 connectors at Inverter. | MC4 | 4 times/year | pc | ||
| III | INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF AC ELECTRICAL CABINET SYSTEM | |||||
| 1 | Check and assess operating status of indicator lights, voltmeter and ammeter, multimeter, electricity meter, cabinet fans, temperature controller, timer, etc. | AC electrical cabinet | 2 times / year | cabinet | ||
| 2 | Check and assess electrical cabinet condition: dust, air convection, corrosion, water ingress, hinges, door locks, etc. | AC electrical cabinet | 2 times / year | cabinet | ||
| 3 | Check and assess operating status of the AC power surge protection device. | Lightning protection | 2 times / year | set | ||
| 4 | Thermal scan and assess potential faults of AC electrical cabinet: / – Thermal scan and check potential faults at ACB terminal connection points. / – Thermal scan and check potential faults at MCB terminal connection points. / – Thermal scan and check potential faults at AC power cable connection points. | AC electrical cabinet | 2 times / year | system | ||
| IV | INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF EARTHING SYSTEM | |||||
| 1 | Test and assess the earthing system of solar panels. | System / earthing | 2 times / year | Kyoritsu Kew 4105A | IEEE Std 81.2-1991 / QCVN:11-TCN-18-2006 | |
| 2 | Test and assess the Inverter earthing system. | System / earthing | 2 times / year | Kyoritsu Kew 4105A | IEEE Std 81.2-1991 / QCVN:11-TCN-18-2006 | |
| 3 | Test and assess the earthing system of electrical cabinets and transformer station. | System / earthing | 2 times / year | Kyoritsu Kew 4105A | IEEE Std 81.2-1991 / QCVN:11-TCN-18-2006 | |
| 4 | Test and assess continuity of the earthing system | System / earthing | 2 times / year | Multimeter | IEEE Std 81.2-1991 / QCVN:11-TCN-18-2006 | |
| V | INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF MECHANICAL DETAILS | |||||
| 1 | Check coating thickness (Aluminum, Steel) | Frame, mounting structure | 2 times / year | GTS8102 | system | |
| 2 | Survey and record corrosion and peeling of the system | Frame, mounting structure | 2 times / year | system | ||
| 3 | Check nut tightening torque | Frame, mounting structure | 2 times / year | Torque wrench | system | Random check |
| VI | INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF MONITORING SYSTEM | |||||
| 1 | Check and assess communication line of the communication system, and any damage or instability of Smartlogger | System / monitoring | 2 times / year | Visual inspection | system | |
| 2 | Check online reports of output energy and irradiance via remote monitoring system. Compare output energy with the solar meter to check for abnormal losses | System / monitoring | Daily | Remote online | system | |
| 3 | Check alarms, events and database status – via remote monitoring system | System / monitoring | Daily | Remote online | system | |
| 4 | Check online status report of each inverter – via remote monitoring system | System / monitoring | Daily | Remote online | system | |