Download
Share
Print this page
FLIR PV48 User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. FLIR Manuals
  4. Measuring Instruments
  5. PV48
  6. User manual
FLIR PV48 User Manual

FLIR PV48 User Manual

Solar panel i-v curve tracer
Hide thumbs Also See for PV48:

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
User Manual
Solar Panel I-V Curve
Tracer
MODEL PV48

Advertisement

loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the PV48 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Related Manuals for FLIR PV48

Summary of Contents for FLIR PV48

  • Page 1 User Manual Solar Panel I-V Curve Tracer MODEL PV48...
  • Page 3 User Manual Solar Panel I-V Curve Tracer #NAS100242; r. AA/103944/103947; en-US...

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Table of contents Safety ................1 Safety Warnings ............1 Safety Cautions............1 International Safety Symbols ......... 2 Introduction................3 Rechargeable Battery ............4 Battery Overview ............4 Battery Charging with Tracer OFF ........4 Battery Charging with Tracer ON ........4 Automatic Power OFF (APO)......... 5 Product Descriptions............6 Tracer Description............

  • Page 7: Safety

    Safety 1.1 Safety Warnings WARNING Read, understand, and follow all safety information and operating instructions in this man- ual before using this device Do not use this device if it appears damaged or is operating abnormally. If in doubt, contact customer support.

  • Page 8: International Safety Symbols

    Safety 1.3 International Safety Symbols This symbol, adjacent to another symbol or terminal, indicates the user must refer to the manual for further information. This symbol, adjacent to a terminal, indicates that, under normal use, hazardous voltages may be present. Double insulation.

  • Page 9: Introduction

    Introduction Thank you for selecting the FLIR PV48 Solar Panel I-V Curve Tracer. The PV48 measures the maximum power output of a solar panel. The greater the power output, for any given sunlight intensity, the better the performance of the panel.

  • Page 10: Rechargeable Battery

    Rechargeable Battery 3.1 Battery Overview The tracer is powered by an internal rechargeable lithium battery. Short press the power button to switch the tracer ON, long press the power button to switch the tracer OFF. The battery status icon at the upper right corner of the display indicates battery power.

  • Page 11: Automatic Power Off (Apo)

    Rechargeable Battery 3.4 Automatic Power OFF (APO) After five (5) minutes of inactivity (no button presses), the tracer will automati- cally switch OFF. #NAS100242; r. AA/103944/103947; en-US...

  • Page 12: Product Descriptions

    Product Descriptions 4.1 Tracer Description Figure 4.1 Tracer parts. 1. Probe socket. 2. Color display. 3. Test start button. 4. Mode (short press) and Units (long press) button. 5. Up and down arrow buttons (to select other modes and to make adjust- ments in manual mode).

  • Page 13: Button Descriptions

    Product Descriptions 4.2 Button Descriptions Short press to switch the tracer ON. Long press to switch the tracer OFF. MODE Short press to switch between automatic and manual modes. ℃ ℃ /℉ ℉ Long press to switch between ℃ and ℉ temperature units. In automatic mode, use the arrow buttons to switch operational modes (Batch mode, Peak Data, IV/PV Curve).

  • Page 14: Home Screen Description

    Product Descriptions 4.3 Home Screen Description When switched ON, the tracer shows the Home screen. Press the ESC button from any other screen to return to the Home screen. Other screens are shown for specific modes of operation, these are covered in their respective sections of this manual.

  • Page 15: Display Icon Descriptions

    Product Descriptions 4.4 Display Icon Descriptions Battery status icon. The lightning bolt icon is shown to the right of the battery symbol when the battery is charging. Tracer is ready for testing. Tracer is actively testing (typical test time is 1 to 2 seconds). Tracer is actively testing, and is detecting voltage.

  • Page 16: Probe Descriptions

    Product Descriptions 4.5 Probe Descriptions The PV48 is supplied with MC4 (300 V) photovoltaic connection cables (Fig- ure 4.3, below) and a set of Kelvin clips (Figure 4.4, below). Use the photovol- taic connecting cables when the solar panel under test has matching mating connectors.
  • Page 17 Product Descriptions Figure 4.4 Kelvin clip test leads. 1. Connect to the keyed probe socket at the top of the me- ter; 2. Turn the locking nut to tighten and secure the connection; 3. Connect the black lead to the negative side of the circuit on the solar panel; 4. Connect the red lead to the positive side of the circuit on the solar panel.

  • Page 18: Operation

    Operation WARNING Reverse Polarity Connection When the tracer detects that the polarity of the measurement lines is reversed, a pop-up window (Fig. 5.1) will alert the user. When the tracer detects that the polarity of the measurement lines is no longer reversed, the alert window will close.

  • Page 19: Connecting Test Probes To The Tracer

    Operation WARNING Overload Condition When an overload condition is detected by the tracer, the overload icon will appear and testing must be stopped. Do not use the tracer to measure signals that exceed the specific range limits. 5.1 Connecting Test Probes to the Tracer The tracer is shipped with a set of Kelvin clip leads and a set of standard pho- tovoltaic cables.

  • Page 20: Testing In Automatic Mode

    Operation 5.2 Testing in Automatic Mode Figure 5.4 Connecting to solar panels and testing in automatic mode. 1. Connect the test probes to the tracer and then to the positive and negative terminals on the solar panel as described in Section 4.5 and shown in Fig- ure 5.4.

  • Page 21: Batch Mode

    Operation 5.3 Batch Mode Batch mode is used for a quick ten reading test session. Note that these read- ings are not saved when the tracer is switched OFF. 1. Connect the test probes to the tracer and then to the positive and negative terminals on the solar panel as described in Section 4.5.
  • Page 22 Operation Figure 5.5 Batch mode screen. Each numbered item in the figure is defined below. 1. Tracer is ready to test. 2. Tracer is testing and voltage is present. 3. Batch mode indicator. 4. Battery status. 5. Test data row headers for maximum voltage, current, and power measurements.

  • Page 23: Iv/Pv Curve

    Operation 5.4 IV/PV Curve The IV/PV Curve shows test measurements graphically, plotting current and voltage (IV) and power and voltage (PV) on the same color-coded graph. See Figure 5.6, below. 1. Connect the test probes to the tracer and then to the positive and negative terminals on the solar panel as described in Section 4.5.
  • Page 24 Operation Figure 5.6 IV/PV Curve screen. Each numbered item in the figure is defined below. P the maximum power. V is the voltage at maximum power. I is the current at maximum power. 1. Test status icon area. Check mark indicates that the tracer is ready to test. 2.

  • Page 25: Peak Data Mode

    Operation 5.5 Peak Data Mode In the Peak Data mode, one test will take thirty (30) readings. The readings are spread across three pages (Peak Data 1, 2, and 3) with ten readings on each page. Use the arrow buttons to step through the pages. See Figure 5.7, below.
  • Page 26 Operation Figure 5.7 Peak Data 1 screen example. To view Peak Data screens 1 and 2, press the down arrow button. Each numbered item in the figure is defined below. 1. Test status icon. Check mark indicates that the tracer is ready for testing. 2.

  • Page 27: Manual Mode

    Operation 5.6 Manual Mode Figure 5.8 Connecting to solar panels and testing in manual mode. Manual mode allows you to take high accuracy measurements on low power solar panels (100 W, maximum). Do not use the Manual mode to measure so- lar panels with higher power.
  • Page 28 Operation 5. The ‘READY’ icon (item 9 in Figure 5.9) changes to an alternating pattern of ‘RUNNING’ and ‘STOP’ when the scale setting is increased from zero. This means that the tracer is taking readings (RUNNING) in between peri- ods of rest (STOP). Figure 5.9 Manual mode screen.

  • Page 29: Specifications

    6.0 x 2.8 x 1.5 in. (151.6 x 72.5 x 38 mm) Weight 7.3 oz. (206 g) Supplied equipment PV48, USB cable, MC4 test leads (300 V), Kelvin clip test leads, carry pouch, printed Quick Start Guide. #NAS100242; r. AA/103944/103947; en-US...

  • Page 30: Electrical Specifications

    Specifications 6.2 Electrical Specifications Function Range Accuracy (of reading) Open Circuit Voltage (V 0 to 60 V ±1% Short circuit current (I 0 to 30 A ±1% MPPT* point power (P 0 to 800 W ±5% MPPT point voltage (V 0 to 60 V ±5% MPPT point current (I...

  • Page 31: Customer Support

    Customer Support Customer Support Telephone List https://support.flir.com/contact Repair, Calibration, and Technical Support: https://support.flir.com #NAS100242; r. AA/103944/103947; en-US...

  • Page 32: Limited 3-Year Warranty

    Limited 3–Year Warranty This product is protected by FLIR’s Limited 3-Year Warranty. Visit www.flir.com/testwarranty to read the warranty document. Teledyne FLIR Commercial Systems, Inc. Taiwan Branch. 10F, No. 57, Zhouzi Street, NeiHu District, Taipei city, 114676, Taiwan #NAS100242; r. AA/103944/103947; en-US...
  • Page 34 Customer support http://support.flir.com Copyright © 2025, FLIR Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Disclaimer Specifications subject to change without further notice. Models and accessories subject to regional market considerations. License procedures may apply. Products described herein may be subject to US Export Regulations.