Oct 6 2010
Provider of factory automation systems, CHAD Industries, along with Alpha Omega Power Technologies, has rolled out a series of automated solar simulators. The solar simulators are used for developing concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) products. The devices will be showcased at the Solar Power International event in Los Angeles.
The solar simulator, developed by Alpha Omega Technologies, offers a maximum of 1000x suns in 1 ms flash. The performance data is accumulated and logged for every tested unit using the company’s QuickIV software and the SSDAQ data acquisition system. The QuickIV software has the ability to produce database support, binning details and wafer maps.
CHAD has improved the simulator with a nest and probe system that is manually loaded. Tools will house full receiver assemblies or mounted cells on substrates. The lighted region is protected to avoid stray light from getting out or into the test region. Testing of parts can take place at maximum rates of 2 units for every second, but the throughput is dictated by the operator handling time. The solar simulator has a floor standing 19” cabinet and a flash lamp assembly.
CHAD also provides complete automatic systems that feature robotic unloading and loading of the test device, including sorting to numerous bins. The device is also used for testing 210 mm and 156 mm solar PV cells.