This part of IEC 60904 describes procedures for the measurement of current-voltage characteristics ( I-V curves) of photovoltaic (PV) devices in natural or simulated sunlight. These procedures are applicable to a single PV solar cell, a sub-assembly of PV solar cells, or a PV module. They are applicable to single-junction mono-facial PV devices. For other device types,reference is made to the respective documents, in particular for multi-junction devices to IEC 60904-1-1 and for bifacial devices to IEC TS 60904-1-2. Additionally informative annexes are provided concerning area measurement of PV devices (Annex A), PV devices with capacitance (Annex B), measurement of dark current-voltage characteristics (dark I-V curves) (Annex C) and effects of spatial non-uniformity of irradiance (Annex D).
NOTE The methods provided in this document can also be used as guidance for taking I-V curves of PV arrays. For on-site measurement refer to IEC 61829.
