After reading the serial number either with a barcode scanner or through an industrial data bus like e.g. Profibus 550CE loads in the modules at ordinary conveyor line height and moves them to the testing position. 4-wire contacting probes are pushed automatically to the junction box contact pads or to the pads on the contact adapter plate. Frame contact probes are pushed to drainage holes. Automated switching unit contacts the module sequentially to IV, EL and Electrical Safety measurement instruments. Once all the tests have been completed the module is lowered down to conveyor line height for out feeding.

Irradiance non-uniformity is measured and adjusted automatically with a laminated c-Si cell which is moved over the test area by an internal X-Y stage. Number and location of test points can be selected freely.

Optional reference module loading unit enables automatic monitor cell gain adjustment and intensity level calibration. Omron PLC is used for automation control and nominal module infeed and out feed speed is 300–450 mm/sec.

EL-images having 200 μm pixel resolution can be recorded with six 8.3 Mpixel NIR ccd cameras. This enables sofware based automatic image analysis in order to identify and categorize small faults like microcracks and finger interruptions. If this accurate automatic analysis is not required cost effective 500 μm resolution EL picture can be recorded with two corresponding ccd cameras. 850 W power source source can be controlled to provide upto 14 A even to 72 cell modules. Typical exposure times vary between 5–20 seconds depending on the desired image quality.

QuickSun 550CE has the capability to perform insulation resistance, dielectric withstand and ground continuity tests as stipulated in the applicable UL and IEC standards.

Actual leakage current of PV modules is a few hundred nano amperes with a typical 4 KV test voltage while the ordinary dielectric withstand test acceptance criteria is 50 μA. QuickSun 550CE surpasses this minimum requirement and measures true insulation resistance and leakage currents accurately with sensitive enough instruments. This enables run time diagnosis of both contacting reliability and real module leakage characteristics.