Technical Information
Photovoltaic surge protection device inspection, certification, testing and inspection
[ 12-09-2024 ]
The inspection and testing methods of photovoltaic surge protection devices mainly include the following steps:

1. Appearance inspection
First, the appearance of the photovoltaic surge protection device is inspected to confirm whether its shell, terminal blocks, and other components have abnormal signs such as damage, deformation, or rust. This step helps to find potential physical damage or manufacturing defects.

2. Performance test
Performance testing is the core link of photovoltaic surge protection device inspection and testing, and mainly includes the following aspects:

Simulated surge current test: Use professional equipment to simulate surge current and measure the response speed and load capacity of the surge protection device. This test helps to evaluate the protection performance of the device under lightning surge or power frequency surge impact.
Insulation performance test: Check the quality of the insulation material of the surge protection device to ensure that there is no leakage or short circuit in a humid environment. This step is crucial to ensure the safety of the device in long-term operation.
Action load test: Use a simulated photovoltaic power supply to simulate the special I-V characteristic curve of the photovoltaic system to perform an action load test on the surge protection device. This test helps to verify the application effect of the device in the photovoltaic system.
3. Durability test
The durability test is designed to evaluate the performance stability of the photovoltaic surge protection device in long-term use. By repeating the surge current test several times, observe whether the performance of the device has significantly decreased or failed. This step helps to discover potential problems in the use of the device and provides a basis for subsequent maintenance and replacement.

IV. Other special tests
Depending on the specific type and application environment of the photovoltaic surge protection device, the following special tests may also be required:

Thermal stability test: For surge protection devices with switch-type components, thermal stability tests are performed to evaluate their performance stability in high-temperature environments.
Tripping test: Verify the reliability of the tripping mechanism of the surge protection device under overheating or fault conditions.
TOV transient overvoltage test: Evaluate the protection performance of the surge protection device under transient overvoltage conditions.
V. Test report and conclusion
After completing the above tests, the various performance indicators of the photovoltaic surge protection device are analyzed in detail and a test report is issued. The report will detail whether the various parameters of the device meet the expected requirements and put forward any possible improvement suggestions. At the same time, the performance of the device is evaluated based on the test results to provide a reference for subsequent procurement, installation, and maintenance.

In summary, the inspection and testing methods of photovoltaic surge protection devices involve multiple aspects such as appearance inspection, performance testing, durability testing, and other special tests. Through comprehensive and detailed testing, the reliability and safety of the device in actual application can be ensured.