Catalogue - Solar Electric Modules - Kyocera Solar

Solar Electric Modules

Solar Electric Modules

The balance of this catalog lists and describes all of the equipment that you might need for a renewable energy system. We start with solar modules since they are your power producers and we progress through your system concluding with the loads your system will operate.

Solar Module Power Characteristics

The current and power output of photovoltaic modules are approximately proportional to sunlight intensity. At a given intensity, a module's output current and operating voltage are determined by the characteristics of the load. If that load is a battery, the battery's internal resistance will dictate the module's operating voltage.

A module which is rated at 17 volts will put out less than its rated power when used in a battery system.This is because the working voltage will be between 12 and 15 volts. As wattage (power) is the product of volts times amps, the module output will be reduced. For example: a 50 watt module working at 13.0 volts will produce 39.0 watts (13.0 volts x 3.0 amps = 39.0 watts).This is important to remember when sizing a PV system.

An I-V curve as illustrated to the right is simply all of a module's possible operating points, (voltage/current combinations) at a given cell temperature and light

intensity. Increases in cell temperature increase current slightly, but drastically decrease voltage.

Maximum power is derived at the knee of the curve. Check the amperage generated by the solar array at your battery's present operating voltage to better calculate the actual power developed at your voltages and temperatures.

IRRADIANCE: AM1.5, 1kW / m²■ - - CELL TEMPERATURE 25 C


__1000W / m²800W/ m²	⁷⁵.^C50 C25 C
600W / m²	\ H

400W/ m²	\ V\	1
	V \\	1
200W /m²	\ \	1 I¹I¹I¹l> l> II¹II¹
	w	1 I¹I¹I¹l> l> II¹II¹

0 10 20 30

Voltage (V)

PV modules are very sensitive to shading. Unlike a solar thermal panel which can tolerate some shading,many brands of PV modules cannot even be shaded

by the branch of a leafless tree.

Shading obstructions can be defined as soft or hard sources. If a tree branch, roof vent, chimney or other item is shading from a distance, the shadow is diffuse or dispersed. These soft sources significantly reduce the amount of light reaching the cell(s) of a module. Hard sources are defined as those that stop light from reaching the cell(s), such as a blanket, tree branch, bird dropping, or the like, sitting directly on top of the glass. If even one full cell is hard shaded the voltage of that module will drop to half of its unshaded value in order to protect itself. If enough cells are hard shaded, the module will not convert any energy and will, in fact, become a tiny drain of energy on the entire system.

Examples of partial-cell shading that reduce PV module power by V

Partial-shading even one cell of a 36-cell module, such as the KD135SX,will reduce its power output. Because all cells are connected in a series string, the weakest cell will bring the others down to its reduced power level.Therefore, whether %> of one cell is shaded, or %> a row of cells is shaded as shown above, the power decrease will be the same and proportional to the percentage of area shaded, in this case 50%.

Kyocera Solar Electric Products Catalog • June 2009

Solar Electric Modules - Kyocera Solar - #1

Photovoltaic solar panel, Power supply, Battery, Solar panel, Photovoltaic module