ASTM_E_1171_-_15.pdf

Designation:E117115Standard Test Methods forPhotovoltaic Modules in Cyclic Temperature and HumidityEnvironments1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1171;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 These test methods provide procedures for stressingphotovoltaic modules in simulated temperature and humidityenvironments.Environmental testing is used to simulate agingof module materials on an accelerated basis.1.2 Three individual environmental test procedures are de-fined by these test methods:a thermal cycling procedure,ahumidity-freeze cycling procedure,and an extended durationdamp heat procedure.Electrical biasing is utilized during thethermal cycling procedure to simulate stresses that are knownto occur in field-deployed modules.1.3 These test methods define mounting methods for mod-ules undergoing environmental testing,and specify parametersthat must be recorded and reported.1.4 These test methods do not establish pass or fail levels.The determination of acceptable or unacceptable results isbeyond the scope of these test methods.1.5 Any of the individual environmental tests may beperformed singly,or may be combined into a test sequencewith other environmental or non-environmental tests,or both.Certain pre-conditioning tests such as annealing or lightsoaking may also be necessary or desirable as part of such asequence.The determination of any such sequencing andpre-conditioning is beyond the scope of this test method.1.6 These test procedures are limited in duration and there-fore the results of these tests cannot be used to determinephotovoltaic module lifetimes.1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E772 Terminology of Solar Energy ConversionE1036 Test Methods for Electrical Performance of Noncon-centrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Modules and ArraysUsing Reference CellsE1462 Test Methods for Insulation Integrity and GroundPath Continuity of Photovoltaic ModulesE1799 Practice for Visual Inspections of Photovoltaic Mod-ules2.2 IEC Standards:3IEC 61215 Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic(PV)Modules Design Qualification and Type ApprovalIEC 61646 Thin-Film Terrestrial Photovoltaic(PV)Modules Design Qualification and Type Approval3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions of terms used in this standardmay be found in Terminology E7721.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 module ground point,nthe terminal or lead identi-fied by the manufacturer as the grounding point of the module.4.Significance and Use4.1 The useful life of photovoltaic modules may depend ontheir ability to withstand repeated temperature cycling withvarying amounts of moisture in the air.These test methodsprovide procedures for simulating the effects of cyclic tem-perature and humidity environments.An extended durationdamp heat procedure is provided to simulate the effects of longterm exposure to high humidity.1These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 onSolar,Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and are the directresponsibility of Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.Current edition approved Feb.1,2015.Published March 2015.Originallyapproved in 1996.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E1171 09.DOI:10.1520/E1171-15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandardsvolume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC),3 rue deVaremb,Case postale 131,CH-1211,Geneva 20,Switzerland,http:/www.iec.ch.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.2 The durations of the individual environmental tests arespecified by use of this test method;however,commonly useddurations are 50 and 200 thermal cycles,10 humidity-freezecycles,and 1000 h of damp heat exposure,as specified bymodule qualification standards such as IEC 61215 and IEC61646.Longer durations can also be specified for extendedduration module stress testing.4.3 MountingTest modules are mounted so that they areelectrically isolated from each other,and in such a manner toallow free air circulation around the front and back surfaces ofthe modules.4.4 Current Biasing:4.4.1 During th