Designation:E2481−12(Reapproved2018)StandardTestMethodforHotSpotProtectionTestingofPhotovoltaicModules1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE2481;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thistestmethodprovidesaproceduretodeterminetheabilityofaphotovoltaic(PV)moduletoendurethelong-termeffectsofperiodic“hotspot”heatingassociatedwithcommonfaultconditionssuchasseverelycrackedormismatchedcells,single-pointopencircuitfailures(forexample,interconnectfailures),partial(ornon-uniform)shadowingorsoiling.Sucheffectstypicallyincludesoldermeltingordeteriorationoftheencapsulation,butinseverecasescouldprogresstocombus-tionofthePVmoduleandsurroundingmaterials.1.2Therearetwowaysthatcellscancauseahotspotproblem;eitherbyhavingahighresistancesothatthereisalargeresistanceinthecircuit,orbyhavingalowresistancearea(shunt)suchthatthereisahigh-currentflowinalocalizedregion.Thistestmethodselectscellsofbothtypestobestressed.1.3Thistestmethoddoesnotestablishpassorfaillevels.Thedeterminationofacceptableorunacceptableresultsisbeyondthescopeofthistestmethod.1.4ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsaretoberegardedasstandard.Nootherunitsofmeasurementareincludedinthisstandard.1.5Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafety,health,andenvironmentalpracticesanddeter-minetheapplicabilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.1.6Thisinternationalstandardwasdevelopedinaccor-dancewithinternationallyrecognizedprinciplesonstandard-izationestablishedintheDecisiononPrinciplesfortheDevelopmentofInternationalStandards,GuidesandRecom-mendationsissuedbytheWorldTradeOrganizationTechnicalBarrierstoTrade(TBT)Committee.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2E772TerminologyofSolarEnergyConvers...
