I-V (Current-Voltage) Characteristics

This part of IEC 60904 describes procedures for the measurement of current-voltage
characteristics of photovoltaic devices in natural or simulated sunlight. These procedures are
applicable to a single photovoltaic solar cell, a sub-assembly of photovoltaic solar cells, or a
PV module.
NOTE 1 This standard may be applicable to multi-junction test specimens, if each sub-junction generates the
same amount of current as it would under the reference AM1,5 spectrum in IEC 60904-3.
NOTE 2 This standard may be applicable to PV devices designed for use under concentrated irradiation if they
are irradiated using direct normal irradiance and a mismatch correction with respect to a direct normal reference
spectrum is performed.
The purpose of this standard is to lay down basic requirements for the measurement of
current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic devices, to define procedures for different
measuring techniques in use and to show practices for minimising measurement uncertainty.

IEC 60891:2009 defines procedures to be followed for temperature and irradiance corrections to the measured I-V (current-voltage) characteristics of photovoltaic devices. It also defines the procedures used to determine factors relevant for these corrections. Requirements for I-V measurement of photovoltaic devices are laid down in IEC 60904-1. The main technical changes with regard the previous edition are as follows:
- extends edition 1 translation procedure to irradiance change during I-V measurement;
- adds 2 new translation procedures;
- revises procedure for determination of temperature coefficients to include PV modules;
- defines new procedure for determination of internal series resistance;
- defines new procedure for determination of curve correction factor.