TITLE: - CHARACTERISTICS OF SOLAR PANEL

Objective: - To plot the I -V Characteristics of the solar cell

To determine the fill factor of that panel

Solar cell: - The solar cell is a semi conductor device, which converts the solar energy
into electrical energy. It is also called a photovoltaic cell. A solar panel consists of numbers
of solar cells connected in series or parallel called module.

Performance study of solar cell:-

The e.m.f. generated by the photo-voltaic cell in the

open circuit, i.e. when no current is drawn from it is
denoted by VOC (V-open circuit).

When the load resistance is reduced to zero the

current rises to its maximum value known as
saturation current and is denoted as Isc

The product of open circuit voltage VOC and short

circuit current ISC is known as ideal power.

 Ideal Power = VOC × ISC

The maximum useful power is the area of the largest rectangle that can be formed under
the I –V curve. If Vm and Im are the values of voltage and current under this condition,
Then Maximum useful power =Vm × Im
The ratio of the maximum useful power to ideal power is called the fill factor

Fill factor = (Vm x Im) / (Voc x Isc)

Experiment circuit diagram

 Apparatus used:-

Sl No Item Specification Quantity Maker’s name & No

Procedure:-

1. Select the ammeter, voltmeter and rheostat ratings as per the circuit diagram, so to
get uniformly spaced points on the current - voltage (I-V) characteristics.
2. A low resistance is connected to obtain points near the short circuit condition, a high
resistance to obtain points near the open circuit condition, and an intermediate value
to obtain the maximum power point.
3. Obtaining the open circuit and short circuit points by actually opening and shorting
the terminals.
4. Vary the insolation on panel using solar simulator (input voltage of incandescent
lamp) for different set of reading.
5. Plot current Vs voltage and power Vs voltage curve.
6. Using these two curve find maximum power point, then Vm and Im in that curve.
7. Find out fill factor of that above curve by calculating the area under the curve.

Experimental Table:-
Sl No Voltage , volt Current, amp

Graph and calculations:-

Remakes:-