Solar Module Testing
Accredited Test Lab
As a leading independent third party test laboratory, Westpak offers testing services to meet the needs of the solar industry in the areas of environmental simulation, transportation logistics, safety, performance and research & development testing. Solar developers who have taken advantage of Westpak's technical capabilities and test capacity have significantly reduced the risks associated with the certification process by the discovery and resolution of problems throughout the product development cycle. Westpak has helped thousands of companies since 1986 with their testing needs at our ISO 17025 accredited laboratories in San Diego and San Jose, CA.
Environmental Simulation
Westpak has wide variety of over 50 environmental chambers available for client use. Test capabilities for solar include thermal cycling, humidity freeze, damp heat, and UV preconditioning per relevant IEC and UL test standards. Additional environmental exposures like hail impact, mechanical loading, altitude (high and low pressure), water spray, and light soaking are also available. These tests allow for materials and module designs to be evaluated in an accelerated manner. Testing prior to submitting modules for certification reduces the risk of problems arising in the certification process.
Transportation and Logistics
Transportation and vibration are some of the most several physical test inputs any product will see. Westpak can conduct bare product vibration and fragility analysis on all types of products, including full scale solar modules. Logistics testing (distribution simulation) for module packaging including climatic conditioning, pallet handling and pallet vibration can also be conducted by Westpak. With data from these tests module manufactures can reduce the risk of product damage during shipment, and reduce costs by optimize their distribution supply chain. ASTM D4169 and ISTA 3B are typical package performance standards for solar modules, each outlines a series of test inputs designed to simulate the distribution environment.
Electrical and Mechanical Safety
Westpak can perform a wide variety of safety testing based upon IEC and UL standards. Common electrical safety tests are wet and dry insulation, reverse current overload, hot spot, bypass diode thermal and accessibility testing. Common mechanical safety tests are module breakage, impact, push, cut, torque and strain relief testing. Westpak has numerous other tools available for both standards-based and custom testing of solar modules and components.
Performance
Westpak can conduct performance testing on solar modules using our large indoor simulator or our 2-axis tracker (weather permitting). Common tests include module performance at STC and NOCT, determination of temperature coefficients and NOCT, and light soaking.
Research and Development
As new technologies are developed, companies will need to verify the operational performance of pre-production modules. Westpak offers module manufactures the capability to conduct preproduction and precertification testing in a confidential environment while having access to the lab and their product under test. Westpak can also conduct testing according to proprietary test requirements, and has the capability and expertise to build custom test fixturing as required. Westpak also conducts ongoing quality control testing for periodic evaluation of production line modules.
Intersolar Show 2011 Recap
Westpak’s Solar Team Presents and Exhibits at Intersolar North America 2011
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Last July, Westpak’s solar team exhibited at the Intersolar expo in San Francisco for the first time. The event, held at the Moscone Center, is one of the top solar industry exhibitions and conferences in North America. Hundreds of companies exhibited and over 20,000 people attended the show during the three-day event.
Herb Schueneman, Westpak’s President and CEO spoke at the conference. Herb’s topic entitled “Vibration - The Missing Link” introduced hundreds of conference attendees to Westpak’s 25 years of vibration testing experience for the first time. Several industry-leading companies have successfully utilized Westpak’s vibration testing equipment and experience to improve the reliability and robustness of their solar products.
At the expo, a few thousand conference attendees strolled by Westpak’s booth, and a few hundred of those stopped to talk with Westpak’s solar team. The Westpak crew enjoyed a great deal of interest from existing clients, new contacts, and industry colleagues.
How Westpak can help
ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited
Westpak is accredited by A2LA (the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation) for photovoltaic, packaging and many other test inputs. Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is your assurance that tests listed on Westpak’s scope of accreditation meet international standards for technical competence. Learn more about Westpak's QMS (quality management systems) and view our ISO/IEC 17025 scope.
Memberships
SEIA
Westpak is a member of SEIA, a solar industry trade group.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the leading national trade association for the solar energy industry. We work to expand markets, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers and improve education and outreach for solar energy professionals. Located in Washington, D.C., SEIA was founded in 1974.
Overview of Testing Standards
IEC 61215/61646 – These standards address PV (Photovoltaic) and thin-film PV modules respectively. Tests include design qualification, performance, durability, safety and robustness. These two standards are almost identical to each other in nature.
IEC 62108 – This standard addresses CPV (Concentrator Photovoltaic) modules. The test inputs are similar to IEC 61215/61646.
UL 1703 – This standard addresses safety concerns of solar modules. This standard is mostly used in the US and Canada.
IEC 61730-2 – This standard addresses module safety concerns. It can be incorporated into IEC 61215/61646 test plans.
