IEC 61829-2015 PDF

Full title and description

St IEC 61829-2015 — Photovoltaic (PV) array — On-site measurement of current‑voltage characteristics. This standard specifies procedures for on-site measurement of flat‑plate PV array I–V characteristics, the accompanying meteorological measurements, and methods to translate measured results to Standard Test Conditions (STC) or other selected conditions for acceptance and performance comparison.

Abstract

IEC 61829:2015 (edition 2.0) provides practical, field‑oriented procedures for measuring PV array I–V curves using commonly available commercial I–V curve tracers, captures required meteorological data, and describes methods for extrapolation to STC or selected test conditions. The 2015 edition updates and replaces outdated procedures from the 1995 edition and aligns several measurement aspects with the IEC 60904 series and IEC 60891, and it includes guidance on assessing and reporting measurement uncertainty.

General information

• Status: International Standard (published, current edition as at publication/stability entry).
• Publication date: 22 October 2015.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), TC 82 (Solar photovoltaic energy systems).
• ICS / categories: 27.160 (Solar energy engineering).
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2015).
• Number of pages: 34.

(Summary details drawn from the IEC publication record and national/adoption entries.)

Scope

Specifies procedures for on‑site measurement of the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of flat‑plate PV arrays, including recommended measurements of irradiance, cell/array temperature and other meteorological parameters; procedures for translating on‑site measurements to STC or other selected test conditions (for example Acceptance Test Conditions); and guidance for handling field uncertainties and equipment commonly used for I–V tracing. The standard is intended for use with crystalline silicon and similar flat‑plate PV arrays and refers to related IEC documents for specialized measurement and correction methods.

Key topics and requirements

• Procedures for acquiring on‑site array I–V curves using I–V curve tracers and sweep methods.
• Required meteorological measurements (irradiance, module/array temperature, wind, etc.) to accompany I–V tests.
• Methods to correct or translate measured I–V data to Standard Test Conditions (STC) or other specified conditions (including references to IEC 60904 series and IEC 60891).
• Assessment and reporting of measurement uncertainty and practical guidance for addressing field measurement variability.
• Recommendations on instrumentation, test set‑up, safety and record keeping for acceptance and diagnostic testing of PV arrays.

These topics reflect the principal measurement, correction and reporting requirements emphasized in the 2015 edition.

Typical use and users

Used by PV commissioning and acceptance teams, field test laboratories, system integrators, O&M personnel, performance engineers, and researchers conducting field verification, acceptance testing or troubleshooting of PV array performance. It supports tasks such as acceptance testing, verification of installation performance, and comparison of measured performance to expected yields.

Related standards

Closely related to the IEC 60904 series (PV device and module measurements), IEC 60891 (procedures for correcting PV current–voltage characteristics), and regional/adopted versions such as EN/EVS versions of IEC 61829:2015. The standard is part of the IEC TC 82 suite of documents addressing PV measurement, performance and reliability.

Keywords

Photovoltaic, PV array, I–V curve, on‑site measurement, current–voltage characteristics, STC, Acceptance Test Conditions, I–V tracer, measurement uncertainty, TC 82.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61829:2015 is an international standard that specifies procedures for on‑site measurement of PV array current–voltage (I–V) characteristics and associated meteorological data, and for translating measured results to STC or other selected conditions.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers field procedures for acquiring I–V curves of flat‑plate PV arrays, the required meteorological measurements, guidance on instrumentation and test setup, methods for translating measurements to STC/ATC, and approaches to assess and report measurement uncertainty.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Commissioning engineers, test laboratories, PV system integrators, O&M teams, performance analysts and researchers involved in field testing, acceptance testing and diagnostic measurement of PV arrays.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 61829:2015 is the second edition (published 22 October 2015) and replaces IEC 61829:1995. The IEC record shows the 2015 edition as the active/revised publication with a documented stability date entry; users should check national adoption records for any later amendments or replacements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. It sits within the body of IEC TC 82 publications for photovoltaic energy systems and is intended to be used together with the IEC 60904 series and IEC 60891 for measurement, correction and reporting methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Photovoltaic, PV array, I–V curve, on‑site measurement, STC, acceptance testing, measurement uncertainty, I–V tracer.