Procedure – Solar Cell testing Using Keithley 4200 and Scientech Solar Light Simulator
The Keithley 4200 has a maximum current of 1.0A. This limits the size of a solar cell to be
tested to about 6 cm x 6 cm
UV Light is dangerous to view. Always use UV protection goggles located by the tester.
Equipment setup and calibration
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Verify the Scientech solar light simulator and Keithely 4200 tester are setup for solar cell testing. For solar
cell testing the base plate is the backside contact and the probe is the top side contact. Contact the lab
manager if the setup looks incorrect.
Verify all cooling fans are operational
The standard conditions for testing solar cells are 1000W/m2 or 100mW/cm2 at 25oC and Air Mass filter of
1.5. The Air Mass filter of 1.5 simulates the atmospheric conditions that limit the intensity of sunlight that
actually reaches earth.
Solar simulator lamp
power supply location
Calibration solar cell and meter
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A calibration of the intensity of the simulated sun light striking the base plate is required.
1. Locate the calibration solar cell and its attached meter
2. Place the calibration solar cell under the sun light beam, centered on the base plate
3. Turn on meter if not already on
4. Open the shutter to allow the simulated sun light to illuminate the calibration solar cell.
5. Read and record the sun light intensity. It should read nearly 1.0 sun.
6. If the intensity is below .95 sun, slowly increase the power at the power supply.
7. If the power is at is maximum, record the simulated sun light intensity and continue with the test.
Notify the lab manager what the maximum intensity is. The solar simulator lamp may need to be
replaced.
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Procedure – Solar Cell testing Using Keithley 4200 and Scientech Solar Light Simulator
Testing
1. Place the solar cell to be tested on the wafer chuck and lower the probe to contact a metal portion of the cell
Probe adjusted to contact the solar
cell on a metal portion
Solar cell illuminated with UV light
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Procedure – Solar Cell testing Using Keithley 4200 and Scientech Solar Light Simulator
Green Arrow
2. Verify the solar cell has a valid diode reading by hitting the green arrow on the Keithley 4200 tester screen.
A blue trace will be created. This should look like the trace in the above image. If the trace is a straight line
along the zero current axis, the probe has not made contact to the solar cell. If the trace is a vertical line
along the zero voltage axis, the solar cell is a short.
Shutter Control
3. Switch on the shutter which exposes the solar cell to the UV light source.
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Procedure – Solar Cell testing Using Keithley 4200 and Scientech Solar Light Simulator
4. Initiate a second I/V plot by pressing the Green/Yellow arrow on the Keithley 4200 screen. The red trace is
the I/V plot of the solar cell under simulated sun light and is used to characterize the solar cell performance
5. The plot should look like the image above. If the I/V plot is acceptable, print or save the file.
Additional instructions for using the Keithley 4200 tester can be found on the solar cell class web site as a
lecture on Solar cell testing using the Keithley 4200 tester
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