ASTM E1802-12
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Wet Insulation Integrity Testing of Photovoltaic Modules
Standard Test Methods for Wet Insulation Integrity Testing of Photovoltaic Modules
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The design of a photovoltaic module or system intended to provide safe conversion of the sun's radiant energy into useful electricity must take into consideration the possibility of hazard should the user come into contact with the electrical potential of the module or system. In addition, the insulation system provides a barrier to electrochemical corrosion, and insulation flaws can result in increased corrosion and reliability problems. These test methods describe procedures for verifying that the design and construction of the module provides adequate electrical isolation through normal installation and use. At no location on the module should the PV generated electrical potential be accessible, with the obvious exception of the output leads. This isolation is necessary to provide for safe and reliable installation, use, and service of the photovoltaic system.
4.2 This test method describes a procedure for determining the ability of the module to provide protection from electrical hazards. Its primary use is to find insulation flaws that could be dangerous to persons who may come into contact with the module, especially when modules are wet. For example, these flaws could be small holes in the encapsulation that allow hazardous voltages to be accessible on the outside surface of a module after a period of high humidity.
4.3 Insulation flaws in a module may only become detectable after the module has been wet for a certain period of time. For this reason, these procedures specify a minimum time a module must be immersed prior to the insulation integrity measurements.
4.4 Electrical junction boxes attached to modules are often designed to allow liquid water, accumulated from condensed water vapor, to drain. Such drain paths are usually designed to permit water to exit, but not to allow impinging water from rain or water sprinklers to enter. It is important that all surfaces of junction boxes be thoroughly wetted by spraying during the tests to enable t...
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods provide procedures to determine the insulation resistance of a photovoltaic (PV) module, i.e. the electrical resistance between the module's internal electrical components and its exposed, electrically conductive, non-current carrying parts and surfaces.
1.2 The insulation integrity procedures are a combination of wet insulation resistance and wet dielectric voltage withstand test procedures.
1.3 These procedures are similar to and reference the insulation integrity test procedures described in Test Methods E1462, with the difference being that the photovoltaic module under test is immersed in a wetting solution during the procedures.
1.4 These test methods do not establish pass or fail levels. The determination of acceptable or unacceptable results is beyond the scope of these test methods.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 6.
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Designation: E1802 − 12
Standard Test Methods for
1
Wet Insulation Integrity Testing of Photovoltaic Modules
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1802; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 These test methods provide procedures to determine the 3.1 Definitions— Definitions of terms used in this test
insulation resistance of a photovoltaic (PV) module, i.e. the method may be found in Terminology E772.
electrical resistance between the module’s internal electrical
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
components and its exposed, electrically conductive, non-
3.2.1 insulation resistance—the electrical resistance of a
current carrying parts and surfaces.
photovoltaic module’s insulation, measured between the pho-
1.2 The insulation integrity procedures are a combination of tovoltaic circuit and exposed, electrically conductive non-
wet insulation resistance and wet dielectric voltage withstand
current-carrying parts and surfaces of the module.
test procedures.
4. Significance and Use
1.3 These procedures are similar to and reference the
insulation integrity test procedures described in Test Methods
4.1 The design of a photovoltaic module or system intended
E1462, with the difference being that the photovoltaic module
to provide safe conversion of the sun’s radiant energy into
under test is immersed in a wetting solution during the
useful electricity must take into consideration the possibility of
procedures.
hazard should the user come into contact with the electrical
potential of the module or system. In addition, the insulation
1.4 These test methods do not establish pass or fail levels.
system provides a barrier to electrochemical corrosion, and
The determination of acceptable or unacceptable results is
insulationflawscanresultinincreasedcorrosionandreliability
beyond the scope of these test methods.
problems. These test methods describe procedures for verify-
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
ing that the design and construction of the module provides
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
adequate electrical isolation through normal installation and
standard.
use. At no location on the module should the PV generated
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
electrical potential be accessible, with the obvious exception of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the output leads. This isolation is necessary to provide for safe
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and reliable installation, use, and service of the photovoltaic
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
system.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
4.2 This test method describes a procedure for determining
precautionary statements, see Section 6.
the ability of the module to provide protection from electrical
hazards. Its primary use is to find insulation flaws that could be
2. Referenced Documents
dangerous to persons who may come into contact with the
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
module, especially when modules are wet. For example, these
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
flaws could be small holes in the encapsulation that allow
E1462 Test Methods for Insulation Integrity and Ground
hazardous voltages to be accessible on the outside surface of a
Path Continuity of Photovoltaic Modules
module after a period of high humidity.
4.3 Insulation flaws in a module may only become detect-
able after the module has been wet for a certain period of time.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on
For this reason, these procedures specify a minimum time a
Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and are the direct
responsibility of Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
module must be immersed prior to the insulation integrity
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2012. Published December 2012. Originally
measurements.
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E1802 – 07. DOI:
10.1520/E1802-12.
4.4 Electrical junction boxes attached to modules are often
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
designed to allow liquid water, accumulated from condensed
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
water vapor, to drain. Such drain paths are usually designed to
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. permitwatertoexit,butnottoallowimpingingwater
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1802 − 07 E1802 − 12
Standard Test Methods for
1
Wet Insulation Integrity Testing of Photovoltaic Modules
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1802; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods provide procedures to determine the insulation resistance of a photovoltaic (PV) module, i.e. the
electrical resistance between the module’s internal electrical components and its exposed, electrically conductive, non-current
carrying parts and surfaces.
1.2 The insulation integrity procedures are a combination of wet insulation resistance and wet dielectric voltage withstand test
procedures.
1.3 These procedures are similar to and reference the insulation integrity test procedures described in Test Methods E1462, with
the difference being that the photovoltaic module under test is immersed in a wetting solution during the procedures.
1.4 These test methods do not establish pass or fail levels. The determination of acceptable or unacceptable results is beyond
the scope of these test methods.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 6.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
3
E1328 Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion (Withdrawn 2012)
E1462 Test Methods for Insulation Integrity and Ground Path Continuity of Photovoltaic Modules
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— Definitions of terms used in this test method may be found in Terminology E772 and Terminology E1328.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 insulation resistance—the electrical resistance of a photovoltaic module’s insulation, measured between the photovoltaic
circuit and exposed, electrically conductive non-current-carrying parts and surfaces of the module.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The design of a photovoltaic module or system intended to provide safe conversion of the sun’s radiant energy into useful
electricity must take into consideration the possibility of hazard should the user come into contact with the electrical potential of
the module or system. In addition, the insulation system provides a barrier to electrochemical corrosion, and insulation flaws can
result in increased corrosion and reliability problems. These test methods describe procedures for verifying that the design and
construction of the module provides adequate electrical isolation through normal installation and use. At no location on the module
should the PV generated electrical potential be accessible, with the obvious exception of the output leads. This isolation is
necessary to provide for safe and reliable installation, use, and service of the photovoltaic system.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and are the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
Current edition approved March 1, 2007Dec. 1, 2012. Published April 2007December 2012. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20012007
as E1802 – 01.E1802 – 07. DOI: 10.1520/E1802-07.10.1520/E1802-12.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E1802 − 12
4.2 This test method describes a procedure for determining the ability of the module to provide protection from electrical
hazards. Its primary use is to find insulation flaws that could be dangerous to persons who may come into contact with the module,
...
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