Solar Simulator
A solar simulator is a device which emits light closely resembling the solar irradiance received on Earth. Its light output is carefully calibrated against a reference spectrum to ensure maximum spectral match. One of their main uses is in conjunction with a current-voltage measurement system for characterizing solar cells. You can also use a solar simulator to study photobiological systems, material exposure to sunlight, and many other applications.
We offer a low-cost, highly versatile solar simulator, that you can use either as a standalone system or with our I-V test systems to form a complete solar cell testing kit. When used with one of our substrate platforms, fabricating and testing solar cells is quick and easy.
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Classification of Ossila Solar Simulators
Our solar simulator uses an LED lamp, making it stable, reliable, and easy-to-use. Designed for small areas, the output is AAA rated over a 15mm diameter illuminance area and adheres to the latest solar simulator standards (IEC 60904-2020). By default, the solar simulator outputs 1 sun of illuminance (100 mW/cm2 or 1000 W/m2) over the wavelength range of 380 nm – 1000 nm but you can adjust the optical output power down to an illuminance of 10 mW/cm2 if needed. You can also individually control the output power of each of the 11 LED wavelengths.
| LED Solar Simulator Lamp | With Indoor Light Filter | |
|---|---|---|
| Spectral match | A | A |
| Spatial uniformity over 15 mm diameter area | A | B |
| Spatial uniformity over 25 mm diameter area | B | C |
| Spatial uniformity over 32 mm diameter area | C | N/A |
| Temporal instability | A | SA |
Resources and Support
Buying Guides
Solar Simulator Light Sources
Choosing the right light source for your solar simulator is one the most important decisions to make when setting up a PV testing laboratory.
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Why You Should Buy the Ossila Solar Simulator
A solar simulator is an essential piece of equipment for any lab working with photovoltaics, optoelectronics, or any research that requires a simulated sunlight environment.
Read more...Maintenance and Operation
How to Set Up a Solar Simulator Light Source
The solar simulator light source is compact, lightweight and can be easily installed in any lab using adjustable height stand provided with it.
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How to Check Solar Simulator Calibration
It is important to ensure that your solar simulator is outputting a consistent spectral output. Different solar simulators will have different bulb lifetimes.
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Solar Simulator Classification and Calibration
For a light source to be classed as a solar simulator, it must be evaluated according to one of three standards, and comply with the specifications set out within.
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Automated Solar Simulator Assembly
This system was designed to be easy to use, and effortless to assemble. This video and subsequent guide will demonstrate how easy setting up your testing lab can be with the Ossila Automated Solar Cell Testing Kit.
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Measuring J-V Curves with Ossila Solar Cell Testing Equipment
When it comes to testing the performance of solar cells, accurate measurements and reliable equipment are essential. If you are conducting research into PV materials, understanding how to measure and interpret J-V curves is crucial in assessing device performance
Read more...Theory and Applications
Solar Simulator Irradiance and Spectral Mismatch
A solar simulator generally attempts to replicate the standard AM1.5G spectrum which has a total integrated irradiance of 1000.4 W/m2 over the wavelength range of 280 nm – 4000 nm.
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Solar Cell Testing & Characterization
One main application of a solar simulator is to test solar cell devices and modules. To characterize how solar cells will perform in the real world, it is vital that you use a solar source that mimics the suns spectrum well. You could of course use actual sunlight, but this is an uncontrollable variable.
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Analyzing and Improving Low Device Metrics: FF, VOC and JSC
Anaylzing key device metrics such as fill factor (FF), open-circuit voltage (VOC), and power conversion efficiency (PCE), can help you find potential issues with your solar cell devices
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Solar Cell Efficiency Formula
In order to ensure that different solar cells are compared consistently within the field of solar cell research, we use a standard formula for determining their efficiency.
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Fill Factor of Solar Cells
Fill factor (FF) is an important measurement that you can use to evaluate the efficiency of solar cells.
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Plotting I-V Curves using Python
Use the following Python code to plot this data using Panda DataFrames. Just copy and paste the code below into your Python virtual environment and start plotting.
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Solar Simulator: Interpreting Spectral Irradiance Graphs
The aim of this article is to contextualise the spectral irradiance graphs you see throughout our website and elsewhere.
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Interpreting J-V Curves: Insights into Solar Cell Performance
With so many variables in a PV device, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact issue affecting your solar cell's performance.
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