PCE INSTRUMENTS PCE-PVA 100 Solar Measuring Device
Product Usage Instructions
Safety Notes
Please read the user manual carefully before using the device for the first time. Only qualified personnel should operate or repair the device. Failure to follow the manual may void the warranty.
Switching On and Off
To switch the meter on, press the power button located on the device. To switch it off, press and hold the power button until the device powers down.
Setting Zero Point
To set the zero point, follow the calibration instructions provided in the manual. This ensures accurate measurements.
Making a Measurement
Connect the device to the appropriate source following the wiring diagram in the manual. Once connected, initiate the measurement process as described in the manual.
Displaying Measured Values
The measured values will be displayed on the 4.8 LC display of the device. Refer to the manual for interpreting and recording these values.
Contact Information and Disposal
If you have any questions or need assistance, refer to the contact information provided in the manual. Dispose of the device properly following the disposal guidelines.
FAQs
- Q: Can I use the device without reading the manual?
A: It is recommended to read the manual thoroughly before using the device to ensure proper operation and accurate measurements. - Q: How long does the battery last?
A: The battery life is approximately 400 linear measurements from 60 to 0 V and 0 to 12 A. - Q: What is the range of adjustable light intensity?
A: Please refer to the manual for specific details on adjusting light intensity.
Safety notes
Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel. Damage or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual are excluded from our liability and not covered by our warranty.
- The device must only be used as described in this instruction manual. If used otherwise, this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.
- The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do not expose the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or moisture.
- Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.
- The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.
- Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.
- You must not make any technical changes to the device.
- The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral cleaner, no abrasives or solvents.
- The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.
- Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not use the device.
- Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.
- The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under any circumstances.
- Ensure that the fans are not covered and can cool completely.
- Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to the user.
We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of business.
Specifications
| DC voltage | |||
| Measurement range | Resolution | Accuracy | |
| 0 … 10 V | 0.001 V | ±1 % ±(1 % of Vopen ±0.1 V) | |
| 10 … 60 V | 0.1 V | ±1 % ±(1 % of Vopen ±0.1 V) | |
| Vopen: open voltage measurement on a solar module | |||
| Direct current | |||
| Measurement range | Resolution | Accuracy | |
| 0.01 … 10 A | 1 mA | ±1 % ±(1 % of Ishort ±9 mA) | |
| 10 … 12 A | 10 mA | ±1 % ±(1 % of Ishort ±0.09 A) | |
| Ishort: short-circuit current of a solar cell | |||
| Further specifications | |||
| Adjustable photovoltaic surface | 0.001 … 9999 m² | ||
| Adjustable light intensity | 10 … 1000 W/m² | ||
| Display | 4.8″ LC display | ||
| Fuse | F250 V, 12 A | ||
| Data memory | 100 measurements | ||
| Storage rate | 0 … 99 minutes | ||
| Battery life | approx. 400 linear measurements from 60 … 0 V and 0 … 12 A | ||
| Power supply battery | 11.1 V, 3400 mAh lithium battery | ||
| Power supply mains adaptor | primary: 100 … 240 V AC 50/60 Hz secondary: 15 V DC / 3A | ||
| Degree of pollution | 2 | ||
| Temperature coefficient | 0.1 % of the measurement range / °C at temperatures <18 °C/ 64 °F and >28 °C / 82 °F | ||
| Operating conditions | 5 … 50 °C, <85 % RH, non-condensing | ||
| Storage conditions | -20 … 60 °C / -4 … 140 °F, <75 % RH, non-condensing | ||
| Dimensions | 257 x 155 x 57 mm / 10.1 x 6.1 x 2.2 in | ||
| Weight | 1160 g / 2.6 lbs | ||
Delivery scope
- 1 x solar measuring device PCE-PVA 100
- 1 x optical USB cable
- 1 x battery
- 1 x software CD
- 1 x pair of Kelvin clamps
- 1 x pair of safety test leads (100 mm)
- 1 x mains adaptor
- 1 x user manual
Device description
Display description
| No. | Description |
| 1 | Connection for the optical USB cable |
| 2 | Tripod |
| 3 | Battery |
| 4 | Screw for the battery holder |
| 5 | Mains adaptor connection |
Connections
| No. | Description |
| 1 | Voltage input |
| 2 | Power input |
| 3 | Voltage output |
| 4 | Current output |
Switch the meter on and off
To switch the meter on or off, briefly press the
key once. If the meter overheats, it should remain active until it has cooled down.
Set zero point
The zero point of the test leads should be reset before a measurement. To do this, short-circuit all measuring connections and press the
key. “ZERO CAL …” appears on the display. As soon as the message disappears, a normal measurement can be started.
Wiring diagram
The meter is connected according to the following connection diagram:
Make a measurement
During the measurement, make sure that the fans are not covered to ensure sufficient cooling capacity. If the meter overheats, this is indicated by “Overheated:cooling”. As long as this message is displayed, no measurement can be carried out. If the instrument is switched off during the cooling phase, you must wait at least three more minutes until cooling is complete. It is therefore advisable to allow the meter to cool down first before switching it off.
The mains adaptor must not be connected to the meter during a measurement.
Settings
To make settings, briefly press the 
key once to open the settings. Use the arrow keys to select the desired parameter and you can edit it directly. The value is adopted directly. Press the key again to return to measurement mode.
| Menu | Description |
| Time Delay before scan | Waiting time between individual measurements |
| Sampling Time of Datalogging | Storage rate in minutes |
| Current Range of Scan begin | Initial current value for “Scan” mode
Note: If this value is higher than Ishort, no measurement is possible. |
| Current Range of Scan end | Final current value for “Scan” mode |
| Area of Solar Cell of Panel | Surface area of the solar cells |
| Irradiance | Light intensity in W/m² |
| Single test point | Setting the measuring point of the single-point measurement |
| Alarm of Low Power | Setting the alarm limit value when the power falls below the limit.
Maximum value: 500 W |
| Year/Month/Date/Hour/Minute/Second | Setting the date and time. Minutes and seconds cannot be set |
Automatic total measurement
This measurement gives you a rough overview of the solar cell.
To carry out an automatic measurement, press the 
key. Connect the test lead before the measurement.
Manual total measurement
After the automatic measurement, you can enter the start and end values of the current measurement in the settings and start a measurement. Once the settings have been made, the measurement can be started using the 
key.
Note: If the short-circuit current exceeds the set measurement range, a measurement is not possible.
Single-point measurement
The single-point measurement is useful when the values for a specific current value need to be determined. This has the advantage that the measurement can be carried out quickly. The measuring point is selected in the settings. Once the measuring point has been set, the measurement can be carried out using the 
key. The measurement result is shown at the bottom right of the display.
Data recording
To start data recording, briefly press the 
key once. The meter now automatically carries out the automatic measurement at the set measurement interval. To cancel data logging, press the key again.
Clear memory
To clear the entire memory, first switch off the meter. Then press and hold the key and then press the key to switch on the meter. You will hear a long beep. Now release all keys. The memory is deleted and you can resume operation.
Replace battery
To replace the battery, disconnect the meter from all test leads and switch it off. You can then loosen the battery using the battery compartment screw. Once you have loosened the screw, you can remove the battery with its housing and replace it by a new one. Pay attention to the connector plug. Once you have replaced the battery and refitted it securely, you can use the meter again.
Replace fuse
To replace the fuse, the test leads must first be disconnected from the meter. The meter must then be switched off and the battery removed. The housing must now be opened to access the fuse. There are two screws to loosen at the top on the back and two screws in the battery compartment. The housing can then be lifted. Pay attention to the battery cable when opening. The fuse is located above the sensor system. Replace the fuse with a 15A / 250V fuse. Then reassemble the meter. It can then be used again.
Software
To transfer the measured values from the meter to the PC, first install the software and the corresponding driver. You can download these here if necessary: https://www.pce-instruments.com/deutsch/download-win_4.htm To ensure proper use of the software, we recommend that you always install and start the software with administrator rights.
After installation, you can connect the USB cable to the PC and the meter and read out the measured values.
Display measured values
All measurements can be viewed individually in the “Information” window. The characteristic curve is displayed in the first area. From there, each individual measuring point can be approached using the mouse. The respective measured values are displayed in the third area. The axes can be adjusted if required. The measured values are displayed in the second area. In the fourth area, you can switch between the individual measurements.
Settings
Measurement settings can be made in the “Parameter” field. “Load” transfers the current settings from the measuring device to the software. A specific value is transferred with “Apply”. “Apply All” transfers all settings.
General view of all measurements
All measurements are summarised in the “Overall” field. All measured values are displayed graphically in the first area. All measured values for the selected measurement are displayed in the second area.
Contact
If you have any questions, suggestions or technical problems, please do not hesitate to contact us. You will find the relevant contact information at the end of this user manual.
Disposal
For the disposal of batteries in the EU, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament applies. Due to the contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste.
They must be given to collection points designed for that purpose.
In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU we take our devices back. We either re-use them or give them to a recycling company which disposes of the devices in line with law.
For countries outside the EU, batteries and devices should be disposed of in accordance with your local waste regulations.
If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.
PCE Instruments contact information
Germany
PCE Deutschland GmbH
Im Langel 26
D-59872 Meschede
Deutschland
Tel.: +49 (0) 2903 976 99 0
Fax: +49 (0) 2903 976 99 29
info@pce-instruments.com
www.pce-instruments.com/deutsch
United Kingdom
PCE Instruments UK Ltd
Trafford House
Chester Rd, Old Trafford Manchester M32 0RS
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 161 464902 0
Fax: +44 (0) 161 464902 9
info@pce-instruments.co.uk
www.pce-instruments.com/english
The Netherlands
PCE Brookhuis B.V. Institutenweg 15
7521 PH Enschede
Nederland
Telefoon: +31 (0)53 737 01 92
info@pcebenelux.nl
www.pce-instruments.com/dutch
France
PCE Instruments France EURL
23, rue de Strasbourg
67250 Soultz-Sous-Forets
France
Téléphone: +33 (0) 972 3537 17
Numéro de fax: +33 (0) 972 3537 18
info@pce-france.fr
www.pce-instruments.com/french
Italy
PCE Italia s.r.l.
Via Pesciatina 878 / B-Interno 6 55010 Loc. Gragnano
Capannori (Lucca)
Italia
Telefono: +39 0583 975 114
Fax: +39 0583 974 824
info@pce-italia.it
www.pce-instruments.com/italiano
United States of America
PCE Americas Inc.
1201 Jupiter Park Drive, Suite 8 Jupiter / Palm Beach
33458 FL
USA
Tel: +1 561-320-9162
Fax: +1 561-320-9176
info@pce-americas.com
www.pce-instruments.com/us
Spain
PCE Ibérica S.L.
Calle Mula, 8
02500 Tobarra (Albacete) España
Tel. : +34 967 543 548
Fax: +34 967 543 542
info@pce-iberica.es
www.pce-instruments.com/espanol
Turkey
PCE Teknik Cihazları Ltd.Şti. Halkalı Merkez Mah.
Pehlivan Sok. No.6/C
34303 Küçükçekmece – İstanbul Türkiye
Tel: 0212 471 11 47
Faks: 0212 705 53 93
info@pce-cihazlari.com.tr
www.pce-instruments.com/turkish
Denmark
PCE Instruments Denmark ApS Birk Centerpark 40
7400 Herning
Denmark
Tel.: +45 70 30 53 08
kontakt@pce-instruments.com
www.pce-instruments.com/dansk
User manuals in various languages (français, italiano, español, português, nederlands, türk, polski, русский, 中文) can be found by using our product search on: www.pce-instruments.com
Documents / Resources
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PCE INSTRUMENTS PCE-PVA 100 Solar Measuring Device [pdf] User Manual PCE-PVA 100 Solar Measuring Device, PCE-PVA 100, Solar Measuring Device, Measuring Device, Device |
