Revision as of 08:06, 2 April 2015 by 
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  Overview 
Pico PV Systems have emerged as a strong contender in the solar market of developing countries. Thus,EnDev has developed a test series to test their effectiveness.
  Technical Test I
 
The technical tests are performed by Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG/ISE) in Freiburg, Germany. In the first test phase (2007/ 10 - 2008/ 01) twelve systems were tested on road capability with special focus on mechanical stability, lighting characteristics and operability.
These systems were in detail:
- GL9000SW, Global Marketing Technologies Inc. (US) --> overall picture bad
 - MS01, Macro-Solar Technology Co,. Ltd (China) --> overall picture very bad
 - Solar 2007-1, Solarprojekt-Freilassing e.v. (Germany) --> overall picture good
 - Mightylight, Cosmos Ignite Innovations (India) --> overall picture good
 - AISHWARYA, Noble energy Solar Technologies Ltd. (?) --> overall picture middle
 - Solar Home System, "Afghanistan" --> overall picture very bad
 - 2212SL Wuara, SolEnergy Africa (PTY) Ltd (South Africa) --> overall picture very bad
 - SOLUX-LED-100, SOLUX e.v. (Germany) --> overall picture middle
 - Sun x-set mobile, Würth Solergy (Germany) --> overall picture middle - bad
 - Glowstar GS7, Sollatek Ltd. (UK) --> overall picture middle
 - AS018, Astral Solar technology Co. (China) --> overall picture bad
 - SOLUX-LED-50, SOLUX e.v. (Germany) --> overall picture middle
 
  Technical Test II
 
Seven solar lanterns reached the second testing stage, of which four are German-made: the Solux LED 100 and Solux LED 50 of the Solux e.V. development assistance project, the Solar 2007-1 by the Freilassing solar promotion project, and the sun x-set mobile produced by Würth. Other lamps of the main test were the Glowstar GS7 of the British company Sollatek, the Aishwarya NEST-6543 of the Indian manufacturer Noble Energy and the Mightylight 3040, also Indian made.
In the following table you find a selection of the most important criteria:
Testcriteria Level 2
| 
 Solar module
 
 | 
 Does the system deliver the nominal rated values of power output, open- circuit voltage and shortcircuit current?
 
 | 
 Battery 
 | 
 Measure of capacity (NiMH+ Pb), persistence against overcharging (NiMH), simple durability test (NiMH)
 
 | 
| 
 Luminous fux
 
 | 
 average of 210 minutes
 
 | 
| 
 Brennzeit/autonome Zeit
 
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 The duration is measured until luminous flux falls to 70 % of the initial value. (beginning from a fully-charged battery)
 
 | 
 Luminous efficacy 
 | 
 average is obtained from a period of 210 minutes, beginning from a fully-charged battery.
 
 | 
 Charge Controller 
 | 
 Spannungslevel Ladeschluss-/ Lastabwurfspannung, Eigenverbrauch, Signalisierungen, Schutz vor Entladung durch Modul, Wirkungsgrad
 
 | 
 Ballast device 
 | 
 How good is the efficiency of the ballast?
 
 | 
| 
 Cycle test / degradation of CFL-lamps
 
 | 
 How long do CFL lamps last when subjected to a switching cycle of ‘on’ for 60 seconds, ‘off’ for 150 seconds?
 
 | 
| 
 Simulation
 
 | 
 Ermittlung der solaren Deckungsrate für 5 Standorte bei einer Brenndauer von täglich 3,5 Stunden
 
 | 
  Field Test
 
The publication is available in English and German:
  Further Information