Abstract
During the years 1977 to 1982 over 11,000 photovoltaic (PV) modules were placed at experimental PV power-generating systems in a number of field test sites in the United States. Prominent among these are a 100-kW system at Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, a 25-kW system at Mead, Nebraska, and a 15-kW system at Bryan, Ohio. Through a program of periodic surveillance, measurements and inspections at the aforementioned sites, 470 electrically failed modules were located, removed and analyzed during this six-year period. The principal causes of failure were: (1) cells cracked due to weathering or internal module stresses; (2) failed solder joints: (3) interconnects not soldered to rear sides of cells at assembly; (4) cells or interconnects electrically shorted to metallic substrates; and (5) broken or split interconnects. Details and photographs of many of the different types of failures are presented. In addition, some of the analysis techniques used to locate the failures are described.
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