Simple flashlamp I-V testing of solar cells

A new approach to the design of a flash tester has been developed. In this approach, the bias voltage on the cell is held constant and the light level varied. This is the reverse of conventional flash testers. Compared to conventional flash testers, the new approach makes use of simpler, commercial equipment and extracts more information about the cell performance. A prototype of the new system has been built and successfully used for testing concentrator cells on a pilot production line.