Ingrap Servicios Fotovoltaicos
PROCEDURE TO STRING CONTINUITY AND POLARITY
MEASUREMENT
Method: MULTIMETER WITH CONTINUITY TEST
1.- General Description
To measure the continuity at the two ends of a cable, the positive and negative tester
probes will be placed on the cable end and the voltage (polarity) will be checked. To
check continuity the tester will beep (positive test).
2.- Necessary equipment
A multimeter capable of working at the design DC voltaje with built-in continuity
test
Measurement forms (Installer Report) and pen.
3. DC polarity and continuity test
As previous aspects in order to work safely, it must be verified that the strings are in
open circuit. For this, the following procedure will be followed:
Ingrap Servicios Fotovoltaicos
PROCEDURE TO STRING CONTINUITY AND POLARITY
MEASUREMENT
The inverter's DC switch will be placed in the "off" position
It is checked if the voltage between the positive and negative common terminal
block is NOT zero.
If the voltage value is zero, there is a short circuit between the strings and the
test cannot be submitted.
Once checked that the continuity test can be performed, these are the steps must be
followed (keeping inverter's DC switch in the “off” position).
WITH COMBINER BOX WITH DC FUSES
1. Open the positive and negative fuse holder of the string to be measured.
2. Insert the positive and the negative tester probes in the positive and negative
fuse holder´s terminal block (positive with positive, negative with negative) that
comes from the modules.
3. Check the open circuit voltaje of the string by placing the tester switch in the
proper position.
4. Check the continuity of the string by placing the tester switch in the proper
position.
If the open circuit value is negative, then there is reverse polarity and the string
poles must be exchanged with each other.
If the open circuit value is ZERO, then the positive and negative pole measured
may not correspond to the same string. It must be verified.
If the open circuit value is ZERO, and the positive and negative pole measured
correspond to the same string, then there is an open circuit and the string must
be checked that is correctly connected.
Once the continuity and polarity test has been done in the combiner box, the inverter
test must be carried out. To do this, all DC fuse holder will be closed to close the DC
circuit in that point and the combiner box switch will be set to “on”.
From there the test will start on the inverter as follows:
Ingrap Servicios Fotovoltaicos
PROCEDURE TO STRING CONTINUITY AND POLARITY
MEASUREMENT
INVERTER
1. Check if the inverter's DC switch in the “off” position.
2. Open the positive and negative fuse holder(or quick dc connector) of the string
to be measured. If there are not any fuse holder (or quick dc connector), the
string (positive and negative pole) must be removed from their inverter´s
terminal block.
3. Insert the positive and the negative tester probes in the positive and negative
fuse holder´s terminal block or in the positive and negative quick connector
(make sure you contact the metal inside) or the positive and negative cable tip
that comes from the modules/combiner box. Always in each case positive with
positive, negative with negative.
4. Check the open circuit voltaje of the string by placing the tester switch in the
proper position.
5. Check the continuity of the string by placing the tester switch in the proper
position.
If the open circuit value is negative, then there is reverse polarity and the string
poles must be exchanged with each other.
If the open circuit value is ZERO, then the positive and negative pole measured
may not correspond to the same string. It must be verified.
If the open circuit value is ZERO, and the positive and negative pole measured
correspond to the same string, then there is an open circuit and the string must
be checked that is correctly connected.
