摘要 |
A radio frequency (rf) probing technique is disclosed for determining whether an rf signal injected into one termination of a series-connected string of photovoltaic (PV) modules has been conducted to successive positions in the string. A signal generator is provided for generating a carrier signal which is modulated by an audio frequency tone. The generator is capacitively coupled to one of the terminations of the module string to inject the modulated carrier signal into the string. A receiver is tuned to the carrier frequency and adapted to demodulate the audio tone. Rf signals are coupled to the receiver by a probe including a shielded plate electrode, which may be disposed adjacent the active surfaces of successive ones of the modules in order to detect the presence or absence of the rf signal at that point in the string. An alternate technique is disclosed, whereby a measurement of the capacitance-to-ground of the string is compared against a reference capacitance value of a fault-free system.
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