High-speed multi-channel system for solar simulator irradiance non-uniformity measurement

We present a new tool for the measurement of the non-uniformity of a large-area pulsed solar simulator according to IEC 60904-9. We realized a prototype portable unit that can be controlled via a single USB port of a notebook. The system is composed by several photovoltaic cells and a series of custom designed electronic boards, allowing a high-speed multi-channel sampling of a single pulse. We describe the main components and the design solution, which is using readily available standard electronic and software components, allowing a possible industrialization of the system. Finally we present preliminary results of the prototype unit testing.