BS EN IEC 60904-3:2019

What is BS EN IEC 60904-3 about?

BS EN IEC 60904 series discusses photovoltaic devices. BS EN IEC 60904-3 is the third part of a series of documents.

Photovoltaic conversion is spectrally selective due to the nature of the semiconductor materials used in PV solar cells and modules. To compare the relative performance of different PV devices and materials a reference standard solar spectral distribution is necessary. BS EN IEC 60904-3 specifies a reference solar spectral irradiance distribution.

BS EN IEC 60904-3 is applicable to the following photovoltaic devices for terrestrial applications

• Solar cells with or without a protective cover
• Sub-assemblies of solar cells
• Photovoltaic modules and systems

The principles contained in BS EN IEC 60904-3 cover testing in both natural and simulated sunlight.

Who is BS EN IEC 60904-3- Photovoltaic devices for?

BS EN IEC 60904-3 on photovoltaic devices is applicable to:

• Photovoltaic devices manufacturers
• Telecommunication repeater stations.
• water pumps
• Navigational aids
• Cottages and remote residences
• Parks in remote regions
• Supplying occasional power

Why should you use BS EN IEC 60904-3- Photovoltaic devices?

The reference spectra represent the terrestrial sun spectrum irradiance on a certain surface under a specific set of meteorological conditions. On a 37°-tilted surface, the direct normal spectrum is the direct component contributing to the total hemispherical radiation. This standard provides best practice guidelines for the measurement of terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) by reference spectral irradiance data.

BS EN IEC 60904-3 provides measurement principles for determining the electrical output of PV devices. The principles given in BS EN IEC 60904-3 are designed to relate the performance rating of PV devices to a common reference terrestrial solar spectral irradiance distribution.

The reference terrestrial solar spectral irradiance distribution is given in BS EN IEC 60904-3 in order to classify solar simulators according to the spectral performance requirements contained in IEC 60904-9.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN IEC 60904-3:2019 It supersedes BS EN 60904‑3:2016, which is withdrawn. BS EN IEC 60904-3:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 60904‑3:2016. These include:

• All spectral data were recalculated due to some minor calculation and rounding errors in
• The third edition; the global spectral irradiance returned to exactly the data of the second edition
• The angular distribution of the irradiance was clarified