The solar simulator was developed to a specific PV
module, because of its physical dimension limits (120 mm x
70 mm), as well as to guarantee uniform light distribution,
but it could be built in any dimensions. The chosen PV
module was the E-17, of the Solar Wasonlong Company,
which has the maximum output power of 1 W, open-circuit
voltage of 6 V and short-circuit current of 250 mA [8].
To demonstrate the operation of the developed solar
simulator, several tests were conducted. The intensity of each
group of LEDs was modified separately, along with the load
connected to the PV module.
In the first test, the green, red and infrared LEDs of the
solar simulator were turned on to verify the PV module
sensitivity to this light wavelength. In this condition, shown
in Figure 6, the current and voltage of the PV module were
sampled with a variable load of 700 Ω. Figure 7 presents the
IxV curve when the load was adjusted from 0 to 700 Ω.