PHOTOVOLTAIC DC-DC CONVERTER TEST SYSTEM

This paper describes LabVIEW based integrated measurement system to determine key parameters of DC-DC converters working in low-voltage photovoltaic (PV) systems. DC-DC converter should demonstrate high efficiency of energy conversion as well as sufficient voltage gain to yield as much energy from PV panel as it is possible. Efficiency and voltage gain can be measured across the number of parameters such as input voltage, output load, frequency and duty cycle of converter driving signals. The LabVIEW application works with both Hioki 8855 data recorder which carries out power measurements and a microcontroller Digital Driver who drives a converter tested. Measurement system allows to automate time consuming measurements as well as experimentally verify DC-DC converter design assumptions. The laboratory test results of selected DC-DC converter prototype as well as sources of error has been discussed in this paper. 1