Hioki FT4310 bypass diode tester for PV panels

The Hioki FT4310 bypass diode tester can be used safely in broad daylight, detecting open and short-circuited bypass diodes, as well as measuring cell string losses. The product is Bluetooth compatible, transferring data wirelessly (available for Android and iOS devices). 

Failure of bypass diodes frequently goes undetected until the affected panel is in shadow. All testing is conveniently done at the combiner box. Bypass diodes prevent excessive reverse bias on cells that have failed. This failure can cause severe overheating.

The instrument’s comparator function can be used to compare measured values to a previously set value to generate pass and fail judgements, making it easier to discover anomalies. Measured values held on the display are sent immediately to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth Smart technology.

Originally published here.