Solar Simulation

Control solar panel simulator settings and output

Control solar panel simulator Nets through the Lager CLI. Solar simulation enables testing of solar-powered devices by simulating various irradiance conditions, temperatures, and panel characteristics.

Syntax

lager solar [OPTIONS] NET_NAME COMMAND [ARGS]...

Global Options

Option	Description
--box BOX	Lagerbox name or IP address
--help	Show help message and exit

Commands

Command	Description
set	Initialize and start solar simulation mode
stop	Stop solar simulation mode
irradiance	Set or read irradiance (W/m²)
mpp-current	Read maximum power point current (A)
mpp-voltage	Read maximum power point voltage (V)
resistance	Set or read dynamic panel resistance (Ω)
temperature	Read cell temperature (°C)
voc	Read open-circuit voltage (V)

Command Reference

set

Initialize and start the solar simulation mode.

lager solar NET_NAME set [--box BOX]

This command configures the power supply to operate in solar panel simulation mode, enabling I-V curve emulation.

stop

Stop the solar simulation mode and return to normal operation.

lager solar NET_NAME stop [--box BOX]

irradiance

Set or read the irradiance level in watts per square meter (W/m²).

lager solar NET_NAME irradiance [VALUE] [--box BOX]

Arguments:

• VALUE - Irradiance value in W/m² (0.0 - 1500.0). If omitted, reads current value.

Examples:

# Set irradiance to 1000 W/m² (standard test condition)
lager solar SOLAR1 irradiance 1000

# Read current irradiance
lager solar SOLAR1 irradiance

mpp-current

Read the maximum power point (MPP) current in amps.

lager solar NET_NAME mpp-current [--box BOX]

Returns the current at which the simulated solar panel produces maximum power.

mpp-voltage

Read the maximum power point (MPP) voltage in volts.

lager solar NET_NAME mpp-voltage [--box BOX]

Returns the voltage at which the simulated solar panel produces maximum power.

resistance

Set or read the dynamic panel resistance in ohms.

lager solar NET_NAME resistance [VALUE] [--box BOX]

Arguments:

• VALUE - Resistance value in Ω (0.1 - 100.0). If omitted, reads current value.

temperature

Read the simulated cell temperature in degrees Celsius.

lager solar NET_NAME temperature [--box BOX]

voc

Read the open-circuit voltage (Voc) in volts.

lager solar NET_NAME voc [--box BOX]

Returns the voltage when no load is connected to the simulated solar panel.

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Examples

# Start solar simulation mode
lager solar SOLAR_PANEL set --box my-lager-box

# Set irradiance to standard test condition (1000 W/m²)
lager solar SOLAR_PANEL irradiance 1000

# Read MPP voltage and current
lager solar SOLAR_PANEL mpp-voltage
lager solar SOLAR_PANEL mpp-current

# Read open-circuit voltage
lager solar SOLAR_PANEL voc

# Set panel resistance
lager solar SOLAR_PANEL resistance 5.0

# Stop solar simulation
lager solar SOLAR_PANEL stop

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Supported Hardware

Manufacturer	Model Series	Features
EA	PSI/EL series	Two-quadrant operation, I-V curve simulation
EA	PSB 10060-60	Bidirectional power supply
EA	PSB 10080-60	Bidirectional power supply

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Solar Panel Simulation Concepts

I-V Curve

Solar panel simulators create an I-V (current-voltage) characteristic curve that mimics real solar panel behavior:

• Short-circuit current (Isc): Maximum current when terminals are shorted
• Open-circuit voltage (Voc): Voltage with no load
• Maximum Power Point (MPP): Optimal operating point for maximum power

Standard Test Conditions (STC)

Industry standard for solar panel testing:

• Irradiance: 1000 W/m²
• Cell temperature: 25°C
• Air mass: AM1.5

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Notes

• Solar simulation requires compatible bidirectional power supplies
• The EA PSI/EL series supports two-quadrant operation for realistic simulation
• Use lager nets to see available solar nets on your box
• Irradiance values above 1500 W/m² are outside the valid range