Materials and datasets for observing photovoltaic systems
This materials collection organizes neutral technical artifacts that support measurement and analysis of building-scale photovoltaic systems. The collection contains schematic examples showing typical interconnection points, anonymized time-series data traces for illustrative analysis, and structured checklists for sensor placement and calibration. The presentation focuses on how to document measurement setups and on consistent methods for capturing environmental inputs such as plane-of-array irradiance and module temperature alongside electrical traces. Descriptions highlight the rationale for chosen measurement points and the implications those points have for interpreting voltage, current, and energy flows across the array and into the building distribution network.
Data collection and measurement practices
Consistent data collection is necessary to produce interpretable traces that relate environmental inputs to electrical outputs. Measurement practice begins with clear definition of measurement points: module or string dc voltage and current, inverter input and output parameters, and point-of-connection metering for building import/export. Environmental sensors for irradiance (plane-of-array pyranometer) and module temperature should be colocated where practical to reduce measurement bias. Sampling frequency is chosen relative to the phenomena of interest: higher frequency for transient diagnostics, lower aggregated intervals for long-term trend analysis. Timestamp synchronization across devices and calibration records for each instrument are required to permit reproducible analysis. Data files included here are organized as example CSV traces with timestamp, irradiance, module temperature, dc current, dc voltage, inverter output active power, and inverter status codes. Example processing notebooks illustrate alignment, filtering, and plotting techniques that reveal diurnal patterns and transient events without inferring operational outcomes.
Schematic references and annotated diagrams
Annotated schematics demonstrate typical locations for protective devices, isolation switches, measurement transducers, and synchronization interfaces. Schematics are provided in neutral diagrams showing the array, collectors, dc protection, inverter/converter, ac switching, and building point-of-connection. Each diagram is accompanied by a checklist describing recommended measurement points for tracing voltage and current flow, and an explanation of how protective-device settings affect where and how measurements should be taken for diagnostic clarity. These references are intended to clarify electrical pathways and to support consistent documentation during commissioning and later observation activities.
Included file types
- Annotated schematic PDFs illustrating measurement points
- Example CSV time-series datasets with documented headers
- Structured sensor-placement checklists and calibration logs
- Short processing notebooks showing reproducible analysis steps
How to use these materials
Materials are organized for technical reading and reproducible analysis. Each dataset includes a header describing instrumentation, sampling interval, and known limitations. Users are encouraged to review calibration notes and to align timestamps across datasets before comparing traces. The example notebooks demonstrate common inspection steps: overlaying irradiance with array current, isolating events where inverter status changes, and computing basic statistical descriptors of daily profiles. The materials do not provide prescriptive configuration settings or operational guidance; they exist to support neutral understanding of measurement methods and to provide reproducible examples for analysis workflows. For further context, cross-reference the topic pages in the Topics section and the About page describing the scope and methodology of this resource.