Solar Simulation

Coming Soon: The Solar Simulator Python API for EA PSI/EL series two-quadrant power supplies is currently under development. The Net-based API (Net.get('solar1', type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)) and associated methods are documented for preview purposes, but full testing and validation are pending hardware availability. Check back in a future release for production-ready functionality.

Simulate solar panel characteristics for testing solar-powered devices.

Import

from lager import Net, NetType

Methods

Method	Description
`enable()`	Connect and start solar simulation mode
`disable()`	Disconnect and stop solar simulation
`irradiance(value)`	Set or read irradiance (W/m²)
`mpp_current()`	Read maximum power point current
`mpp_voltage()`	Read maximum power point voltage
`voc()`	Read open-circuit voltage
`temperature()`	Read simulated cell temperature
`resistance(value)`	Set or read panel resistance

Solar methods return string values from the instrument. Convert to float if needed for calculations.

Method Reference

`Net.get(name, type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)`

Get a solar simulation net by name.

from lager import Net, NetType

solar = Net.get('SOLAR', type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
`name`	`str`	Name of the solar net
`type`	`NetType`	Must be `NetType.PowerSupply2Q`

Returns: Solar simulation Net instance

`enable()`

Connect to the instrument and start solar simulation mode.

from lager import Net, NetType

solar = Net.get('SOLAR', type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)
solar.enable()

`disable()`

Disconnect from the instrument and stop solar simulation.

solar.disable()

`irradiance(value=None)`

Set or read the irradiance level.

# Set irradiance
solar.irradiance(1000)  # Standard test condition (1000 W/m²)

# Read current irradiance
irr = solar.irradiance()
print(f"Irradiance: {irr}")  # Returns string

Parameter	Type	Description
`value`	`float` or `None`	Irradiance in W/m² (0-1500). If None, reads current value.

Returns: str - Current irradiance value

`voc()`

Read the open-circuit voltage.

voc_str = solar.voc()
print(f"Voc: {voc_str}")
voc = float(voc_str)  # Convert to float for calculations

Returns: str - Voltage value

`mpp_voltage()`

Read the maximum power point voltage.

v_mpp = solar.mpp_voltage()
print(f"MPP voltage: {v_mpp}")

Returns: str - Voltage value

`mpp_current()`

Read the maximum power point current.

i_mpp = solar.mpp_current()
print(f"MPP current: {i_mpp}")

Returns: str - Current value

`resistance(value=None)`

Set or read the dynamic panel resistance.

# Set resistance
solar.resistance(5.0)

# Read resistance
r = solar.resistance()
print(f"Resistance: {r}")

Parameter	Type	Description
`value`	`float` or `None`	Resistance in ohms. If None, reads current value.

Returns: str - Resistance value

`temperature()`

Read the simulated cell temperature.

temp = solar.temperature()
print(f"Cell temp: {temp}")

Returns: str - Temperature value

Examples

Basic Solar Simulation

from lager import Net, NetType
import time

solar = Net.get('SOLAR_INPUT', type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)

# Start simulation
solar.enable()

# Set standard test conditions (1000 W/m²)
solar.irradiance(1000)
time.sleep(1)

# Read panel characteristics (returns strings)
voc = solar.voc()
v_mpp = solar.mpp_voltage()
i_mpp = solar.mpp_current()

print(f"Voc: {voc}")
print(f"MPP: {v_mpp}V @ {i_mpp}A")

# Calculate max power (convert to float first)
v = float(v_mpp)
i = float(i_mpp)
print(f"Max Power: {v * i:.2f}W")

# Clean up
solar.disable()

Test Multiple Irradiance Levels

from lager import Net, NetType
import time

solar = Net.get('SOLAR', type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)
solar.enable()

conditions = [200, 500, 800, 1000, 1200]

for irr in conditions:
    solar.irradiance(irr)
    time.sleep(1)

    # Read and convert values
    voc = float(solar.voc())
    v_mpp = float(solar.mpp_voltage())
    i_mpp = float(solar.mpp_current())

    print(f"Irradiance: {irr} W/m²")
    print(f"  Voc: {voc:.2f}V")
    print(f"  MPP: {v_mpp:.2f}V @ {i_mpp:.3f}A")
    print(f"  Power: {v_mpp * i_mpp:.2f}W")
    print()

solar.disable()

MPPT Tracking Test

from lager import Net, NetType
import time

solar = Net.get('SOLAR', type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)
dut_current = Net.get('DUT_CURRENT', type=NetType.ADC)

solar.enable()
solar.irradiance(1000)

# Monitor MPPT tracking
for i in range(30):
    i_mpp = float(solar.mpp_current())
    actual = dut_current.input()

    efficiency = (actual / i_mpp) * 100 if i_mpp > 0 else 0
    print(f"Target: {i_mpp:.3f}A, Actual: {actual:.3f}A, Eff: {efficiency:.1f}%")
    time.sleep(1)

solar.disable()

Supported Hardware

Manufacturer	Model	Features
EA	PSI/EL series	Two-quadrant, PV simulation
EA	PSB 10060-60	Bidirectional
EA	PSB 10080-60	Bidirectional

Notes

Solar simulation requires bidirectional (two-quadrant) power supplies
Standard Test Conditions (STC): 1000 W/m², 25°C, AM1.5
The I-V curve is automatically generated based on irradiance
Call enable() before using solar-specific methods
Always call disable() when finished
Return values are strings - convert to float for calculations

Getting Started

Development

Power & Simulation

Measurement

I/O & Communication

Utilities

Solar Simulation

Import

Methods

Method Reference

`Net.get(name, type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)`

`enable()`

`disable()`

`irradiance(value=None)`

`voc()`

`mpp_voltage()`

`mpp_current()`

`resistance(value=None)`

`temperature()`

Examples

Basic Solar Simulation

Test Multiple Irradiance Levels

MPPT Tracking Test

Supported Hardware

Notes

​Import

​Methods

​Method Reference

​Net.get(name, type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)

​enable()

​disable()

​irradiance(value=None)

​voc()

​mpp_voltage()

​mpp_current()

​resistance(value=None)

​temperature()

​Examples

​Basic Solar Simulation

​Test Multiple Irradiance Levels

​MPPT Tracking Test

​Supported Hardware

​Notes

Import

Methods

Method Reference

`Net.get(name, type=NetType.PowerSupply2Q)`

`enable()`

`disable()`

`irradiance(value=None)`

`voc()`

`mpp_voltage()`

`mpp_current()`

`resistance(value=None)`

`temperature()`

Examples

Basic Solar Simulation

Test Multiple Irradiance Levels

MPPT Tracking Test

Supported Hardware

Notes