This document is intended to apply to terrestrial modules for consumer applications for outdoor operation shorter than those qualified to IEC 61215. The useful service life of modules so qualified depends on their design, their environment and the conditions under which they are operated.

This document classes those PV modules into Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3 with respectively low, medium and high expected outdoor exposure. For the purposes of designing this document, Category 1 (mobile applications) is for applications such as smart phone charging which most likely have “low” outdoor exposure. Category 2 (portable applications) is for emergency power/hiking/camping applications with “medium” outdoor exposure and it needs to have mechanical durability testing due to repeated deployment, potential for being dropped, and other mechanical stresses. Category 3 (attached applications) is for “high” outdoor exposure for applications, such as for motor homes, but is not intended for long-term utility or long-term household rooftop applications. A summary of product categories and potential applications is presented in Annex A.

Category 1 products are intended for installation where general user access and contact to uninsulated live parts is anticipated. Modules are not be combined in series strings operating at more than 35 V (^Voc) and do not have a system voltage rating above 35 V. These PV modules are not intended for use in parallel with other PV modules or energy sources, unless the combination provides protection from reverse current and overvoltage protection. The short-circuit current is less than 8 A and the maximum power is less than 240 W when tested under standard test conditions.

This document does not address the particularities of PV modules with integrated electronics, such as energy storage devices, charge controllers, batteries, inverters which may be sold in conjunction with the PV modules. This specification is intended to qualify the PV portion of these devices. It may, however, be used as a basis for testing such PV modules, but does not qualify the electronic portion.

This document does not apply to modules used with concentrators.

The purpose of the test sequence is to determine the electrical, thermal, and mechanical durability characteristics of the module, and to show that the module is capable of withstanding outdoor exposure for different outdoor durations designated as “low”, “medium”, and “high”. Mobile and attached applications are considered to require lower mechanical durability than portable applications, which are more prone to mechanical damage. However, the actual outdoor exposure limits of the modules depend on their design, their environment and the conditions under which they are operated.