There are 8 panels each of Nexpower amorphous silicon framed 100W and 8 panels of Bosch unframed micro-morph silicon 100W panels positioned at angles from 0 to 70 degrees from the horizontal in 10 degree increments.
The panel at 0 degrees can pivot and allows for "dump" tests to determine the critical angle for snow shedding.
The short circuit current of the panels is measured by a datalogger to give real time power outputs correlated directly with meteorological and thermal measurements.
Meteorological sensors
Snow sensor- Ultrasonic Snow sensor measures current snow depth. This is the same sensor used by Environment Canada for their snow depth measurements
Ambient temperature- Radiation Shielded thermometer gives an accurate indication of the ambient temperature
Wind speed and direction
Incident solar radiation- Direct and diffuse solar radiation data will be used from a nearby solar laboratory
Thermal and panel power sensors
32 channels of T-type thermocouples measure the temperature at the top and bottom of each panel
16 channels of shunt wiring measures the voltage drop across a resistor in series with each PV short circuit loop. This gives an accurate measurement of short circuit current.
Visual observations
A outdoor rated digital camera will be mounted nearby and used to take photographs of the array at constant intervals.
This will allow for an analysis of the total snow cover, the snow melting patterns over time, as well as the collection of the snow shed beneath a panel.
