EN 61683:2000

Overview

EN 61683:2000 (CLC) - "Photovoltaic systems - Power conditioners - Procedure for measuring efficiency" - is a European standard that defines guidelines for measuring the efficiency of power conditioners (inverters and similar devices) used in both stand‑alone and utility‑interactive photovoltaic (PV) systems. The standard applies where the power conditioner’s output is a stable a.c. voltage of constant frequency or a stable d.c. voltage. EN 61683 provides a harmonized measurement framework to produce repeatable, comparable efficiency data for PV power conditioning equipment.

Key Topics

The document addresses core topics needed to obtain reliable efficiency measurements:

• Scope and definitions relevant to PV power conditioners and efficiency metrics.
• General measurement procedure to ensure consistency across test laboratories and manufacturers.
• Test setup and instrumentation requirements for capturing input and output electrical parameters safely and accurately.
• Data acquisition and processing rules for calculating instantaneous and aggregated efficiency values.
• Reporting and documentation of test conditions and results so measured efficiencies are traceable and comparable.
• Applicability to both stand‑alone and grid‑connected (utility‑interactive) devices with stable a.c. or d.c. outputs.

(Note: EN 61683 defines procedures and reporting practices rather than prescribing product performance limits.)

Applications

EN 61683 is practical and widely used by:

• Manufacturers for product development, internal quality control and efficiency declarations.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies to perform repeatable efficiency tests for product certification and compliance.
• System designers and integrators who need validated efficiency figures for energy yield calculations and system sizing.
• Procurement and specifiers who require comparable performance data when selecting inverters or power conditioners for PV projects.
• R&D teams benchmarking new topologies and control strategies for power electronics in PV systems.

Using EN 61683 helps reduce discrepancies in reported inverter efficiency, improves transparency in product datasheets, and supports accurate energy yield estimates for PV projects.

Related Standards

EN 61683 is part of the broader photovoltaic and power‑conditioning standards landscape. For comprehensive compliance and system design, it is typically used alongside other EN/IEC standards covering PV modules, grid connection, safety and EMC. Consult national standards bodies or the CLC catalog for specific associated EN/IEC references.

Keywords: EN 61683:2000, photovoltaic systems, power conditioners, measuring efficiency, inverter efficiency, PV inverter testing, utility‑interactive, stand‑alone, CLC.