IEC 61730-2:2004

IEC 61730-2
Edition 1.0 2004-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification –
Part 2: Requirements for testing

Qualification pour la sûreté de fonctionnement des modules photovoltaïques (PV) –
Partie 2: Exigences pour les essais

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either IEC or
IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: inmail@iec.ch
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
ƒ Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
ƒ IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
ƒ Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
A propos de la CEI
La Commission Electrotechnique Internationale (CEI) est la première organisation mondiale qui élabore et publie des
normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

A propos des publications CEI
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est constamment revu. Veuillez vous assurer que vous possédez
l’édition la plus récente, un corrigendum ou amendement peut avoir été publié.
ƒ Catalogue des publications de la CEI: www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut-f.htm
Le Catalogue en-ligne de la CEI vous permet d’effectuer des recherches en utilisant différents critères (numéro de référence,
texte, comité d’études,…). Il donne aussi des informations sur les projets et les publications retirées ou remplacées.
ƒ Just Published CEI: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Restez informé sur les nouvelles publications de la CEI. Just Published détaille deux fois par mois les nouvelles
publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
ƒ Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
Vocabulaire Electrotechnique International en ligne.
ƒ Service Clients: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv/custserv_entry-f.htm
Si vous désirez nous donner des commentaires sur cette publication ou si vous avez des questions, visitez le FAQ du
Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tél.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
IEC 61730-2
Edition 1.0 2004-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification –
Part 2: Requirements for testing

Qualification pour la sûreté de fonctionnement des modules photovoltaïques (PV) –
Partie 2: Exigences pour les essais

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
W
CODE PRIX
ICS 27.160 ISBN 2-8318-7682-6
– 2 – 61730-2 © IEC:2004
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4
1 Scope and object.6
2 Normative references .7
3 Application classes.8
3.1 General .8
3.2 Class A: General access, hazardous voltage, hazardous power applications.8
3.3 Class B: Restricted access, hazardous voltage, hazardous power
applications .8
3.4 Class C: Limited voltage, limited power applications.8
4 Test categories.8
4.1 General .8
4.2 Preconditioning tests .9
4.3 General inspection .9
4.4 Electrical shock hazard tests .9
4.5 Fire hazard tests .9
4.6 Mechanical stress tests .10
4.7 Component tests .10
5 Application classes and their necessary test procedures .10
6 Sampling .12
7 Test report.12
8 Testing .13
9 Pass criteria .15
10 Test procedures .15
10.1 Visual inspection MST 01 .15
10.2 Accessibility test MST 11 .15
10.3 Cut susceptibility test MST 12 .16
10.4 Ground continuity test MST 13 .19
10.5 Impulse voltage test MST 14 .19
10.6 Dielectric withstand test MST 16 .21
10.7 Temperature test MST 21.22
10.8 Fire test MST 23.24
10.9 Reverse current overload Test MST 26 .24
10.10 Module breakage test MST 32 .25
11 Component tests .30
11.1 Partial discharge-test MST 15 .30
11.2 Conduit bending test MST 33 .31
11.3 Terminal box knockout tests MST 44 .32

Annex A (normative) Fire tests, spread-of-flame and burning-brand tests .33

Bibliography.39

61730-2 © IEC:2004 – 3 –
Figure 1 – Test sequences.14
Figure 2 – Cut susceptibility test .18
Figure 3 – Wave-form of the impulse voltage according to IEC 60060-1.21
Figure 4 – Impactor.27
Figure 5 – Impact test frame 1 .28
Figure 6 – Impact test frame 2 .29
Figure 7 – Test fixture assembly .31
Figure A.1 – Test apparatus for fire test.34
Figure A.2 – Burning brand construction .37

Table 1 – Preconditioning tests.9
Table 2 – General inspection test.9
Table 3 – Electrical shock hazard tests .9
Table 4 – Fire hazard tests .10
Table 5 – Mechanical stress tests .10
Table 6 – Component tests .10
Table 7 – Required tests, depending on the application class .11
Table 8 – Impulse voltage versus maximum system voltage.20
Table 9 – Component temperature limits.23
Table 10 – Bending loads .31

– 4 – 61730-2 © IEC:2004
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) MODULE SAFETY QUALIFICATION –

Part 2: Requirements for testing

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) A
...