Solar simulators
Lamp spectra & PV testing
A solar simulator is only as useful as the spectrum it delivers, and that spectrum changes with warm-up, lamp age and every filter placed in the beam. Spectroscopy is the method used to verify it. Evolve Sensing configures UV-Vis, NIR and dual-spectrometer platforms for lamp monitoring, filter verification, photovoltaic testing and automated test stations.
Typical measurements
Lamp drift and aging
Relative spectral shape over warm-up, over a shift and over the life of the lamp, so that a change in the device under test is not mistaken for a change in the lamp.
Filter and spectral-shape verification
Transmission of the filter stack and the resulting spectral balance across UV, visible and NIR bands.
PV and materials testing beyond the visible
Photovoltaic response, coatings and aging studies that depend on the NIR, where a visible-only monitor provides no information.
Automated test stations
Unattended measurement in a production or long-duration stress rig, where the host runs the experiment and the spectrometer keeps its own timing.
Selection criteria
Specifications that matter in this application
Wavelength range is rarely the difficulty in solar simulator monitoring. The following specifications decide whether the lamp data is usable:
- Stability of the relative spectrum over hours, which usually matters more than the narrowest slit
- Dynamic range and saturation control on a bright lamp spectrum with sharp features
- Optical input geometry: cosine corrector, integrating optic, fiber probe or sampling port
- Long-duration acquisition that does not depend on the host PC remaining active
Measurement definition
Absolute irradiance and relative spectral shape
Some systems require calibrated spectral irradiance at a plane. Others require relative source monitoring, lamp-aging data, spectral matching or a pass/fail process check. The same spectrometer family is configured differently depending on whether the optical input is a cosine corrector, an integrating optic, a fiber probe or a custom fixture, and calibrated irradiance brings its own accessories, calibration workflow and uncertainty budget.
- UV-Vis coverage for lamp output and filter performance
- NIR coverage for photovoltaic and materials testing beyond the visible
- Fast acquisition for pulsed or unstable sources
- Ring-buffer and batch modes for long-duration stability tests
- Ethernet-ready options for automated stations and production environments
Platform selection
Throughput and stability over resolution
SmartEngine and HummingBird are the practical choices for UV-Vis and UV-Vis-NIR source monitoring. SideWinder adds NIR coverage toward 1700, 2200 or 2500 nm. Dual spectrometer systems combine UV-Vis and NIR channels behind a common trigger. Solar simulator monitoring generally requires stable relative spectral information and adequate throughput rather than the narrowest possible resolution, and a slightly wider slit with more signal usually gives a better result than a narrow slit with a noisy measurement.
Integration details
Components around the spectrometer that shape the result
Fiber transmission, diffuser response, cosine correction, calibration standards, stray light, saturation, integration time, dark correction and the sampling location all affect the measured value. Evolve Sensing configures the spectrometer around the actual measurement geometry rather than around a generic wavelength range.
Recommended platforms
Instruments suited to this application
These are typical starting points. Send the measurement details and an engineer will confirm the selection or recommend an alternative.
UV-Vis
SmartEngine UV-VNIR Spectrometer
Workhorse UV-VNIR platform with CCD and CMOS sensor options
NIR
SideWinder NIR Spectrometer
Market-leading NIR performance
System
Dual Spectrometer Systems (DS Series)
Integrate two spectrometers with a common trigger for extended range
Also relevant: HummingBird Compact OEM UV-Vis Spectrometer, EagleEye UV-Vis-NIR Spectrometer
Project process
From measurement definition to a frozen configuration
Define the goal
Absolute irradiance, relative spectral shape, lamp stability or pass/fail monitoring.
Select range and detector
UV-Vis, NIR or both, and whether detector cooling is justified.
Choose the input optics
Cosine corrector, integrating optic, probe or port, and the calibration workflow that goes with it.
Validate on the lamp
With the actual filter stack and test geometry.
Lock the method
Fixed acquisition settings for repeatable measurements.
Scope
A note on standards
A spectrometer alone does not establish a class rating under IEC 60904-9 or ASTM E927. Whether a measurement supports a rating depends on the complete calibration and uncertainty workflow around the spectrometer: the input optic, the reference standard, the geometry and the calculation. Evolve Sensing supports building that workflow.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Can one spectrometer cover the entire solar simulator range?
- Sometimes. Broader ranges often benefit from a dual or staged architecture, because detector physics and source intensity vary strongly with wavelength.
- Do I need calibrated irradiance?
- That depends on the test. Relative monitoring and absolute spectral irradiance require different accessories, calibration workflows and uncertainty treatment. An Evolve engineer can help determine which applies.
- Can Evolve support automated test stands?
- Yes. Ethernet-ready options, triggering, onboard buffering and the SDK are designed for automated stations.
Next step
Discuss your application with an engineer
Send the wavelength range, the sample type and the accuracy required, and an Evolve Sensing applications engineer will recommend a configuration, typically within one business day.