In solar systems, faults in the module and inverter occur in
proportion to increased operating time. The identification of fault types
and their effects is important information not only for manufacturers but
also for investors, solar operators and researchers. Monitoring and
diagnosing the condition of photovoltaic (PV) systems is becoming essential
to maximize electric power generation, increase the reliability and
lifetime of PV power plants. Any faults in the PV modules cause negative
economic and safety impacts, reducing the performance of the system and
making unwanted electric connections that can be dangerous for the user. In
this paper have been classified all possible faults that happen in the PV
system, and is presented to detect common PV array faults, such as
open-circuit fault, line-to-line fault, ground fault, shading condition,
degradation fault and bypass diode fault. In this studies examines the
equivalent circuits of PV arrays with different topological configurations
and fault conditions to evaluate the effects of these faults on the
performance of a solar system, taking into account the influence of
temperature and solar radiation. This work presents the validation of a
simulated solar network by measuring the output curves of a low-power
photovoltaic array system under real outdoor conditions. This method can be
useful in future solar systems.