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The HT Instruments PV Testers family is a range of multifunction instruments designed for commissioning, performance recording, and troubleshooting of photovoltaic installations. The line includes the I-V500w and I-V400w I-V curve tracers, the SOLAR I-Ve multifunction tester, the SOLAR300N system analyzer, the PVCHECKs safety and performance tester, and the MPP300 multi-string recording accessory. Together these instruments cover the testing workflow from module-level I-V characterization through string commissioning to long-term plant efficiency analysis.
Per the datasheet, these instruments are used for three distinct PV testing activities: troubleshooting (detecting broken modules in plants where efficiency is lower than expected, addressed by SOLAR I-Ve and I-V500w), commissioning tests (proving systems operate to safety specification per IEC 62446, addressed by PVCHECKs), and performance recording (scheduled monitoring of production losses, addressed by SOLAR300N, SOLAR I-Ve, and MPP300). The datasheet positions these as solutions for installers and maintenance technicians working on PV systems installed on roofs or on the ground.
ValueTronics stocks and supports the complete HT Instruments PV tester family from our 20,000 square foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every instrument we ship has been received, inventoried, and verified in-house — not drop-shipped from a third party — which means our team can answer specific questions about a unit's condition, accessories, and configuration before it leaves the building. Since 1992 we have served PV installers, EPCs, O&M contractors, and utility-scale solar operators who depend on accurate I-V curve testing and commissioning documentation, and that operational continuity is what allows us to support these instruments across their full service life.
HT Instruments is an Italian test and measurement manufacturer headquartered in Faenza, Italy, with subsidiary offices in Spain (Barcelona), Germany (Korschenbroich), and the United States (Parlin, New Jersey). The company has remained an independent manufacturer of electrical safety, power quality, and PV test instrumentation, with no major brand-name changes in its T&M product lines.
The HT Instruments PV tester family spans six distinct instruments addressing different stages of the PV testing workflow. The I-V400w and I-V500w are focused I-V curve tracers (the I-V500w extends to 1500V; the I-V400w covers up to 1000V), the SOLAR I-Ve combines I-V curve testing with single-phase efficiency measurement, the PVCHECKs adds insulation and continuity testing for commissioning per IEC 62446, the SOLAR300N is the advanced system analyzer with three-phase power quality analysis per EN 50160, and the MPP300 is an accessory that extends SOLAR I-Ve and SOLAR300N to simultaneous multi-string recording.
All models in the family share the 4-terminal measurement architecture, STC-referenced outcome evaluation, OK/NO test result indication, HT304N reference cell compatibility, PT300N temperature probe support, and the SOLAR-02 remote unit interface. The instruments differ in maximum voltage rating, in whether they include efficiency/power quality measurement on the AC side, and in their support for commissioning-specific tests like insulation and continuity.
Each new HT Instruments PV tester listed below is its own product page with condition-matched pricing. The model linked from this comparison represents the configuration we currently have in inventory at the indicated condition grade. Use the comparison table to verify which instrument matches your testing workflow before selecting a product page.
The primary differentiators across the family are voltage rating and measurement scope. The I-V500w and SOLAR I-Ve are rated to 1500V DC for I-V curve testing, while the I-V400w and PVCHECKs are rated to 1000V DC. The SOLAR I-Ve and SOLAR300N add AC-side efficiency measurement (single-phase on SOLAR I-Ve, single- and three-phase on SOLAR300N), while the I-V400w and I-V500w are DC-only I-V curve tracers. The PVCHECKs is the only model that includes insulation testing (250V/500V/1000V) and continuity testing at 200mA, making it the commissioning-focused instrument in the family.
Power quality and advanced analysis capability are concentrated in the SOLAR300N. It is the only model that performs harmonic analysis to the 49th order, EN 50160 mains quality assessment, flicker analysis, voltage unbalance, inrush current capture at 10ms resolution, and 5µs voltage transient capture. The MPP300 accessory enables simultaneous recording of up to 3 strings on either SOLAR I-Ve or SOLAR300N, with the SOLAR300N pairing providing the additional power quality functions on the AC side. See the comparison table below for the full feature matrix across all six models.
| Model | Max DC Voltage | Max DC Current | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVCHECKs | 1000 V DC | 15 A DC | PV Safety, Insulation, IVCK Tester (IEC/EN 62446) |
| SOLAR I-Ve | 1500 V DC | 15 A DC (at 1000 V) / 10 A DC (at 1500 V) | I-V Curve Tracer & Single-Phase Efficiency |
| I-V500w | 1500 V DC | 15 A DC (at 1000 V) / 10 A DC (at 1500 V) | I-V Curve Tracer |
| I-V400w | 1000 V DC | 15 A DC | I-V Curve Tracer |
Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 128x128 pxl LCD with backlight |
| Internal Memory | 256 kbytes |
| Saved Data | Max 999 tests |
| Internal Power Supply | 6 x 1.5V alkaline batteries type LR6, AA, AM3, MN 1500 |
| Battery Duration | Approx. 120 hours (DC efficiency test) |
| SOLAR-02 Max Recording Time | Approx 1.5h (@ IP=5s) |
| Auto Power Off Idleness | After 5 mins. |
| PC Communication Port | Optical/USB |
| Wireless RF Interface (max distance 1m) | Connection with SOLAR-02 |
| Integration Period (IP) | 5s to 60min |
| RF Frequency Range | 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz |
| R&TTE Category | Class 1 |
| Max RF Transmission Power | 30 µW |
| Max RF Connection Distance | 1 m |
| Insulation Test Voltages | 250, 500, 1000 V DC |
| Continuity Test Current | 200 mA |
| Open Circuit Voltage Measurement (Voc) | Up to 1000 V DC |
| Short Circuit Current Measurement (Isc) | Up to 15 A DC |
| STC Reference | 1000 W/m², 25°C |
| Module Database | 30 types in instrument; 30,000 via PC software |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 235 x 165 x 75 mm |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Encapsulation | IP40 |
| Reference Temperature | 23°C ± 5°C |
| Working Temperature | 0° to 40°C |
| Working Humidity | < 80% HR |
| Storage Temperature (battery not included) | -10° to 60°C |
| Storage Humidity | < 80% HR |
| Safety | IEC/EN 61010-1 |
| Safety of Measurement Accessories | IEC/EN 61010-031 |
| Measurements | IEC/EN 62446 (IVCK), IEC/EN 60904-5 (Temperature measurement), IEC/EN 61557-1, -2, -4 (LOWΩ, MΩ) |
| Insulation | Double insulation |
| Pollution Degree | 2 |
| Overvoltage Category | CAT III 1000V DC; Max 1000V DC among inputs P, N, E, C |
| Max Altitude of Use | 2000 m |
Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.
Model No
HT
Condition
New
Manufacturer
HT Instruments
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