Which value would be considered the clear minimum for solar panel inspection exposure?

• A. 1000 W/m^2
• B. 300 W/m^2
• C. 200 W/m^2
• D. 600 W/m^2

Answer: (D)

The value used for solar panel infrared inspection under solar load must be high enough to heat the modules and create visible temperature differences that reveal defects. Among the options, 600 W/m^2 is the smallest irradiance that Still provides enough heating to produce meaningful thermal contrast; at lower levels like 200 or 300 W/m^2, the heating would be too weak and faults wouldn’t stand out clearly. Although 1000 W/m^2 (typical full sun) certainly works, it isn’t the minimum required, and the question asks for the minimum exposure that will still yield reliable results. In practice, aim for irradiance at or above about 600 W/m^2 to ensure defective or inefficient areas show up in the thermographic image, while ambient conditions and panel orientation can influence the actual visibility of the faults.