Input Power Capacity Detector embodying a method for measuring the maximum power (Pmax) available from a photo voltaic panel or array of photo voltaic panels without requirement that a connected AC powered device draws power at the time of measurement

A method for measuring the available maximum power from a photo voltaic panel or array of a known fill factor (as specified by its manufacturer), regardless of whether power is being ex-tracted at the time of measurement, comprising

• a. A power converter which converts the variable DC input voltage from the PV to a known, fixed DC voltage. This power converter can be a buck converter, a boost converter or a buck-boost converter.
• b. a 3 stage set of timer intervals
• c. an input power switch/gate which, at predefined discrete time intervals marked by said interval timer, using a very short measurement-time window marked by said timer, dis-ables the power converter, allowing the voltage to rise to Voc
• d. a Resistor of known resistance
• e. an Isc switch/gate which when the power converter is disabled, at predefined discrete time intervals marked by said interval timer, using a very short measurement-time window marked by said timer, closes the circuit through a resistor of known resistance
• f. a voltage detector which measures Voc at said intervals when the PV power switch is open and the Isc switch is open, and which communicates the measurement to a central processing unit
• g. said voltage detector which measures VIsc, the voltage across the resistor of known resis-tance, at said intervals when the PV power switch is open and the Isc switch is closed, and which communicates the measurement to a central processing unit
• h. said central processing unit, which calculates Isc from VIsc and the resistor of known value using the formula Isc=VIsc/R. Said central processing unit then calculates Pmax using the said measurements Voc, Isc, using the formula Pmax=FF×Voc×Isc where FF is the fill factor value provided by the manufacturer of the photo voltaic panels.