The Importance and Limitations of Light IV and Dark IV Testing of Space Solar Arrays

This paper discusses and compares the differences between light and dark IV testing for space solar arrays. While there are anecdotes of these test capabilities and limitations, there currently is not one technically comprehensive source. This paper presents light IV and dark IV test methods and discusses the challenges with both, the pros and cons, and the types of anomalies that can be detected by each. The goal of this paper is to inform the risks of substituting dark IV for light IV testing without careful consideration.