PAN to SAM - NOCT

Does the NOCT get populated from a .PAN file when I use the pan to SAM macro? I have a module data sheet with one NOCT value. I entered that and then ran the .PAN to SAM macro and the NOCT value changed. However, I don't see a NOCT or the value in the .PAN file. I uploaded the .PAN file with .csv on the end as this webtool doesn't accept files that end in .PAN. If the NOCT value is in the .PAN file, I can use it. Otherwise, if SAM is making up the value, I can't use it. Changing the NOCT has a small effect on the highest Voc in a parametric sweep of Voc values. In this case, if I use the data sheet value, I get one maximum string length. If I use the value that comes from the .PAN to SAM macro, the NOCT is higher, Voc lower, and string length is one more module, which is a big deal on a utility scale site. Is the NOCT value from or derived from the .PAN file? if not, where did SAM get this number? If it is, how does that work? Is the NOCT somehow hidden in the .PAN file?  Thanks,

Hi Travis,

SAM's "PVsyst OND - PAN to SAM" macro sets the NOCT to 46 degrees. You can see that by clicking View code at the top right of the Macros page and searching for "noct" or scrolling to Line 137.

As you note, PAN files do not have a NOCT value, but the value is required on the Module page for the "CEC Performance Model with User Entered Specifications" option. You can set the value to the one from the manufacturer's data sheet after the macro runs.

We can modify the script to make NOCT an input to the macro so this behavior is less hidden. I've created an issue on GitHub so you can see our progress: github.com/NREL/SAM/issues/2005

Thanks,
Paul.