intense localised heating occurring in a PV module when its operating electric current exceeds the reduced short-circuit current of a shadowed or faulty PV cell or group of cells within it
NOTE When a hot spot occurs, the affected cell or group of cells is forced into reverse bias and must dissipate power, which can cause overheating. The voltage bias or damage creates a small, localized shunt path where a large portion of the PV module current appears |