Fix error message modelchain.infer_temperature_model error to be more informative (#1977)

* Update error message in infer_temperature_model

* Updated whats new rst doc

* Minor wording update to bug fix description about error message update

* Fix ValuerError message formatting in infer_temperature_model to address linter issues

* Capitalize beginning of error message in modelchain.infer_temperature_model

Co-authored-by: Cliff Hansen <[email protected]>

* Update pvlib/modelchain.py

Spelling error correction in error message

Co-authored-by: Kevin Anderson <[email protected]>

* Update test_inconsistent_array_params and test_temperature_model_not_specified with the correct error message from infer_tempertaure_model

---------

Co-authored-by: Cliff Hansen <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Kevin Anderson <[email protected]>

Author: 3 people

docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.10.4.rst

@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ Bug fixes
   ``temperature_model_parameters`` are specified on the passed ``system`` instead of on its ``arrays``. (:issue:`1759`).
 * :py:func:`pvlib.irradiance.ghi_from_poa_driesse_2023` now correctly makes use
   of the ``xtol`` argument. Previously, it was ignored. (:issue:`1970`, :pull:`1971`)
+* :py:class:`~pvlib.modelchain.ModelChain.infer_temperature_model` now raises a more useful error when
+  the temperature model cannot be inferred (:issue:`1946`)
 
 Testing
 ~~~~~~~
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ Contributors
 * Echedey Luis (:ghuser:`echedey-ls`)
 * Kevin Anderson (:ghuser:`kandersolar`)
 * Cliff Hansen (:ghuser:`cwhanse`)
-* :ghuser:`matsuobasho`
+* Roma Koulikov (:ghuser:`matsuobasho`)
 * Adam R. Jensen (:ghuser:`AdamRJensen`)
 * Kevin Anderson (:ghuser:`kandersolar`)
 * Peter Dudfield (:ghuser:`peterdudfield`)

pvlib/modelchain.py

@@ -1128,11 +1128,15 @@ def infer_temperature_model(self):
         elif {'noct', 'module_efficiency'} <= params:
             return self.noct_sam_temp
         else:
-            raise ValueError(f'could not infer temperature model from '
-                             f'system.temperature_model_parameters. Check '
-                             f'that all Arrays in system.arrays have '
-                             f'parameters for the same temperature model. '
-                             f'Common temperature model parameters: {params}.')
+            raise ValueError('Could not infer temperature model from '
+                             'ModelChain.system.  '
+                             'If Arrays are used to construct the PVSystem, '
+                             'check that all Arrays in '
+                             'ModelChain.system.arrays '
+                             'have parameters for the same temperature model. '
+                             'If Arrays are not used, check that the PVSystem '
+                             'attributes `racking_model` and `module_type` '
+                             'are valid.')
 
     def _set_celltemp(self, model):
         """Set self.results.cell_temperature using the given cell

pvlib/tests/test_modelchain.py

@@ -1306,17 +1306,15 @@ def test_temperature_model_inconsistent(location, sapm_dc_snl_ac_system):
 
 
 def test_temperature_model_not_specified():
-    # GH 1759 -- ensure correct error is raised when temperature model params
-    # are specified on the PVSystem instead of the Arrays
     location = Location(latitude=32.2, longitude=-110.9)
     arrays = [pvsystem.Array(pvsystem.FixedMount(),
                              module_parameters={'pdc0': 1, 'gamma_pdc': 0})]
     system = pvsystem.PVSystem(arrays,
                                temperature_model_parameters={'u0': 1, 'u1': 1},
                                inverter_parameters={'pdc0': 1})
     with pytest.raises(ValueError,
-                       match='could not infer temperature model '
-                             'from system.temperature_model_parameters'):
+                       match='Could not infer temperature model from '
+                             'ModelChain.system.'):
         _ = ModelChain(system, location,
                        aoi_model='no_loss', spectral_model='no_loss')
 
@@ -1957,11 +1955,8 @@ def test_inconsistent_array_params(location,
                                    cec_module_params):
     module_error = ".* selected for the DC model but one or more Arrays are " \
                    "missing one or more required parameters"
-    temperature_error = "could not infer temperature model from " \
-                        r"system\.temperature_model_parameters\. Check " \
-                        r"that all Arrays in system\.arrays have " \
-                        r"parameters for the same temperature model\. " \
-                        r"Common temperature model parameters: .*"
+    temperature_error = 'Could not infer temperature model from ' \
+                        'ModelChain.system.  '
     different_module_system = pvsystem.PVSystem(
         arrays=[
             pvsystem.Array(