background image

23 

 

 

Spectral Errors for Shortwave Radiation Measurements with Apogee SP Series Pyranometers 

Radiation Source (Error Calculated Relative to Sun, Clear Sky) 

Error [%] 

Sun (Clear Sky) 

0.0 

Sun (Cloudy Sky) 

9.6 

Reflected from Grass Canopy 

14.6 

Reflected from Deciduous Canopy 

16.0 

Reflected from Conifer Canopy 

19.2 

Reflected from Agricultural Soil 

-12.1 

Reflected from Forest Soil 

-4.1 

Reflected from Desert Soil 

3.0 

Reflected from Water 

6.6 

Reflected from Ice 

0.3 

Reflected from Snow 

13.7 

 

 

 

Summary of Contents for SP-422

Page 1: ...OGEE INSTRUMENTS INC 721 WEST 1800 NORTH LOGAN UTAH 84321 USA TEL 435 792 4700 FAX 435 787 8268 WEB APOGEEINSTRUMENTS COM Copyright 2016 Apogee Instruments Inc OWNER S MANUAL USB PYRANOMETER Models SP 422 ...

Page 2: ...troduction 4 Sensor Models 5 Specifications 6 Deployment and Installation 9 Software Installation 10 Operation and Measurement 11 Windows Software 13 MAC software 18 Maintenance and Recalibration 24 Troubleshooting and Customer Support 26 Return and Warranty Policy 27 ...

Page 3: ...laboratory use EMC requirements EN 50581 2012 Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and electronic products with respect to the restriction of hazardous substances Please be advised that based on the information available to us from our raw material suppliers the products manufactured by us do not contain as intentional additives any of the restricted materials including cadmium...

Page 4: ...ality classifications and specifications for International Organization of Standardization ISO second class and first class classifications but because of limited spectral sensitivity they do not meet the spectral specification necessary for WMO or ISO certification Typical applications of silicon cell pyranometers include incoming shortwave radiation measurement in agricultural ecological and hyd...

Page 5: ...els see manuals SP 110 SP 230 SP 212 SP 215 and SP 214 Model Signal SP 422 USB SP 110 Self powered SP 230 Self powered SP 212 0 2 5 V SP 214 4 20 mA SP 215 0 5 V Sensor model number serial number production date and calibration factor are located near the pigtail leads on the sensor cable ...

Page 6: ... are calibrated to the World Radiometric Reference WRR in Davos Switzerland SP 422 Resolution 0 1 W m 2 Calibration Factor Custom for each sensor and stored in firmware Calibration Uncertainty 5 see Calibration Traceability below Measurement Repeatability Less than 1 Long term Drift Non stability Less than 2 per year Non linearity Less than 1 up to 1750 W m 2 Response Time Software updates every s...

Page 7: ...nternal thermistor to measure temperature At each temperature set point a reference blackbody pyranometer was used to measure solar intensity Spectral response estimate of Apogee silicon cell pyranometers Spectral response was estimated by multiplying the spectral response of the photodiode diffuser and adhesive Spectral response measurements of diffuser and adhesive were made with a spectrometer ...

Page 8: ...ewable Energy Laboratory NREL in Golden Colorado Cosine response was calculated as the relative difference of pyranometer sensitivity at each solar zenith angle to sensitivity at 45 solar zenith angle The blue symbols are AM measurements the red symbols are PM measurements Directional or cosine response is defined as the measurement error at a specific angle of radiation incidence Error for Apogee...

Page 9: ... the sensor should be mounted with the cable pointing toward true north in the northern hemisphere or true south in the southern hemisphere Azimuth error is typically less than 1 but it is easy to minimize by proper cable orientation In addition to orienting the cable to point toward the nearest pole the sensor should also be mounted such that obstructions e g weather station tripod tower or other...

Page 10: ... to continue 3 Select the radio button next to I Agree to the UELA and click Next to continue 4 On the Ready to Install the Program screen click Install to continue 5 Click Finish to complete the installation There are shortcuts on your desktop and in your start bar Installing the software on a Mac The software will automatically download ...

Page 11: ...radiation with silicon cell pyranometers in these conditions The graphs below show spectral error estimates for Apogee silicon cell pyranometers at varying solar zenith angles and varying atmospheric air mass The diffuser is optimized to minimize directional errors thus the cosine response graph in the Specifications section shows the actual directional errors in practice which includes contributi...

Page 12: ...P series pyranometers as a function of atmospheric air mass assuming calibration at an air mass of 1 5 Spectral error for Apogee SP series pyranometers as a function of solar zenith angle assuming calibration at a zenith angle of 45 ...

Page 13: ...g the sensor into a USB port and allow some time for the sensor to automatically establish communication with the software Once established the message in the lower left corner will display Device Connected SN and real time shortwave radiation readings will update on the screen Moving the sensor closer to a light source should increase the readings while blocking all light from the sensor should d...

Page 14: ... This is applicable if users want to calibrate the sensor to their own specific light source Note that a reference value of the light source is required to complete a recalibration After clicking the Recalibate button the user will be prompted to cover the sensor Place a dark cap over the sensor and wait for the real time shortwave readiation reading to settle at zero Click OK Click the Settings i...

Page 15: ...ield Be sure to click Save to retain the new multiplier and offset Clicking Data Logging will allow the user to log interval measurements in a csv file while the software is open and communicating with the sensor Click Setup and the Setup Logging window appears Click the Browse button to create or select a csv file Select the desired sampling interval Note that 1 second is the minimum interval all...

Page 16: ... software and firmware versions These can be used to help troubleshoot if problems arise Manage Field Logging is used to setup the SP 422 for use in the field When the SP 422 is supplied power from a USB power source it will log data which you can retrieve Choose the interval that data is saved as well as the interval that data is sampled and the light source used The shortest sampling interval is...

Page 17: ... it is important to set the time of the last logged data point This is used to back calculate the timestamps for the remaining data points If you just unplugged the sensor and plugged it into the computer the preloaded day and time should be sufficient Click Get Logged Data to save the data to your computer You will be asked where you want to save the data Click Erase Data to erase all the saved d...

Page 18: ... sensor into a USB port and allow some time for the sensor to automatically establish communication with the software Once established the message in the lower left corner will display Device Connected Model SN and real time shortwave radiation readings will update on the screen Moving the sensor closer to a light source should increase the readings while blocking all light from the sensor should ...

Page 19: ...is accomplished by clicking the Recalibrate button This is applicable if users want to calibrate the sensor to their own specific light source Note that a reference value of the light source is required to complete a recalibration After clicking the Recalibrate button the user will be prompted to cover the sensor Place a dark cap over the sensor and wait for the real time shortwave radiation readi...

Page 20: ... offset Clicking Data Logging will allow the user to log interval measurements in a csv file while the software is open and communicating with the sensor Click Setup and the Setup Logging window appears Click the Browse button to create or select a csv file Select the desired sampling interval Note that 1 second is the minimum interval allowed Click Start ...

Page 21: ...software and firmware versions These can be used to help troubleshoot if problems arise Manage Field Logging is used to setup the SP 422 for the use in the field When the SP 422 is supplied power from a USB power source it will log data which you can retrieve Choose the interval the data is saved as well as the interval that data is sampled and the light source used The shortest sampling interval ...

Page 22: ... it is important to set the time of the last logged data point This is used to back calculate the timestamps for the remaining data points If you just unplugged the sensor and plugged it into the computer the preloaded day and time should be sufficient Click Get Logged Data to save the data to your computer You will be asked where you want to save the data Click Erase Data to erase all the save da...

Page 23: ...o Sun Clear Sky Error Sun Clear Sky 0 0 Sun Cloudy Sky 9 6 Reflected from Grass Canopy 14 6 Reflected from Deciduous Canopy 16 0 Reflected from Conifer Canopy 19 2 Reflected from Agricultural Soil 12 1 Reflected from Forest Soil 4 1 Reflected from Desert Soil 3 0 Reflected from Water 6 6 Reflected from Ice 0 3 Reflected from Snow 13 7 ...

Page 24: ...nths where accuracy over multiple clear and unpolluted days is estimated to be 4 in all climates and locations around the world For best accuracy the sky must be completely clear as reflected radiation from clouds causes incoming radiation to increase above the value predicted by the clear sky calculator Measured values of total shortwave radiation can exceed values predicted by the Clear Sky Calc...

Page 25: ...r pyranometers total shortwave radiation and one for quantum sensors photosynthetic photon flux density Clear Sky Calculator for pyranometers Site data are input in blue cells in middle of page and an estimate of total shortwave radiation is returned on right hand side of page ...

Page 26: ... feet is the maximum cable length that can be built into the sensor Modifying Cable Length If you required a longer cable length an active USB extension cable is required Please note the connection between the cables must be made water tight prior to submersion ...

Page 27: ... conditions 1 Improper installation or abuse 2 Operation of the instrument outside of its specified operating range 3 Natural occurrences such as lightning fire etc 5 Improper or unauthorized repair Please note that nominal accuracy drift is normal over time Routine recalibration of sensors meters is considered part of proper maintenance and is not covered under warranty Who is Covered This warran...

Page 28: ...nsible for any direct indirect incidental or consequential damages including but not limited to loss of income loss of revenue loss of profit loss of wages loss of time loss of sales accruement of debts or expenses injury to personal property or injury to any person or any other type of damage or loss This limited warranty and any disputes arising out of or in connection with this limited warranty...

Reviews: