EKO INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD. - Pyranometer MS-60/60S - Instruction Manual Ver. 4
Pg. 20
6. Maintenance & Troubleshooting
6 - 1 . M a i n t e n a n c e
Using the EKO pyranometers, accurate results can be obtained if the glass dome and the condition of the
instrument are maintained properly. Environmental conditions, such as for instruments mounted near highly
frequented traffic lanes or airports, may have a deteriorating effect on the materials. Therefore, proper
maintenance is needed and has to be adapted to the local environmental conditions.
The following table describes the common maintenance tasks that should be performed on a regular basis:
Table 6-1. Maintenance Items1
Maintenance
Item
Frequency
How To
Effect
Clean Glass
Dome
Several
times per
week
Keep the glass dome clean by wiping
with a soft cloth and alcohol
The irradiance measurement will be
affected
due
to
a
change
in
transmittance of glass dome.
Check
Appearance
Condition
Weekly
Check for cracks and scratches on the
glass dome and body.
May lead to water leakage due to
rain/dew, which causes damage of the
detector inside the pyranometer.
Check
Spirit level
Weekly
Verify if the pyranometer is levelled by
checking the bubble is in the center ring
of spirit level. [When the pyranometer is
setup in horizontal position]
An additional cosine/azimuth error will
be introduced.
Check
Cable
Condition
Weekly
Verify if the cable connector is properly
connected, tightened to the instrument,
and how cable is lined; make sure the
cable is not swinging by wind.
A disconnected cable will cause
sporadic reading errors or failure of
operation. If the cable is damaged, it
may lead to noise or electric shock.
Check
Setup Base
Condition
Weekly
Check if the instrument is tightened
properly to the mounting base plate and
the base plate and/or table is securely
fastened in a proper condition.
Loose instruments and/or mounting
plates can lead to damages of the
instruments and/or injury.
Check the
Sunscreen
Weekly,
Before/Aft
er Bad
Weather
Verify if the sunscreen is securely fixed
on the body, and knurling screw is
securely tightened.
May lead to damaging the instrument
and/or
lead
to
increasing
measurement
error
due
to
temperature increase by sunscreen
coming off.
Recalibration
Every 2
Years
To
maintain
the
best
possible
measurement accuracy, recalibration of
the pyranometer is recommended.
Contact EKO for more details and
requests
for
a
recalibration
and
maintenance service.
Due to natural aging of materials the
detector
properties
of
the
pyranometer can change in time
which affects the sensor sensitivity.