Pyranometers

Apogee now offers two types of pyranometers, our original silicon-cell models and our new line of thermopile pyranometers. Our silicon-cell models are excellent for applications that do not require the higher accuracy and cost of a thermopile pyranometer. They are less expensive and have a faster response time, but have higher errors under cloudy conditions. Our new line of cost-effective thermopile pyranometers are not officially ISO classified, but feature a blackbody thermopile detector that provides a much broader and more uniform spectral response for better performance in all atmospheric conditions and that compares favorably to other thermopile pyranometers for a fraction of the cost. Applications include shortwave radiation measurement in agricultural, ecological, and hydrological weather networks. Sensors are also used to optimize photovoltaic systems.

Thermopile Pyranometers		Silicon-cell Pyranometers
Detector Type: Blackbody thermopile Spectral Range: Upward-looking: 385 to 2105 nm Downward-looking: 295 to 2685 nm Response Time: 0.5 seconds Error Due to Clouds:  ± 2 % On-board Heater: Sensors have a 0.2 W heater. Output Options: Available in multiple analog options and attached to a hand-held meter with a digital output. Upward and Downward-looking Options		Detector Type: Silicon-cell Spectral Range: 360 to 1120 nm Response Time: Less than 1 ms Error Due to Clouds:  + 10 to 15 % (common to all silicon-cell pyranometers) Heated Option: SP-230 All-season has a 0.2 W heater. Output Options:  Available in multiple analog options and attached to a hand-held meter with a digital output.

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