Apogee offers two types of pyranometers; our original silicon-cell models and our new line of thermopile pyranometers, both of which are now ISO 9060:2018 Class C rated (previously known as second class). Silicon-cell solar radiation sensor 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 cost-effective thermopile pyranometers features a blackbody thermopile detector that provides a much broader and more uniform spectral response for better performance in all atmospheric conditions that compares favorably to other thermopile pyranometers at a fraction of the cost. Applications include shortwave radiation measurement in agricultural, ecological, and hydrological weather networks, measurement of global solar radiation, and optimizing photovoltaic systems.
Detector Type
Blackbody Thermopile
Classification
ISO 9060:2018 Class C
Spectral Range
Upward-looking: 385 to 2105 nm
Downward-looking: 295 to 2685 nm
Response Time
0.5 seconds
Error Due to Clouds
± 2 %
Heated Option
Sensors have a 0.2 W heater
Output Options
Available in analog option
Upward- and Downward-looking Options
Detector Type
Silicon-cell
Classification
ISO 9060:2018 Class C
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.
| SP-510 Upward-looking | SP-610 Downward-looking | SP-110 Upward-looking | SP-212 Upward-looking | SP-214 Upward-looking | SP-215 Upward-looking | SP-230 Upward-looking | SP-420 Upward-looking | SP-421 Upward-looking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9060:2018 | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) | Class C (previously known as second class) |
| Power Supply | 12 V DC for heater with a current draw of 15.4 mA | 12 V DC for heater with a current draw of 15.4 mA | Self-powered | 3.3 to 24 V DC; current draw 10 µA | 7 to 24 V DC, maximum current draw of 22 mA (2 mA quiescent current draw) | 5.5 to 24 V DC; current draw 10 µA | 12 V DC for heater with a current draw of 15.4 mA | - | - |
| Output (Sensitivity) | 0.057 mV per W m-2 (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 0.15 mV per W m-2 (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 0.2 mV per W m-2 | 2 mV per W m-2 | 0.008 mA per W m-2 | 4 mV per W m-2 | 0.2 mV per W m-2 | - | - |
| Output Type | 0 to 114 mV | 0 to 300 mV | 0 to 400 mV | 0 to 2.5 V | 4 to 20 mA | 0 to 5 V | 0 to 400 mV | USB | SDI-12 |
| Resolution | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.1 W m-2 | - |
| Digital Input Voltage | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5.5 to 24 V DC |
| Calibration Factor (Reciprocal of Output) | 17.5 W m-2 per mV (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 6.7 W m-2 per mV (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 5 W m-2 per mV | 0.5 W m-2 per mV | 125 W m-2 per mA, 4 mA offset | 0.25 W m-2 per mV | 5 W m-2 per mV | Custom for each sensor and stored in firmware | Custom for each sensor and stored in firmware |
| Calibration Uncertainty | ± 5 % | ± 5 % | ± 5 % | ± 5 % | ± 5 % | ± 5 % | ± 5 % | ± 5 % | ± 5 % |
| Measurement Range | 0 to 2000 W m-2 (net shortwave irradiance) | 0 to 2000 W m-2 (net shortwave irradiance) | 0 to 2000 W m-2 | 0 to 2000 W m-2 | 0 to 2000 W m-2 | 0 to 2000 W m-2 | 0 to 2000 W m-2 | 0 to 2000 W m-2 (net shortwave irradiance) | 0 to 2000 W m-2 |
| Measurement Repeatability | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % |
| Long-term Drift | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year | Less than 2 % per year |
| Non-linearity | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % | Less than 1 % up to 2000 W m-2 | Less than 1 % up to 2000 W m-2 | Less than 1 % up to 2000 W m-2 | Less than 1 % up to 2000 W m-2 | Less than 1 % up to 2000 W m-2 | Less than 1 % up to 2000 W m-2 | Less than 1 % up to 2000 W m-2 |
| Response Time | 0.5 seconds | 0.5 seconds | Less than 1 ms | Less than 1 ms | Less than 1 ms | Less than 1 ms | Less than 1 ms | Software updates every second | Less than 0.6 s |
| Field of View | 180° | 150° | 180° | 180° | 180° | 180° | 180° | 180° | 180° |
| Directional (Cosine) Response | Less than 30 W m-2 at 80° solar zenith | Less than 20 % for angles between 0 and 60° | ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle | ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle | ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle | ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle | ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle | ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle | ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle |
| Spectral Range | 385 to 2105 nm | 295 to 2685 nm | 360 to 1120 nm | 360 to 1120 nm | 360 to 1120 nm | 360 to 1120 nm | 360 to 1120 nm | 360 to 1120 nm | 360 to 1120 nm |
| Temperature Response | Less than 5 % from -15 to 45 C | Less than 5 % from -15 to 45 C | 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C | 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C | 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C | 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C | 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C | 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C | 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C |
| Zero Offset A | Less than 5 W m-2; Less than 10 W m-2 (heated) | Less than 5 W m-2; Less than 10 W m-2 (heated) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Zero Offset B | Less than 5 W m-2 | Less than 5 W m-2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Operating Environment | -50 to 80 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity | -50 to 80 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity | -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be submerged in water up to depths of 30 m | -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be submerged in water up to depths of 30 m | -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be submerged in water up to depths of 30 m | -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be submerged in water up to depths of 30 m | -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be submerged in water up to depths of 30 m | -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be submerged in water up to depths of 30 m | -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be submerged in water up to depths of 30 m |
| Heater | 780 Ω, 15.4 mA current draw and 185 mW power requirement at 12 V DC | 780 Ω, 15.4 mA current draw and 185 mW power requirement at 12 V DC | - | - | - | - | 0.2 W 15 mA current draw at 12 V DC | - | - |
| Dimensions | 23.5 mm diameter, 28.7 mm height | 23.5 mm diameter, 28.7 mm height | 24 mm diameter, 33 mm height | 24 mm diameter, 33 mm height | 24 mm diameter, 33 mm height | 24 mm diameter, 33 mm height | 24 mm diameter, 33 mm height | 24 mm diameter, 33 mm height | 24 mm diameter, 44 mm height |
| Mass (with 5 m of cable) | 90 g | 100 g | 90 g | 90 g | 140 g | 90 g | 90 g | 90 g | 177 g |
How to Choose a Pyranometer
Apogee Thermopile Pyranometers
Apogee Silicon-cell Pyanometers
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