SR200-D1 pyranometer

Pyranometer industrial Class A SR200-D1
Pyranometer with integrated surge protection SR200-D1
Pyranometer compliant with IEC 61326-1 “Industrial equipment” SR200-D1
Pyranometer with tube levelling mount for easy installation SR200-D1

Industrial Class A pyranometer

Hukseflux introduces “industrial-grade” solar radiation monitoring! The all-digital Class A pyranometer model SR200-D1 is engineered to measure solar radiation with the utmost reliability and measurement accuracy. 

•    designed for IEC 61724-1 Class A compliant PV system performance monitoring
•    integrated surge protection, designed to withstand the extreme conditions encountered on PV power plants, upgradable to 4 kV with optional SPD01 Surge Protection Device
•    RS-485 isolation: Galvanic isolation, for reliable operation and flexibility in system design
•    compliant with IEC 61326-1 “Industrial equipment” – rated for Industrial Electromagnetic Environments
•    enables system designers to comply with local safety regulations
•    designed to minimise integration costs 
•    supported by a worldwide calibration organisation for the lowest total cost of ownership

Specifications

Measurand
  • hemispherical solar radiation
ISO 9060:2018 classification
  • spectrally flat Class A pyranometer
IEC 61724-1:2021 compliance
  • meets Class A PV monitoring system requirements
Would you like a personalised quote?

or contact us: info@hukseflux.com

Specifications

Measurand
  • hemispherical solar radiation
ISO 9060:2018 classification
  • spectrally flat Class A pyranometer
IEC 61724-1:2021 compliance
  • meets Class A PV monitoring system requirements
Dome protector
  • included (model DP01)
Instrument diagnostics
  • internal humidity
Calibration certificate
  • included (content limited according to ISO/IEC 17025, section 7.8.1.3)
Temperature response test of individual instrument
  • report included
Temperature response
  • < ± 0.4 % (-30 to +50 °C)
Directional response test of individual instrument
  • report included to 95 °
Standard cable length (not included)
  • 3 m
EMC and Surge immunity *
  • :
Equipment classification
  • Industrial Equipment
Surge Immunity
  • Level 2, test level 1 kV
with optional SPD01
  • Level 4, test level 4 kV
Electrical Safety in the workplace
  • :
Safety compliance
  • EU Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU) / USA National Electric Code (NFPA70)
Earthing terminal
  • included on instrument
Digital communication
  • :
Communication protocol
  • Modbus RTU
RS-485 isolation voltage
  • 1.5 kV
Hardware interface
  • Hardware interface
*
  • at standard cable length of 3 m
**
  • @ 24 VDC
Options

We offer accessories for use with the SR200-D1, including electrical and mounting hardware options.

•    SPD01 Surge Protection Device (for 1 to 3 instruments) for cables longer than 3 meters and to upgrade Surge Protection to level 4
•    PID01 Pyranometer Isolation Disc, electrically insulating the instrument from the mounting platform, spring-loaded for easy levelling
•    LM01 spring-loaded levelling mount; a practical mount for easy mounting, levelling, and instrument exchange on flat surfaces 
•    TLM01 tube levelling mount with a set of bolts 
•    calibration certificate including customer name and contact information 
•    DP01 dome protector, set of 5 pieces
•    AMF03 albedometer fixture
•    PMF01 and PFM02 mounting fixtures

Downloads
SR200-D1 brochure
SR200-D1 user manual
SR200-D1 register list

Description

SR200-D1 industrial pyranometer

SR200-D1: industrial-grade, high-accuracy and reliable

SR200-D1 may look like its predecessor, but in many ways it is a completely new instrument. We built upon the measurement capabilities of the earlier pyranometer model SR20 and tailored the SR200-D1 pyranometer to its most common applications in PV system performance monitoring systems and meteorological stations.

SR200-D1 complies with  – Industrial-grade – Immunity, Emission,  Electrical, Environmental and Safety requirements for use in these outdoor and industrial environments, greatly improving measurement reliability. Ease of operation is further enhanced through extended functionality and diagnostics.

 

Measuring solar radiation with SR200-D1

PV System performance monitoring: IEC 61724-1 Class A compliant

SR200-D1 complies with IEC requirements for “Class A” PV system performance monitoring, for climates in which dew and frost are not an issue. If you need a pyranometer that complies with all locations and climatic conditions, consider the SR300-D1 pyranometer.

Surge Protection Device SPD01

Immunity to high voltages and currents -surges

SR200-D1 is tested and classified for Industrial Environments according to IEC 61326-1 and IEC 61000-6-2. When designing a measuring system, pyranometer users may reach several levels of immunity.

With the optional Surge Protection Device SPD01 this immunity can be increased to 4 kV. Up to 3 pyranometers can be protected with a single SPD01. A third-party SPD with similar specifications may be used instead.

To attain the required level of immunity for a given installation, some general system components should be included, such as:

•    lightning protection system
•    earthing and grounding network
•    external surge protection in addition to the native on-board sensor protection

Measuring solar radiation with the industrial pyranometer SR200-D1

RS-485 isolation

The industrial pyranometers' RS-485 interface is galvanically isolated from the internal electronics and instrument body. Both isolation barriers are rated at 1.5 kV. This contributes to reliable operation, flexibility in system design, and reduced integration costs.

Electrical safety in the workplace

A PV power plant is a potentially hazardous workplace environment. To comply with safety regulations, SR200-D1 features a dedicated earthing terminal for connection to protective earth. When the pyranometer is isolated from the mounting platform, it should still be properly earthed via this terminal. SR200-D1 allows system designers to comply with safety regulations. These are often based on EU and US electrical safety standards such as:

•    EN-50110 Operation of Electrical Installations
•    NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC)

PV monitoring on a solar farm

Comparison between SR300-D1, SR200-D1 and SR100-D1

Table 1: SR300-D1, SR200-D1 and SR100-D1: main specifications compared.

INSTRUMENT SPECIFICATIONS

 

 
 SR300-D1SR200-D1SR100-D1
ISO 9060:2018 classificationspectrally flat class Aspectrally flat class 
A
spectrally flat class B
IEC 61724-1:2021 compliance 
for solar irradiance measurement

meets Class A 
PV monitoring system requirements 

for all locations and climatic conditions 

meets Class A 
PV monitoring 
system 
requirements 

for locations where dew and frost are expected for < 2 % of annual GHI hours

meets Class B 
PV monitoring system requirements 

for all locations and climatic conditions 

Dew and frost mitigationheating included-
IEC 61724-1:2021 compliance 
for single axis tracker and pyranometer tilt angle measurement
meets Class A 
PV monitoring system requirements 
--
Tilt measurementTilt measurement included --
Manufacturer’s estimate of achievable measurement accuracy for daily sums, following ASTM G213 uncertainty evaluation*2.3 %2.4 %4.6 %
On-site diagnostics   
power and communication 
status LED
--
Remote diagnostics alerts   
instrument leakage--
heating malfunction--
change of tilt and rotation--
Remote diagnostics measurements   
Internal humidity
Internal pressure--
Instrument tilt and rotation--

* in summer at mid-latitudes, instruments used under rated operating conditions, expanded measurement uncertainties k = 2

Table 2: SR300-D1, SR200-D1 and SR100-D1 test certificates supplied with the instruments.
 

CERTIFICATES AND REPORTS
 

SR300-D1

SR200-D1

SR100-D1

product certificate 
confirming verification of specifications and classification

 

 

 

calibration certificate

temperature response test of individual instrument 

 

 

 

-

directional response test of individual instrument for 0 to 95 ° 
angle of incidence

 

 

 

-

accelerometer test  of individual instrument 
(0 to 180 ° tilt, -30 to +50 °C)

 

 

-

 

-

Suggested use

  • PV system performance monitoring
  • scientific meteorological observations

Frequently asked questions

How does a pyranometer work?

A pyranometer measures the solar radiation received by a plane surface from a 180 ° field of view angle. This quantity, expressed in W/m², is called “hemispherical” solar radiation. The solar radiation spectrum extends roughly from 285 to 3000 x 10⁻⁹ m. By definition a pyranometer should cover that spectral range with a spectral selectivity that is as “flat” as possible.

In an irradiance measurement by definition the response to “beam” radiation varies with the cosine of the angle of incidence; i.e. it should have full response when the solar radiation hits the sensor perpendicularly (normal to the surface, sun at zenith, 0 ° angle of incidence), zero response when the sun is at the horizon (90 ° angle of incidence, 90 ° zenith angle), and 50 % of full response at 60 ° angle of incidence. A pyranometer should have a so-called “directional response” (older documents mention “cosine response”) that is as close as possible to the ideal cosine characteristic.

In order to attain the proper directional and spectral characteristics, a pyranometer's main components are:

•    a thermal sensor with black coating. It has a flat spectrum covering the 200 to 50000 x 10⁻⁹ m range, and has a near-perfect directional response. The coating absorbs all solar radiation and, at the moment of absorption, converts it to heat. The heat flows through the sensor to the sensor body. The thermopile sensor generates a voltage output signal that is proportional to the solar irradiance.

•    a glass dome. This dome limits the spectral range from 285 to 3000 x 10⁻⁹ m (cutting off the part above 3000 x 10⁻⁹ m), while preserving the 180 ° field of view angle. Another function of the dome is that it shields the thermopile sensor from the environment (convection, rain).

•    a second (inner) glass dome: For secondary standard and first class pyranometers, two domes are used, and not one single dome. This construction provides an additional "radiation shield", resulting in a better thermal equilibrium between the sensor and inner dome, compared to using a single dome. The effect of having a second dome is a strong reduction of instrument offsets.

•    a heater: in order to reduce the effect of dew deposition and frost on the outer dome surface, most advanced pyranometers have a built-in heater. The heater is coupled to the sensor body. Heating a pyranometer can generate additional irradiance offset signals, therefore it is recommended to activate the heater only during night-time. Combining a heater with external ventilation makes these heating offsets very low.

Why use a pyranometer?

There are good reasons why pyranometers are the standard for solar radiation measurement in outdoor PV system performance monitoring. 

The purpose of outdoor PV testing is to compare the available resource to system output and thus to determine efficiency. The efficiency estimate serves as an indication of overall performance and stability. It also serves as a reference for remote diagnostics and need for servicing.

The irradiance measurement for outdoor PV performance monitoring is usually carried out with pyranometers. Some standards suggest using PV reference cells. Reference cells are (with some minor exceptions) unsuitable for proof in bankability and in proof of PV system efficiency. Pyranometers are and will remain the standard for outdoor solar energy monitoring.

From a fundamental point of view:

  • Pyranometers measure truly available solar irradiance (so the amount of available resource). This is the parameter you need to have for a true efficiency calculation.
  • Reference cells measure only that part of solar radiation that can be used by cells of identical material and identical packaging (flat window), so the yield of a certain PV cell type. This is not a measurement that can be used in an efficiency calculation and in fact leads to several percentage points error in efficiency estimates.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) and ASTM standards for PV monitoring recommend pyranometers for outdoor PV monitoring. PV reference cells do not meet IEC 61724-1 class A requirements for irradiance measurement uncertainty: their directional response makes them systematically overestimate daily radiant exposure in J/m2 (or W·hr/m2 ) by more than 2 %, larger on hourly basis. 

How do I choose a pyranometer?

Choosing the right pyranometer for your application is not an easy task. We can offer assistance. But first, you should ask yourself the following questions:

  • are there standards for my application?
  • what level of accuracy do I need?
  • what will be the instrument maintenance level?
  • what are the interfacing possibilities?

When discussing with Hukseflux, our recommendation for the best suited pyranometer will be based on:

  • recommended pyranometer class
  • recommended maintenance level
  • estimate of the measurement accuracy
  • recommended calibration policy
  • recommended interface

Pyranometers can be manufactured to different specifications and with different levels of verification and characterisation during production. The ISO 9060 - 1990 standard, “Solar energy - specification and classification of instruments for measuring hemispherical solar and direct solar radiation”, distinguishes between 3 classes; secondary standard (highest accuracy), first class (second highest accuracy) and second class (third highest accuracy). From second class to first class and from first class to secondary standard, the achievable accuracy improves by a factor 2.

The ISO 9060 - 1990 standard is up for revision. The new 2018 version of the standard will be slightly different from the 1990 version. The new version of ISO 9060 includes three instrument accuracy classes A, B and C, and a special extension of every class “Spectrally Flat”, which is recommended for Plane of Array (POA), albedo, and reflected solar measurements.

Our pyranometer selection guide offers practical guidelines for choosing a pyranometer. The application of pyranometers in PV system performance monitoring according to IEC 61724-1 is highlighted as an example. Sensors specific for diffuse radiation and meteorological networks are also addressed in this selection guide.

What is the difference between a pyrheliometer and a pyranometer?

A pyranometer measures hemispherical solar radiation. When measuring in the horizontal plane this is called Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI). When measuring in “plane of array”, next to PV panels, this is called plane of array POA irradiance.

A pyrheliometer is used to measure Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI). DNI is defined as the solar radiant flux collected by a plane unit surface normal to the axis pointing towards the centre of the sun, within an optical angular aperture. DNI is composed of the solar irradiance within the extent of the solar disk (half-angle 0.266 ° ± 1.7 %) plus some circumsolar radiation.

SR200-D1 pyranometer
Pyranometer industrial Class A SR200-D1
  • Compliant with IEC 61724-1 Class A
  • Integrated surge protection
  • Compliant with IEC 61326-1 “Industrial equipment”
  • Remote diagnostics: Internal humidity
  • Liabilities covered: test certificates
Would you like a personalised quote?

or contact us: info@hukseflux.com