[Zappie]

On my roof i have a calibrated solar radiation sensor giving a voltage of 90...110 mV @ 1000 W/m²

This is the sensor i have.

Is it useable with the TX board?

Cheers, Zappie

[zitoune]

On my roof i have a calibrated solar radiation sensor giving a voltage of 90...110 mV @ 1000 W/m²

This is the sensor i have.

Is it useable with the TX board?

Cheers, Zappie

Hi Zappie,

Yes but you will need to make sure this is compatible with the input voltage used by the arduino. In the main thread of this topic it is explained in details how to proceed: in a nutshell, to benefit from the highest precision, we need to have an input signal as large as the arduino input maximum voltage. In the case of this article this is 1.1V. So you will need to build the interface published by Werk and adjust R1 and R2 to obtain the gain that will maximise the sensor output corresponding to the maximum irradiation (that may be higher than 1000W/m2 by the way).
In your case it seems that a gain of about 10 would be required. Read the thread first.

Regards,
Zitoune

[werk_ag]

On my roof i have a calibrated solar radiation sensor giving a voltage of 90...110 mV @ 1000 W/m²

This is the sensor i have.

Is it useable with the TX board?

Cheers, Zappie

Exactly as said by Zitoune, you will need the Solar/UV interface.

[Zappie]

Thankx for pointing me in the right direction! I have read that thread and understand what i have to do.

I Think i put it on the TODO first . Thought is was easier to connect to an arduino. Don't have time yet.

Cheers, Zappie

[werk_ag]

Thankx for pointing me in the right direction! I have read that thread and understand what i have to do.

I Think i put it on the TODO first . Thought is was easier to connect to an arduino. Don't have time yet.

Cheers, Zappie

You can connect it directly to an Arduino analog input, but with a so low voltage output from the sensor, if you don't amplify it, you will get a very poor resolution (this is what the Solar / UV interface does).

I liked the sensor enclosure... nice idea. It seems that someone has started to industrially produce solar radiation sensors based on the method we discuss here for years!

Interesting these specs from a solar radiation sensor based on PV cells:
*Accuracy of monthly sums compared to a W.M.O. class 1 Pyranometer (e.g. CMP 11) according to ISO 9060: better ±5
*Very small drift of <0.3 / year (experience since 1989)

Have you ever opened the box of your sensor? What is inside?

[Zappie]

You can connect it directly to an Arduino analog input, but with a so low voltage output from the sensor, if you don't amplify it, you will get a very poor resolution (this is what the Solar / UV interface does).

I know...at this moment it's connected to a Siemens !LOGO PLC wich is monitoring/controlling my pool.

I liked the sensor enclosure... nice idea. It seems that someone has started to industrially produce solar radiation sensors based on the method we discuss here for years!

It's not a new product. The first version , the SOZ-01 was released in 1989. Bought the SOZ-03 six years ago directly from the German engineer.
Calibrated and with certificates.

Interesting these specs from a solar radiation sensor based on PV cells:
*Accuracy of monthly sums compared to a W.M.O. class 1 Pyranometer (e.g. CMP 11) according to ISO 9060: better ±5
*Very small drift of <0.3 / year (experience since 1989)

Have you ever opened the box of your sensor? What is inside?

Yes, connected the cables but can't remenber. I can take some pics next days.

Cheers, Zappie

[hornychz]

Hi,

I would like to know how they solved the falling rain and runoff ...

Regards

[werk_ag]

...
I can take some pics next days.

It would be nice. Thank you
Regards

Hi,

I would like to know how they solved the falling rain and runoff ...

Regards

I may be mistaken, but I believe a thin water layer or even a few drops above the solar cell will have little impact on the readings. I never noticed a reduction in readings when it starts raining, perhaps because the readings are always a moving average of the last 2.5 minutes (in the case of WeatherDuino Pro2 system).

[hornychz]

... but I believe a thin water layer or even a few drops above the solar cell will have little impact on the readings. I never noticed a reduction in readings when it starts raining, perhaps because the readings are always a moving average of the last 2.5 minutes (in the case of WeatherDuino Pro2 system).

Yes, you're probably right. But here, it seems that the water layer may be several millimeters thick ...



My sensor, although it water drains immediately demoted me for about half the year so it certainly does not measure. When I'm able to climb onto the roof, take a picture and send images, it is really worth seeing! I have prepared material for several other sensors, but now I'm scared ...

Regards

[werk_ag]

Hi Zdenek,

Looking at that big picture of the sensor, I must agree with your concerns about accumulated water over the PV cell. It will not evaporate quickly, and certainly with time some dirty will accumulate too. Thanks for better explain me your point of view. I thought the transparent material which covers the PV cell was placed on top of the box.

Regards
Werk_AG