The Apogee SP-700 Albedometer consists of 1x SP-510 upward-facing pyranometer and 1x SP-610 downward-facing pyranometer, joined with a spliced cable to allow connection of both sensors to a measurement device.
Apogee Instruments SP-510 and SP-610 pyranometers consist of a thermopile detector, acrylic diffuser (SP-510) or glass window (SP-610), heater, and signal processing circuitry mounted in an anodized aluminum housing. For mounting, we recommend using either the AL-130 Albedometer mounting fixture or the AM-500 Net Radiometer mounting bracket paired with an AM-130 mounting bracket.
Albedo measurements indicate the broadband shortwave reflectivity of materials and are used to monitor bifacial solar panels, understand heat retention in urban and architectural settings, and study climate and weather. Typical applications for pyranometers include shortwave radiation measurement in agricultural, ecological, and hydrological weather networks.
The SP-700 includes an in-line IP68 marine-grade stainless-steel cable connector placed 50 cm from the sensor heads for either standard use as a long-cable pigtail sensor, or for use with the Apogee microCache Bluetooth Micro Logger.
How to Choose a Pyranometer
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Lecture 3-Shortwave Radiation and Pyranometers
Apogee SP-510 Thermopile Pyranometers Introduction
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Pyranometer User’s Guide
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ISO 9060:2018 | Class C (previously known as second class) |
Power Supply | Self powered |
Sensitivity (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 0.057 mV per W mˉ² |
Calibration Factor (reciprocal of sensitivity) (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 17.5 W mˉ² per mV |
Calibration Uncertainty | ± 5 % |
Calibrated Output Range | 0 to 114 mV |
Measurement Range | 0 to 2000 W mˉ² (net shortwave irradiance) |
Measurement Repeatability | Less than 1 % |
Long-term Drift | Less than 2 % per year |
Non-linearity | Less than 1 % |
Detector Response Time | 0.5 seconds |
Field of View | 180˚ |
Spectral Range (50 % points) | 385 nm to 2105 nm |
Directional (Cosine) Response | Less than 30 W mˉ² at 80˚ solar zenith |
Temperature Response | Less than 5 % from -15 to 45 C |
Zero Offset A | Less than 5 W mˉ², Less than 10 W mˉ² (heated) |
Zero Offset B | Less than 5 W mˉ² |
Operating Environment | -50 to 80 C, 0 to 100 % relative humidity |
Heater | 780 Ω, 15.4 mA current drain and 185 mW power requirement at 12 V DC |
Uncertainty in Daily Total | Less than 5 % |
Dimensions | 28.7 mm height, 23.5 mm diameter |
Mass | 90 g |
Sensitivity (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 0.15 mV per W mˉ² |
Calibration Factor (reciprocal of sensitivity) (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed) | 6.7 W mˉ² per mV |
Calibration Uncertainty | ± 5 % |
Calibrated Output Range | 0 to 300 mV |
Measurement Range | 0 to 2000 W mˉ² (net shortwave irradiance) |
Measurement Repeatability | Less than 1 % |
Long-term Drift | Less than 2 % per year |
Non-linearity | Less than 1 % |
Detector Response Time | 0.5 seconds |
Field of View | 150˚ |
Spectral Range (50 % points) 295 to 2685 nm | |
Directional (Cosine) Response | Less than 20 % for angles between 0 and 60 ˚ |
Temperature Response | Less than 5 % from -15 to 45 C |
Zero Offset A | Less than 5 W mˉ², Less than 10 W mˉ² (heated) |
Zero Offset B | Less than 5 W mˉ² |
Uncertainty in Daily Total | Less than 5 % |
Operating Environment | -50 to 80 C, 0 to 100 % relative humidity |
Heater | 780 Ω, 15.4 mA current drain and 185 mW power requirement an 12 V DC |
Dimensions | 28.7 mm height, 23.5 mm diameter |
Mass | 100 g |
Warranty | 4 years against defects in materials and workmanship |