SP-510-SS Upward-Looking Thermopile Pyranometer

The SP-510 is an upward-looking thermopile pyranometer with an analog output of 0 to 100 mV. The sensor incorporates a blackbody thermopile detector and acrylic diffuser with a rugged, self-cleaning sensor housing design, and high-quality cable terminating in pre-tinned pigtail leads for easy connection to dataloggers and controllers. Typical applications include shortwave radiation measurement in agricultural, ecological, and hydrological weather networks. Sensors are also used to optimize photovoltaic systems.

These sensors can also be coupled with our downward facing pyranometer to form an albedometer. For this application, we recommend the Apogee SP-710-SS Albedometer sensor package, which consists of one SP-510-SS upward-facing pyranometer, one SP-610-SS downward-facing pyranometer, an AY-001 differential splitter, and an AW-605-SS 5 meter cable. For mounting to a mast or directly to a solar panel, we recommend using either the AL-130 Albedometer mounting bracket or the AM-500 Net Radiometer mounting bracket paired with an AM-130 mounting fixture with 12" rod.

Sensor includes IP68 marine-grade stainless-steel cable connector 30 cm from head to simplify sensor removal and replacement for maintenance and recalibration.

Specifications

ISO 9060:2018
Class C (fast response)

Power Supply
Self powered

Sensitivity (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed)
0.045 mV per W mˉ²

Calibration Factor (reciprocal of sensitivity) (variable from sensor to sensor, typical values listed)
22 W mˉ² per mV

Calibration Uncertainty at 1000 W mˉ²
Less than 3 %

Calibrated Output Range
0 to 90 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 2 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

Warranty
4 years against defects in materials and workmanship

Manufactured
 Assembled in the USA