Solar radiation data logging

[solarconvert]

Hi
Just fixed up a small off grid system and am going to data log the Batt voltage and charge current, but wish to log the sun's power in W/m2.
I have on order the Resol CS 10 sun radiation sensor but want to feed this into data logger, but have no idea what output this device gives and what logger I may need to receive the signals.  Help please.

[The Crofter]

Why not contact them directly ?

http://www.resol.de/en/english.shtml

You may encounter calibration issues unless the sensor has a linear output.

[solarconvert]

Hi
the Crofter
I know Resol do a logger its the DL2 but you need a Resol controller with CS10 input and Vbus, these two units cost over £400 and was looking for cheaper option even it means buying a new radiation sensor.

[ericw]

Their URL above gives the output characteristics where the shortcircuit current is linear with radiation input.
You can use a opamp transimpedance circuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transimpedance_amplifier fig13) to convert it into a voltage which you can feed into your data logger.

[wookey]

Another option to monitor solar radiation is: http://www.hobby-boards.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_27&products_id=85 (or the more complete: http://www.hobby-boards.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_27&products_id=56) which uses a CLD140 photodiode.

I've bought one of these but not got round to mounting it (needs to be waterproof yet exposed to the sun and the air in order get useful readings for radiator, humidity and temperature, which is actually quite tricky). It'll be interesting to see how radiator compares with a) solar panel input and b) with the sensors on the computing centre roof in Cambridge, about a mile away.

[Mike N.]

Another option to monitor solar radiation is: http://www.hobby-boards.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_27&products_id=85 (or the more complete: http://www.hobby-boards.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_27&products_id=56) which uses a CLD140 photodiode.

I've bought one of these but not got round to mounting it (needs to be waterproof yet exposed to the sun and the air in order get useful readings for radiator, humidity and temperature, which is actually quite tricky). It'll be interesting to see how radiator compares with a) solar panel input and b) with the sensors on the computing centre roof in Cambridge, about a mile away.

Hi Wookey

We bought one of these but also never got round to using it. I could see no way of extracting 1-wire way data from it in the way that we did the other sensors (temp and humidity). I did email hobby boards for an answer but I don't recall that one was forthcoming. I think it may just be a sensor on a board and it's down to you to work out a way of processing the output, though I may be wrong.

Mike

[ericw]

Hi Wookey

Be brave and look at the Windows LogTemp program (free from mrsoft.fi) which has an entry in its sensor setup table for DS2438 humidity & solar - I would expect that this would interface to the Hobby-boards kit.

Eric

[wookey]

You mean Mike I think, eric. owfs supports the DS2438 so I expect it to 'just work (tm)'

(and it's not amatter of being 'brave' - I don't have any Windows machines to try Windows software on).