An internal heater keeps the pyranometer dome clear of dew, ice and snow down to -20°C (in still air conditions), ensuring reliable readings in difficult climatic conditions.

The pyranometer uses an array of seven miniature thermopile sensors and a computer-generated shading pattern to measure the direct and diffuse components of incident solar radiation. It computes direct radiation by subtracting the diffuse from the global (total) radiation.

The SPN1 Pyranometer does not need to be adjusted or repositioned to track the sun – a distinct advantage over devices with shadow rings. There are no complex electro-mechanical assemblies and no burnt paper tracks to interpret.

The SPN1 Pyranometer is ideally suited to multiple solar radiation measurement application areas, including PV (photovoltaic) efficiency monitoring, air pollution studies, cloud cover research, ET and heat flux studies, canopy analysis, and building energy management systems.