The new MS-01 and MS-02 handheld solar irradiance meters are the perfect tools for solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) and solar thermal installers to conduct comprehensive solar pv site surveys. The MS-02 also includes a data logging facility with USB interface for data download to a PC. This allows for irradiance and temperature to be recorded at user-defined intervals over a number of hours or days, the collected data can then be downloaded to a PC for analysis of for inclusion in solar installation reports.

These high specification irradiance meters simply and quickly measure irradiance, displaying the information in either W/m2 or BTU/hr-ft2, making them ideal for both solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) and solar thermal applications.

The use of a photovoltaic reference cell, provides a more representative measurement of solar energy and greater accuracy and repeatability compared to irradiance meters which use simple photo diode detectors. The MS-01 and MS-02 irradiance meters both incorporate a display hold feature, which enables the user to easily capture readings in difficult locations.

Both MS-01 and MS-02 can be combined with the MP-01 PV Installation tester. MS-02 features wireless connectivity (solar link) to measure and store real-time irradiance measurements, ambient temperature and PV module temperature measurement results simultaneously while electrical tests being conducted. Results can be downloaded from the MP-01 to PC.

As EKO received many questions from the CPV market to measure the spectral distribution of direct solar radiation. Being aware of the requirements in concentrated photovoltaics, EKO Instruments developed a unique system for the measurement of the direct spectral solar irradiance: the MS-700 DNI.

The GPS Sun tracker based system with the MS-700 spectroradiometer features a precision collimator tube designed according to the DNI-related WMO and ISO norms. While the GPS Sun tracker operates autonomously, the MS-700 DNI can either be controlled by the PC software or a programmable data logger. The new compact collimating tube is available for the MS-700 spectroradiometer. In combination with the MS-700 mounting kit the MS-700 with collimating can be fitted to any STR-Sun tracker.

Go to MS-700 DNI product page

EKO Instruments is proud to announce the new DNI pyrheliometer “MS-56” with innovative compact design features and an unprecedented performance. The MS-56 DNI sensor fulfills the present most stringent requirements of the (C)PV and meteorological market, notably a very fast detector response for instantaneous and accurate DNI measurements.

The ISO First Class pyrheliometer “MS-56” is a high quality DNI (Direct Normal Incidence) solar radiation sensor which is well suited to be used as a reference instrument for precise and accurate direct solar irradiance measurements and routine operation on a solar tracker.

EKO’s R&D team adopted most recent technological innovations such as an ultra fast new thermopile detector with 95% response time <1s and excellent thermal stability. Even though the MS-56 is a relatively light-weight construction, due to its well balanced design zero-offset effects were eliminated to guarantee the best measurement stability during variable environmental and solar irradiance conditions. Each MS-56 sensor includes a passive temperature compensation module to minimize the common detector temperature dependency to less than 0,5% over a wide temperature range (-20oC to 50oC). The detector temperature can be accurately monitored with the built-in PT-100 RTD or YSI 44031 10kΩ NTC. The possibility of dew-deposition or condensation on the outside of the entrance optics is significantly reduced with the built-in low-power heater at the inside of the sensor.

Getting curious to test its performance? The MS-56 will be available from June 2011.