apogee SP-422 Pyranometer Owner’s Manual
- June 4, 2024
- APOGEE
Table of Contents
- CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
- INTRODUCTION
- SENSOR MODELS
- SPECIFICATIONS
- DEPLOYMENT AND INSTALLATION
- CABLE CONNECTORS
- OPERATION AND MEASUREMENT
- MAINTENACE AND RECALIBRATION
- TROUBLESHOOTING AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
- RETURN AND WARRANTY POLICY
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
OWNER’S MANUAL
PYRANOMETER
Models SP-422
Rev: 16-Mar-2022
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
EU Declaration of Conformity
This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the
manufacturer:
Apogee Instruments, Inc.
721 W 1800 N
Logan, Utah 84321
USA for the following product(s):
Models: SP-422
Type: Pyranometer
The object of the declaration described above is in conformity with the
relevant Union harmonization legislation:
2014/30/EU | Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive |
---|---|
2011/65/EU | Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS 2) Directive |
2015/863/EU | Amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 3) |
Standards referenced during compliance assessment:
EN 61326-1:2013 Electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory
use – EMC requirements
EN 50581:2012 Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and
electronic products with respect to the restriction of hazardous substances
Please be advised that based on the information available to us from our raw
material suppliers, the products manufactured by us do not contain, as
intentional additives, any of the restricted materials including lead (see
note below), mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls
(PBB), polybrominated biphenyls (PBDE), bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP),
butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisobutyl
phthalate (DIBP). However, please note that articles containing greater than
0.1 % lead concentration are RoHS 3 compliant using exemption 6c.
Further note that Apogee Instruments does not specifically run any analysis on
our raw materials or end products for the presence of these substances, but we
rely on the information provided to us by our material suppliers.
Signed for and on behalf of:
Apogee Instruments, March 2022
Bruce Bugbee
President
Apogee Instruments, Inc.
INTRODUCTION
Solar radiation at Earth’s surface is typically defined as total radiation
across a wavelength range of 280 to 4000 nm (shortwave radiation). Total solar
radiation, direct beam and diffuse, incident on a horizontal surface is
defined as global shortwave radiation, or shortwave irradiance (incident
radiant flux), and is expressed in Watts per square meter (W m -² , equal to
Joules per second per square meter).
Pyranometers are sensors that measure global shortwave radiation. Apogee SP
series pyranometers are silicon-cell pyranometers that are only sensitive to a
portion of the solar spectrum, approximately 350 to 1100 nm (approximately 80
% of total shortwave radiation is within this range). However, silicon-cell
pyranometers are calibrated to estimate total shortwave radiation across the
entire solar spectrum. Silicon-cell pyranometer specifications compare
favorably to specifications for World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
moderate and good quality classifications and specifications for International
Organization of Standardization (ISO) second-class and first-class
classifications, but because of limited spectral sensitivity, they do not meet
the spectral specification necessary for WMO or ISO certification.
Typical applications of silicon-cell pyranometers include incoming shortwave
radiation measurement in agricultural, ecological, and hydrological weather
networks, and solar panel arrays.
Apogee Instruments SP series pyranometers consist of a cast acrylic diffuser
(filter), photodiode, and signal processing circuitry mounted in an anodized
aluminum housing, and a cable to connect the sensor to a measurement device.
Sensors are potted solid with no internal air space and are designed for
continuous total shortwave radiation measurement on a planar surface in
outdoor environments. The SP-422 model outputs a digital signal using Modbus
RTU communication protocol over RS-232 or RS-485.
SENSOR MODELS
This manual covers the Modbus RTU protocol model SP-422 pyranometer sensor (in bold below). Additional models are covered in their respective manuals.
Model | Signal |
---|---|
SP-422 | Modbus |
SP-110 | Self-powered |
SP-230* | Self-powered |
SP-212 | 0-2.5 V |
SP-214 | 4-20 mA |
SP-215 | 0-5 V |
SP-420 | USB |
SP-421 | SDI-12 |
*Pyranometer model SP-230 is similar to model SP-110, but includes internal heaters designed to keep the diffuser free of precipitation events such as dew or frost.
A sensor’s model number and serial number are located on the bottom of the sensor. If you need the manufacturing date of your sensor, please contact Apogee Instruments with the serial number of your sensor.
SPECIFICATIONS
ISO 9060:2018 | SP-422 |
---|---|
Input Voltage Requirement | Class C (previously known as a second class) |
Average Max Current Draw | 5.5 to 24 V |
Average Max Current Draw | RS-232 37 mA; |
RS-485 quiescent 37 mA, active 42 mA
Calibration Uncertainty at 1000 W m -²| Less than 3 % (see Calibration
Traceability below)
Measurement Repeatability| Less than 1 %
Long-term Drift
(Non-stability)| Less than 2 % per year
Non-linearity| Less than 1 % (up to 2000 W m -² )
Field of View| 180°
Spectral Range| 360 to 1120 nm (wavelengths where the response is 10% of the
maximum;
see Spectral Response below)
Directional (Cosine)
Response| ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle (see Cosine Response below)
Temperature Response| 0.04 ± 0.04 % per C (see Temperature Response below)
Operating Environment| -40 to 70 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; can be
submerged in water up to 30 m
Dimensions| 30.5 diameter, 37 mm height
Mass (with 5 m of cable)| 140 g
Cable| 5 m of four conductors, shielded, twisted-pair wire; TPR jacket;
pigtail lead wires; stainless
steel (316), M8 connector
Calibration Traceability
Apogee Instruments SP series pyranometers are calibrated through side-by-side
comparison to the mean of four Apogee model SP-110 transfer standard
pyranometers (shortwave radiation reference) under high-intensity discharge
metal halide lamps. The transfer standard pyranometers are calibrated through
side-by-side comparison to the mean of at least two ISO-classified reference
pyranometers under sunlight (clear sky conditions) in Logan, Utah. Each of
four ISO-classified reference pyranometers is recalibrated on an alternating
year schedule (two instruments each year) at the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. NREL reference standards are calibrated
to the World Radiometric Reference (WRR) in Davos, Switzerland.
Spectral Response
Spectral response estimate of Apogee silicon-cell pyranometers. Spectral
response was estimated by multiplying the spectral response of the photodiode,
diffuser, and adhesive.
Spectral response measurements of diffuser and adhesive were made with a
spectrometer, and spectral response data for the photodiode were obtained from
the manufacturer.
Temperature Response
Mean temperature response of four Apogee silicon-cell pyranometers. Temperature response measurements were made at approximately 10 C intervals across a temperature range of approximately -10 to 50 C under sunlight. Each pyranometer had an internal thermistor to measure temperature. At each temperature set point, a reference blackbody pyranometer was used to measure solar intensity.
Cosine Response
Directional, or cosine, the response is defined as the measurement error at a specific angle of radiation incidence. Error for Apogee silicon-cell pyranometers is approximately ± 2 % and ± 5 % at solar zenith angles of 45° and 75°, respectively.
Mean cosine response of eleven Apogee silicon-cell pyranometers (error bars represent two standard deviations above and below mean). Cosine response measurements were made during broadband outdoor radiometer calibrations (NORCAL) performed during two different years at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Cosine response was calculated as the relative difference of pyranometer sensitivity at each solar zenith angle to sensitivity at 45° solar zenith angle. The blue symbols are AM measurements, the red symbols are PM measurements.
DEPLOYMENT AND INSTALLATION
Mount the sensor to a solid surface with the nylon mounting screw provided. To accurately measure PPFD incidents on a horizontal surface, the sensor must be level. An Apogee Instruments model AL-100 Leveling Plate is recommended to level the sensor when used on a flat surface or be mounted to surfaces such as wood. To facilitate mounting on a mast or pipe, the Apogee Instruments model AL-120 Solar Mounting Bracket with Leveling Plate is recommended.
Important: Only use the nylon screw provided when mounting to insulate the non-anodized threads of the aluminum sensor head from the base to help prevent galvanic corrosion. For extended submersion applications, more insulation may be necessary. Contact Apogee tech support for details.
To minimize azimuth error, the sensor should be mounted with the cable pointing toward true north in the northern hemisphere or true south in the southern hemisphere. Azimuth error is typically less than 1 %, but it is easy to minimize by proper cable orientation.
In addition to orienting the cable to point toward the nearest pole, the sensor should also be mounted such that obstructions (e.g., weather station tripod/tower or other instrumentation) do not shade the sensor. Once mounted, the green cap should be removed from the sensor. The green cap can be used as a protective covering for the sensor when it is not in use.
CABLE CONNECTORS
Apogee sensors offer cable connectors to simplify the process of removing
sensors from weather stations for calibration (the entire cable does not have
to be removed from the station and shipped with the sensor).
The ruggedized M8 connectors are rated IP68, made of corrosion-resistant
marine-grade stainless steel, and designed for extended use in harsh
environmental conditions.
Instructions
Pins and Wiring Colors: All Apogee connectors have six pins, but not all pins
are used for every sensor. There may also be unused wire colors inside the
cable. To simplify the datalogger connection, we remove the unused pigtail
lead colors at the datalogger end of the cable.
If a replacement cable is required, please contact Apogee directly to ensure
ordering the proper pigtail configuration.
Alignment: When reconnecting a sensor, arrows on the connector jacket and an
aligning notch ensure proper orientation.
Disconnection for extended periods: When disconnecting the sensor for an
extended period of time from a station, protect the remaining half of the
connector still on the station from water and dirt with electrical tape or
another method.
Tightening: Connectors are designed to be firmly finger-tightened only. There
is an o-ring inside the connector that can be overly compressed if a wrench is
used. Pay attention to thread alignment to avoid cross-threading. When fully
tightened, 1-2 threads may still be visible.
WARNING: Do not tighten the connector by twisting the black cable or
sensor head, only twist the metal connector (blue arrows).
OPERATION AND MEASUREMENT
The SP-422 pyranometer has a Modbus output, where shortwave radiation is returned in digital format. Measurement of SP-422 pyranometers requires a measurement device with a Modbus interface that supports the Read Holding Registers (0x03) function.
Wiring
The Green wire should be connected to Ground to enable RS-485 communication,
or it should be connected to 12 V power for RS-232 communication. Text for the
White and Blue wires above refers to the port that the wires should be
connected.
Sensor Calibration
All Apogee Modbus pyranometers (model SP-422) have sensor-specific calibration
coefficients determined during the custom calibration process. Coefficients
are programmed into the sensors at the factory.
Modbus Interface
The following is a brief explanation of the Modbus protocol instructions used
in Apogee SP-422 pyranometers. For questions on the implementation of this
protocol, please refer to the official serial line implementation of the
Modbus protocol:
http://www.modbus.org/docs/Modbus_over_serial_line_V1_02.pdf (2006) and the
general
Modbus protocol specification:
http://www.modbus.org/docs/Modbus_Application_Protocol_V1_1b3.pdf (2012).
Further information can be found at: http://www.modbus.org/specs.php
Overview
The primary idea of the Modbus interface is that each sensor exists at an
address and appears as a table of values. These values are called Registers.
Each value in the table has an associated index, and that index is used to
identify which value in the table is being accessed.
Sensor addresses
Each sensor is given an address from 1 to 247. Apogee sensors are shipped
with a default address of 1. If using multiple sensors on the same Modbus
line, the sensor’s address will have to be changed by writing the Slave
Address register.
Register Index
Each register in a sensor represents a value in the sensor, such as a
measurement or a configuration parameter. Some registers can only be read,
some registers can only be written, and some can be both read and written.
Each register exists at a specified index in the table for the sensor. Often
this index is called an address, which is a separate address from the sensor
address but can be easily confused with the sensor address. However, there are
two different indexing schemes used for Modbus sensors, though translating
between them is simple. One indexing scheme is called one-based numbering,
where the first register is given the index of 1, and is thereby accessed by
requesting access to regis er 1. The other indexing scheme is called zero-
based numbering, where the first register is given the index 0, and is thereby
accessed by requesting access to register 0. Apogee Sensors use zero-based
numbering. However, if using the sensor in a system that uses one-based
numbering, such as using a CR1000X logger, adding 1 to the zero-based address
will produce the one-based address for the registration.
Register Format:
According to the Modbus protocol specification, Holding Registers (the type
registers Apogee sensors contain) are defined to be 16 bits wide. However,
when making scientific measurements, it is desirable to obtain a more precise
value than 16 bits allows. Thus, several Modbus implementations will use two
16-bit registers to act as one 32-bit register. Apogee Modbus sensors use this
32-bit implementation to provide measurement values as 32-bit IEEE 754
floating point numbers.
Apogee Modbus sensors also contain a redundant, duplicate set of registers
that use 16-bit signed integers to represent values as decimal-shifted
numbers. It is recommended to use the 32-bit values, if possible, as they
contain more precise values.
Communication Parameters:
Apogee Sensors communicate using the Modbus RTU variant of the Modbus
protocol. The default communication parameters are as follows:
Slave address: 1
Baudrate: 19200
Data bits: 8
Stop bits: 1
Parity: Even
Byte Order: Big-Endian (most significant byte sent first)
The baudrate and slave address are user configurable. Valid slave addresses
are 1 to 247. Setting the slave address to 255 will trigger a reset event, and
all settings will revert back to the original default, which is slave address
1 (i.e. if a sensor with a slave address of 5 is changed to 0, it will revert
to slave address 1). (This will also reset factory-calibrated values and
should NOT be done by the user unless otherwise instructed.)
Read only registers (function code 0x3).
Float Registers
0
1| calibrated output watts
2
3| detector millivolts
4
5| Reserved for Future Use
6
7| device status (1 means device is busy, 0 otherwise)
8
9| firmware version
Integer Registers
40| calibrated output watts (multiplied by 10)
41| detector millivolts (multiplied by 100)
42| Reserved for Future Use
43| device status (1 means device is busy, 0 otherwise)
44| firmware version (multiplied by 10)
Read/Write registers (function codes 0x3 and 0x10).
Writing to these registers has no effect on sensor settings until the user
has written to register 100. For example, to update the Slave Address, the
user must first write the desired address to register 20. Then the user must
also write to register 100 to save/store the new values.
Float Registers|
---|---
16
17| | slave address
18
19| | model number
20
21| | serial number
22
23| | baudrate (0 = 115200, 1= 57600, 2 = 38400, 3 = 19200, 4 = 9600, any
other number = 19200
24
25| | parity (0 = none, 1= odd, 2 = even)
26
27| | number of stop bits
28
29| | multiplier
30
31| | offset
32
33| | running average
34
35| | heater status
Integer Registers|
48| | slave address
49| | model number
50| | serial number
51| | baudrate (0 = 115200, 1= 57600, 2 = 38400, 3 = 19200, 4 = 9600, any
other number = 19200)
52| | parity (0 = none, 1= odd, 2 = even)
53| | number of stop bits
54| | multiplier (rounded down to nearest integer)
55| | offset (rounded down to nearest integer)
56| | running average
57| | heater status
Registers marked with an asterisk () cannot be written to unless a
specific procedure is followed. Contact Apogee Instruments to receive the
procedure for writing these registers.
Packet Framing:
Apogee sensors use Modbus RTU packets and tend to adhere to the following
pattern:
Slave Address (1 byte), Function Code (1 byte), Starting Address (2 bytes),
Number of Registers (2 bytes), Data Length (1 byte, optional) Data (n bytes,
optional)
Modbus RTU packets use the zero-based address when addressing registers.
For information on Modbus RTU framing, see the official documentation at
http://www.modbus.org/docs/Modbus_Application_Protocol_V1_1b3.pdf
Example Packets:
An example of a data packet sent from the controller to the sensor using
function code 0x3 reading register
address 0. Each pair of square brackets indicates one byte.
[Slave Address][Function][Starting Address High Byte][Starting Address Low
Byte][No of Registers High Byte][No of
Registers Low Byte][CRC High Byte][CRC Low Byte] 0x01 0x03 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x02
0xC4 0x0B
An example of a data packet sent from the controller to the sensor using
function code 0x10 writing a 1 to register 26. Each pair of square brackets
indicates one byte.
[Slave Address][Function][Starting Address High Byte][Starting Address Low
Byte][No of Registers High Byte][No of Registers Low Byte][Byte Count][Data
High Byte][Data Low Byte][Data High Byte][Data Low Byte][CRC High
Byte][CRC Low Byte] 0x01 0x10 0x00 0x1A 0x00 0x02 0x04 0x3f 0x80 0x00 0x00
0x7f 0x20.
Spectral Errors for Measurements with Silicon-cell Pyranometers
Apogee SP series pyranometers are calibrated under electric lamps in a
calibration laboratory. The calibration procedure simulates calibration under
clear sky conditions at a solar zenith angle of approximately 45°. However,
due to the limited spectral sensitivity of silicon-cell pyranometers compared
to the solar radiation spectrum (see graph below), spectral errors occur when
measurements are made in conditions that differ from the conditions the sensor
was calibrated under (e.g., the solar spectrum differs in a clear sky and
cloudy conditions, thus, measurements in cloudy conditions result in a
spectral error because sensors are calibrated in clear sky conditions).
Spectral response of Apogee SP series pyranometers compared to solar radiation
spectrum at Earth’s surface. Silicon-cell pyranometers, such as the Apogee SP
series, are only sensitive to the wavelength range of approximately 350-1100
nm and are not equally sensitive to all wavelengths within this range. As a
result, when the spectral content of solar radiation is significantly
different than the spectrum that silicon-cell pyranometers were calibrated to,
spectral errors result.
Silicon-cell pyranometers can still be used to measure shortwave radiation in
conditions other than clear sky or from radiation sources other than incoming
sunlight, but spectral errors occur when measuring radiation with silicon-cell
pyranometers in these conditions. The graphs below show spectral error
estimates for Apogee silicon cell pyranometers at varying solar zenith angles
and varying atmospheric air mass. The diffuser is optimized to minimize
directional errors, thus the cosine response graph in the Specifications
section shows the actual directional errors in practice (which includes
contributions from the spectral shift that occurs as solar zenith angle and
atmospheric air mass change with time of day and time of year). The table
below provides spectral error estimates for shortwave radiation measurements
from shortwave radiation sources other than clear sky solar radiation.
Spectral error for Apogee SP series pyranometers as a function of
solar zenith angle, assuming calibration at a zenith angle of 45°.
Spectral error for Apogee SP series pyranometers as a function of the
atmospheric air mass, assuming calibration at an air mass of 1.5.
Spectral Errors for Shortwave Radiation Measurements with Apogee SP Series
Pyranometers
Radiation Source (Error Calculated Relative to Sun, Clear Sky) | Error [%] |
---|---|
Sun (Clear Sky) | 0 |
Sun (Cloudy Sky) | 9.6 |
Reflected from Grass Canopy | 14.6 |
Reflected from Deciduous Canopy | 16 |
Reflected from Conifer Canopy | 19.2 |
Reflected from Agricultural Soil | -12.1 |
Reflected from Forest Soil | -4.1 |
Reflected from Desert Soil | 3 |
Reflected from Water | 6.6 |
Reflected from Ice | 0.3 |
Reflected from Snow | 13.7 |
MAINTENACE AND RECALIBRATION
Blocking the optical path between the target and detector can cause low readings. Occasionally, accumulated materials on the diffuser can block the optical path in three common ways:
- Moisture or debris on the diffuser.
- Dust during periods of low rainfall.
- Salt deposit accumulation from the evaporation of sea spray or sprinkler irrigation water.
Apogee Instruments pyranometers have a domed diffuser and housing for improved
self-cleaning from rainfall, but active cleaning may be necessary. Dust or
organic deposits are best removed using water, or window cleaner, and a soft
cloth or cotton swab. Salt deposits should be dissolved with vinegar and
removed with a cloth or cotton swab. Salt deposits cannot be removed with
solvents such as alcohol or acetone. Use only gentle pressure when cleaning
the diffuser with a cotton swab or soft cloth to avoid scratching the outer
surface. The solvent should be allowed to do the cleaning, not mechanical
force. Never use abrasive material or cleaner on the diffuser. Although Apogee
sensors are very stable, nominal accuracy drift is normal for all research-
grade sensors. To ensure maximum accuracy, we generally recommend sensors are
sent in for recalibration every two years, although you can often wait longer
according to your particular tolerances.
To determine if your sensor needs recalibration, the Clear Sky Calculator (
www.clearskycalculator.com) website
and/or smartphone app can be used to indicate the total shortwave radiation
incident on a horizontal surface at any time of day at any location in the
world. It is most accurate when used near solar noon in the spring and summer
months, where accuracy over multiple clear and unpolluted days is estimated to
be ± 4 % in all climates and locations around the world. For best accuracy,
the sky must be completely clear, as reflected radiation from clouds causes
incoming radiation to increase above the value predicted by the clear sky
calculator. Measured values of total shortwave radiation can exceed values
predicted by the Clear Sky Calculator due to reflection from thin, high clouds
and edges of clouds, which enhances incoming shortwave radiation. The
influence of high clouds typically shows up as spikes above clear sky values,
not a constant offset greater than clear sky values.
To determine recalibration needs, input site conditions into the calculator
and compare total shortwave radiation measurements to calculated values for a
clear sky. If sensor shortwave radiation measurements over multiple days near
solar noon are consistently different than calculated values (by more than 6
%), the sensor should be cleaned
and re-leveled. If measurements are still different after a second test, email
calibration@apogeeinstruments.com
to discuss test results and the possible return of sensor(s).
This calculator determines the intensity of radiation falling on a horizontal
surface at any time of the day in any location in the world. The primary use
of this calculator is to determine the need for the recalibration of radiation
sensors. It is most accurate when used near solar noon in the summer months.
This site was developed and maintained by:
Homepage of the Clear Sky Calculator. Two calculators are available: One for pyranometers (total shortwave radiation) and one for quantum sensors (photosynthetic photon flux density).
INPUT AND OUTPUT DEFINITIONS
Latitude = latitude of the measurement site [degrees]; for the southern
hemisphere, insert as a negative number; info may be obtained from
http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html
Longitude = longitude of the measurement site [degrees]; expressed as positive
degrees west of the standard meridian in Greenwich, England (e.g. 74° for New
York, 260° for Bangkok, Thailand, and 358° for Paris, France).
This site is developed and maintained by:
calibration@apogee-inst.com
Clear Sky Calculator for pyranometers. Site data are input in blue cells in the middle of page and an estimate of total shortwave radiation is returned on right-hand side of page.
TROUBLESHOOTING AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Independent Verification of Functionality
If the sensor does not communicate with the datalogger, use an ammeter to
check the current drain. It should be near 37 mA when the sensor is powered.
Any current drain significantly greater than approximately 37 mA indicates a
problem with the power supply to the sensors, wiring of the sensor, or sensor
electronics.
Compatible Measurement Devices (Dataloggers/Controllers/Meters)
Any datalogger or meter with RS-232/RS-485 that can read/write float or
integer values. An example datalogger program for Campbell Scientific
dataloggers can be found at
https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/content/Pyranometer-Modbus.CR1.
Cable Length
All Apogee sensors use shielded cable to minimize electromagnetic
interference. For best communication, the shield wire must be connected to the
earth’s ground. This is particularly important when using the sensor with long
lead lengths in electromagnetically noisy environments.
RS-232 Cable Length
If using an RS-232 serial interface, the cable length from the sensor to the
controller should be kept short, no longer than 20 meters. For more
information, see section 3.3.5 in this document:
http://www.modbus.org/docs/Modbus_over_serial_line_V1_02.pdf
RS-485 Cable Length
If using an RS-485 serial interface, longer cable lengths may be used. The
trunk cable can be up to 1000 meters long. The length of cable from the sensor
to a tap on the trunk should be short, no more than 20 meters. For more
information, see section 3.4 in this document:
http://www.modbus.org/docs/Modbus_over_serial_line_V1_02.pdf
Troubleshooting Tips
- Make sure to use the green wire to select between RS-232 and RS-485.
- Make sure that the sensor is wired correctly (refer to wiring diagram).
- Make sure the sensor is powered by a power supply with a sufficient output (e.g., 12 V).
- Make sure to use the appropriate kind of variable when reading Modbus registers. Use a float variable for float registers and an integer variable for integer registers.
- Make sure the baud rate, stop bits, parity, byte order, and protocols match between the control program and the sensor. Default values are:
o Baudrate: 19200
o Stop bits: 1
o Parity: Even
o Byte order: ABCD (Big-Endian/Most Significant Byte First)
o Protocol: RS-232 or RS-485
RETURN AND WARRANTY POLICY
RETURN POLICY
Apogee Instruments will accept returns within 30 days of purchase as long as
the product is in new condition (to be determined by Apogee). Returns are
subject to a 10 % restocking fee.
WARRANTY POLICY
What is Covered
All products manufactured by Apogee Instruments are warranted to be free from
defects in materials and craftsmanship for a period of four (4) years from the
date of shipment from our factory. To be considered for warranty coverage an
item must be evaluated by Apogee.
Products not manufactured by Apogee (spectroradiometers, chlorophyll content
meters, EE08-SS probes) are covered for a period of one (1) year.
What is Not Covered
The customer is responsible for all costs associated with the removal,
reinstallation, and shipping of suspected warranty items to our factory.
The warranty does not cover equipment that has been damaged due to the following conditions:
- Improper installation or abuse.
- Operation of the instrument outside of its specified operating range.
- Natural occurrences such as lightning, fire, etc.
- Unauthorized modification.
- Improper or unauthorized repair.
Please note that nominal accuracy drift is normal over time. Routine recalibration of sensors/meters is considered part of proper maintenance and is not covered under warranty.
Who is Covered
This warranty covers the original purchaser of the product or other party who
may own it during the warranty period.
What Apogee Will Do
At no charge Apogee will:
- Either repair or replace (at our discretion) the item under warranty.
- Ship the item back to the customer by the carrier of our choice.
Different or expedited shipping methods will be at the customer’s expense.
How To Return An Item
-
Please do not send any products back to Apogee Instruments until you have received a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number from our technical support department by submitting an online RMA form at www.apogeeinstruments.com/tech-support-recalibration-repairs/. We will use your RMA number for tracking the
service item. Call 435-245-8012 or email techsupport@apogeeinstruments.com with questions. -
For warranty evaluations, send all RMA sensors and meters back in the following condition: Clean the sensor’s exterior and cord. Do not modify the sensors or wires, including splicing, cutting wire leads, etc. If a connector has been attached to the cable end, please include the mating connector – otherwise, the sensor connector will be removed in order to complete the repair/recalibration. Note: When sending back sensors for routine calibration that have Apogee’s standard stainless-steel connectors, you only need to send the sensor with the 30 cm section of cable and one-half of the connector. We have mating connectors at our factory that can be used for calibrating the sensor.
-
Please write the RMA number on the outside of the shipping container.
-
Return the item with freight pre-paid and fully insured to our factory address shown below. We are not responsible for any costs associated with the transportation of products across international borders.
Apogee Instruments, Inc.
721 West 1800 North Logan, UT
84321, USA -
Upon receipt, Apogee Instruments will determine the cause of failure. If the product is found to be defective in terms of operation to the published specifications due to a failure of product materials or craftsmanship, Apogee Instruments will repair or replace the items free of charge. If it is determined that your product is not covered under warranty, you will be informed and given an estimated repair/replacement cost.
PRODUCTS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD
For issues with sensors beyond the warranty period, please contact Apogee at techsupport@apogeeinstruments.com to discuss repair or replacement options.
OTHER TERMS
The available remedy of defects under this warranty is for the repair or
replacement of the original product, and Apogee Instruments is not responsible
for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but
not limited to loss of income, loss of revenue, loss of profit, loss of data,
loss of wages, loss of time, loss of sales, accruement of debts or expenses,
injury to personal property, or injury to any person or any other type of
damage or loss.
This limited warranty and any disputes arising out of or in connection with
this limited warranty (“Disputes”) shall be governed by the laws of the State
of Utah, USA, excluding conflicts of law principles and excluding the
Convention for the International Sale of Goods. The courts located in the
State of Utah, USA, shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any Disputes.
This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have
other rights, which vary from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction,
and which shall not be affected by this limited warranty. This warranty
extends only to you and cannot by transferred or assigned. If any provision of
this limited warranty is unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision
shall be deemed severable and shall not affect any remaining provisions. In
case of any inconsistency between the English and other versions of this
limited warranty, the English version shall prevail. This warranty cannot be
changed, assumed, or amended by any other person or agreement
APOGEE INSTRUMENTS, INC. | 721 WEST 1800 NORTH, LOGAN, UTAH 84321, USA
TEL: 435-792-4700 | FAX:
435-787-8268 | WEB:
APOGEEINSTRUMENTS.COM
Copyright © 2022 Apogee Instruments, Inc.
References
- Recalibration and Repair | Apogee Instruments
- Clear Sky Calculator | Apogee Instruments Inc.
- Clear Sky Calculator | Apogee Instruments Inc.
- apogeeinstruments.com/content/Pyranometer-Modbus.CR1
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