Apogee MP Series User manual
APOGEE INSTRUMENTS, INC. | 721 WEST 1800 NORTH, LOGAN, UTAH 84321, USA
TEL: (435) 792-4700 | FAX: (435) 787-8268 | WEB: APOGEEINSTRUMENTS.COM
Copyright © 2021 Apogee Instruments, Inc.
OWNER’S MANUAL
SOLAR RADIATION METER
Models MP-100 and MP-200
Rev: 1-Jun-2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Owner’s Manual ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Certificate of Compliance......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Sensor Models ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Specifications ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Deployment and Installation.................................................................................................................................................... 9
Battery Installation and Replacement.................................................................................................................................... 10
Operation and Measurement ................................................................................................................................................ 11
Apogee AMS Software ........................................................................................................................................................... 15
Maintenance and Recalibration............................................................................................................................................. 17
Troubleshooting and Customer Support................................................................................................................................ 19
Return and Warranty Policy................................................................................................................................................... 21
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: MP-100, MP-200
Type: Pyranometer Meter
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
diphenyls (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 rely on the information provided to us by our material suppliers.
Signed for and on behalf of:
Apogee Instruments, June 2021
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 MP series solar radiation meters
incorporate silicon-cell pyranometers, and are only sensitive to a portion of the solar spectrum, approximately
350-1100 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)
Class C classification, but because of limited spectral sensitivity, they do not meet the spectral specification
necessary for WMO certification.
Typical applications of silicon-cell pyranometers include incoming shortwave radiation measurement in
agricultural, ecological, hydrological weather networks, and solar panel arrays.
Apogee Instruments MP series solar radiation meters consist of a handheld meter and a dedicated pyranometer
that is integrated into the top of the meter housing (MP-100) or connected by cable to an anodized aluminum
housing (MP-200). Integrated and separate sensors consist of a cast acrylic diffuser (filter), photodiode, and are
potted solid with no internal air space. MP series meters provide a real-time irradiance reading on the LCD display
that determines the radiation incident on a planar surface (does not have to be horizontal), where the radiation
emanates from all angles of a hemisphere. MP series meters include manual and automatic data logging features
for making spot-check measurements or calculating daily solar insolation.
SENSOR MODELS
Apogee MP series solar radiation meters covered in this manual are self-contained and come complete with
handheld meter and sensor.
Sensor model number and serial number are
located on a label on the backside of the handheld
meter.
MP-100
MP-200
SPECIFICATIONS
Calibration Traceability
Apogee Instruments MP series solar radiation meters 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 are 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.
MP-100
MP-200
ISO 9060:2018
Class C (previously known as second class)
Calibration Uncertainty
± 5 % (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 1750 W m-2)
Response Time
Less than 1 ms
Field of View
180º
Spectral Range
360 to 1120 nm (wavelengths where response is 10 % of maximum;
see Spectral Response below)
Directional (Cosine)
Response
± 5 % at 75º zenith angle (see Cosine Response below)
Temperature Response
0.04 ± 0.04 % per C (see Temperature Response below)
Operating Environment
0 to 50 C; less than 90 % non-condensing relative humidity up to 30 C; less than
70 % non-condensing relative humidity from 30 to 50 C; separate sensors can be
submerged in water up to depths of 30 m
Meter Dimensions
126 mm length; 70 mm width; 24 mm height;
Sensor Dimensions
24 mm diameter; 33 mm height
Mass
150 g
180 g
Cable
2 m of two conductor, shielded, twisted-pair wire; TPR jacket (high water
resistance, high UV stability, flexibility in cold conditions)
Spectral Response
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.
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.
Cosine Response
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 (BORCAL) 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.
Directional, or cosine, 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.
DEPLOYMENT AND INSTALLATION
Apogee MP series solar radiation meters are designed for spot-check measurements, and calculation of daily
insolation (total solar radiation incident on a planar surface over the course of a day) through the built-in logging
feature. To accurately measure global shortwave radiation incident on a horizontal surface, the sensor must be
level. For this purpose, each MP model comes with a different option for mounting the sensor to a horizontal
plane.
In addition to leveling, all sensors should also be mounted such that obstructions (e.g., weather station
tripod/tower or other instrumentation) do not shade the sensor.
The AL-210 leveling plate is recommended
for use with the MP-100.
The AL-100 leveling plate is recommended
for use with the MP-200. To facilitate
mounting to a cross arm, the AL-120
mounting bracket is recommended.
BATTERY INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Use a phillips head screwdriver to remove the screw from the battery cover. Remove the battery cover by slightly
lifting and sliding the outer edge of the cover away from the meter.
To power the meter, slide the included battery (CR2320) into the battery holder, after removing the battery door
from the meter’s back panel.
The positive side (designated by a “+” sign) should be facing out from the meter circuit board.
NOTE: The battery cradle can be damaged by using an incorrectly sized battery. If the battery cradle is damaged,
the circuit board will need to be replaced. To avoid this costly problem, use only a CR2320 battery.
Battery Removal
Press down on the battery with a screwdriver or similar object. Slide battery out.
If the battery is difficult to move, turn the meter on its side so that the opening for the battery is facing downward
and tap the meter downward against an open palm to dislodge the battery enough so that it can be removed with
your thumb to slide the battery out of the battery holder.
This manual suits for next models
2
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