.
Throughout this manual the following symbols are used to indicate to the user important information.
General warning about conditions, other than those caused by high voltage electricity, which may result in physical
injury and/or damage to the equipment or cause the equipment to not operate correctly.
Note Useful information for the user
1.1 Product overview
According to International Standard ISO 9060:1990 and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) a pyranometer is the
designated type of instrument for the measurement of hemispherical (global or diuse) solar radiation integrated over the
wavelength range from 0.3 m to 3 m (300 nm to 3000 nm). All pyranometers within the SMP series are compliant with one
of the classes specified by the international standard.
This manual, together with the SmartExplorer manual and instruction sheet, provides information related to the installation,
maintenance, calibration, product specifications and applications of the SMP series pyranometers.
If any questions should remain, please contact your local Kipp & Zonen representative or e-mail the Kipp & Zonen customer and
product support department at: support@kippzonen.com
Please go to www.kippzonen.com for information about other Kipp & Zonen products, or to check for any updates to this manual
or software.
1.1.1 The pyranometer
The SMP series instruments are high quality radiometers designed for measuring short-wave irradiance on a plane surface
(radiant flux, W/m²), which results from the sum of the direct solar radiation and the diuse sky radiation incident from the
hemisphere above the instrument.
SMP pyranometers feature internal digital signal processing and interfaces optimised for industrial data acquisition and control
systems. Kipp & Zonen has developed a smart interface that features RS-485 Modbus® data communication for connection to
programmable logic controllers (PLC’s), inverters, digital control equipment and the latest generation of data loggers. Amplified
Voltage or Current outputs are also included for devices that have high-level analogue inputs or current loop interfaces.
All models are available in two versions. One has an analogue voltage output of 0 to 1 V, the other has an analogue current
output of 4 to 20 mA. They all have a 2-wire RS-485 interface with Modbus® (RTU) protocol.
Digital signal processing provides faster response times and, with an integrated temperature sensor, corrects for the temperature
dependence of the detector sensitivity.
To achieve the required spectral and directional characteristics SMP Series pyranometers use thermopile detectors and glass
domes. All SMP’s have built-in bubble levels and adjustable levelling feet. Snap-on sun shields reduce solar heating of the
housings. The waterproof connectors have gold-plated contacts.
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The pyranometers are normally delivered with a waterproof plug pre-wired to a high quality signal cable, typically this is 10 m
long but other lengths are available. The instruments can also be ordered without a cable or with a plug only, for the user to fit
their own cable.
From all SMP’s only the SMP11 has an external replaceable drying cartridge, all other have an internal desiccant that is guaranteed
for 10 years.
SMP3 is smaller and lighter than the other SMP series pyranometers. It features a 64-junction thermopile sensing element with
a highly absorptive and spectrally flat black coating to capture incoming radiation and convert it to an electrical signal. This
detector is protected by a high quality glass dome which is 4 mm thick. The housing is completely sealed.
SMP 6 uses the same sensing element as SMP3 but has improved performance due to the double glass dome construction and
the increased thermal mass of the larger housing. The glass used has better transmission of ultraviolet radiation than the SMP3
glass. The two high quality concentric domes, 2 mm thick, reduce directional error and improve thermal isolation.
SMP10 and SMP11 have a 32-junction thermopile sensing element which features faster response, better linearity and a wider
measurement range than the SMP3 and SMP6. SMP10 and SMP11 have built-in temperature compensation. The SMP10 has
internal desiccant that lasts for 10 years and the SMP11 has a removable drying cartridge.
SMP21 is similar to the SMP11 but has individually optimised temperature compensation and a sensor is fitted to monitor the
housing temperature. Each instrument is supplied with its own temperature and directional response for post-processing of
recorded data by the user. A Pt-100 temperature sensor can be ordered instead of the standard 10 k thermistor.
SMP22 has all the features of SMP21 but uses two 4 mm thick very high quality quartz domes for a wider spectral range and
reduced thermal osets. Because of the high optical quality and refractive index of these domes the directional error is greatly
reduced.
Features and specifications of all SMP pyranometers are explained later in this manual.
1.1.2 International Standards
SMP3 is fully compliant with the requirements of ISO 9060:1990 for a Second Class Pyranometer.
SMP6 is fully compliant with the requirements of ISO 9060:1990 for a First Class Pyranometer.
SMP10, SMP11, SMP21 and SMP22 are fully compliant with the requirements of ISO 9060:1990 for a Secondary Standard Pyranometer.
SMP series pyranometers are calibrated in accordance with Annex A.3 of ISO 9847 ‘Calibration of Field Pyranometers by
Comparison to a Reference Pyranometer’. Annex A.3 refers to ‘Calibration Devices Using Artificial Sources’. Calibrations are
traceable to the World Radiometric Reference (WRR) in Davos, Switzerland.
SMP series pyranometers comply with IEC 60904-1 ‘Photovoltaic devices - Part 1: Measurement of Photovoltaic Current-Voltage
Characteristics’.
1.2 Key parts of the SMP3 pyranometer
1.3 Key parts of the SMP series pyranometer
1.4 Key parts of the SMP11 pyranometer
SMP series • Smart Pyranometer
Instruction Manual
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