1 Getting Started
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especially on cloudy days where diffuse light makes up a significant part of
total irradiance. Also avoid locations that have substantial albedo effects
(reflections).
• Location should have good line of sight to the combiner boxes or other
locations where you will be using your PC.
• If you plan to use thermocouples to measure module backside temperature,
locate the tripod close enough to a sub-array that you can attach the tip of
the thermocouple well under the modules, away from the cooler outer edges
of the array. A thermocouple extension cable may be useful; contact
support@solmetric.com for recommendations.
3. Fully spread the legs of the tripod and seat them firmly.
4. Connect the thermocouple wire to SolSensor and attach the thermocouple tip to
the backside of a PV module. Avoid attaching it near the edges of the module,
which run cooler than normal.
5. If you will be averaging the readings of two thermocouples, also deploy the
second thermocouple.
6. Adjust the leveling unit to center the bubble, and then lock the leveling unit.
7. Rotate the panning unit to orient SolSensor to the desired true azimuth, then lock
panning unit. Be sure your compass has been adjusted for the local magnetic
declination. A magnetic declination calculator is available at
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/?id=declinationFormId
To avoid distortion of the earth's magnetic field by components in SolSensor or
the tripod mounting hardware, separate the compass horizontally from
SolSensor by inserting a non-ferrous rectangular spacer.
8. Rotate the tilt unit until the tilt angle indicated in the PV Analyzer software
matches the actual tilt of the PV array, and then lock the tilt unit.
CAUTION: Your irradiance measurement accuracy depends upon correct orientation of
SolSensor. It is important that the above steps be carried out in the order listed, to
keep the tilt and azimuth adjustments independent of one another.
Connecting to the Solar PV Equipment
Installed PV systems vary in design and construction. Therefore, the guidance provided
in this section is general in nature, and it is critical that you apply techniques and
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