DAVIS Solar Radiation Sensor for GroWeather and EnviroMonitor - Manual

Product # 7821, 7823, 6450
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S T A N D A R D , I N D U S T R I A L , &
V A N T A G E P R O V E R S I O N S
The Davis Solar Radiation Sensor is a precision instrument that detects radia-
tion at wavelengths of 300 to 1100 nanometers. The spectral response of the sil-
icon photodiode detector is a good match to the spectrum of solar irradiance.
Avoid touching the small white diffuser at the top of the sensor. Any skin oil
on this surface will degrade the sensitivity of the sensor. To remove any oil
present, clean the diffuser with a clean swab and ethyl (denatured) alcohol. Do
NOT use rubbing alcohol.
The sensor is made up of the following components:
✦ Shield
The outer shell shields the sensor body from thermal radiation and pro-
vides a path for convection cooling of the body, minimizing heating of
the sensor interior. It provides a cutoff ring for cosine response, a level
indicator, and fins to aid in aligning the sensor with the sun’s rays.
✦ Body
The body houses the following components:
✦ Diffuser
Welded to the body for a weather-tight seal. Provides excellent
cosine response.
✦ Detector
An hermetically-sealed silicon photodiode.
✦ Amplifier
The amplifier converts the detector current into a 0 to +2.5V signal.
✦ Cable
The standard version of the sensor includes an attached 40' (12 m)
standard cable. The industrial version includes a 16' (5 m) shielded
cable. The Vantage Pro version comes with a 3' (0.9 m) standard
cable.