Kipp & Zonen

Ventilation of solar radiation instruments improves the reliability and accuracy of the measurement by reducing dome soiling by dust and dirt. With thermopile-based pyranometers and pyrgeometers ventilation stabilizes the temperature of the radiometer and reduces thermal offsets. The integrated heater can be powered to prevent dew formation, disperse precipitation and melt frost, ice or snow on the dome. Using ventilation and heating maximizes the up-time of good quality data and extends the cleaning interval. CVF4 is a low power, low maintenance ventilation unit. The only part that needs maintenance is the air inlet filter, which should be checked at regular intervals and cleaned or replaced when necessary. No tools are required for this and the unit is supplied with 5 spare filters. There is a 5 V pulse signal so that the fan speed can be monitored. The air flow that the CVF4 creates is unique; it swirls to improve the distribution over the top of the dome. This has now been further improved using an optimally shaped air duct and a new fan that has higher air flow and is waterproof. The interface electronics have also been redesigned. As a result, the improved CVF4 now comes with a 5-year warranty and it is protected to IP68. CVF4 is designed to be used with Kipp & Zonen’s: CMP / SMP pyranometers CGR / SGR pyrgeometer CUV5 / SUV5, SUV-A, SUV-B and SUV-E ultraviolet radiometers CVF4 can be mounted on our SOLYS2 and SOLYS Gear Drive sun trackers and the CM121C shadow ring.

MT2 is a digital PV temperature sensor delivering high‑accuracy back‑of‑module and ambient temperature measurements via Modbus RS485, enabling reliable solar performance ratio and solar panel efficiency analysis.

The AMPBOX is a current loop amplifier for the complete range of solar radiometers. Most radiometers have no power supply, the measured radiation is used to create an output signal in the mV range and amplification is often required, especially when signal cables of more than 50 m are used between the radiometer and data collection equipment. The input and output of the AMPBOX are galvanically isolated to minimize feedback and to protect the data collection equipment. When installation is in EMC-unfriendly environments, amplification can prevent interference problems. The 4 to20 mA interface makes it easy to connect to most data collection equipment. An output of 2 to 10 Volt can be created with the use of a 500 Ω resistor and a suitable power supply. As standard amplification is set to 2 mV input equals 1 mA output. On request the amplification can be adjusted to suit the sensitivity of a specific radiometer, for example with a pyranometer this results in 4 to 20 mA equals 0 to 1600 W/m². AMPBOX is IP66 approved and suitable, like all Kipp & Zonen radiometers, for outdoor installation under all weather conditions. Two cable glands and large internal screw terminals allow for easy connection of radiometer and output wires. Radiometer temperature sensors can be connected and passed through AMPBOX (without amplification).

The Kipp & Zonen SOLYS2 is a versatile sun tracking solution, a wide range of radiometers can be mounted. The integrated GPS automatically configures location and time, so the instrument does not suffer from internal clock drift. Solar position and status monitoring information are available via the communication ports. An optional sun sensor is available for active tracking, to correct for motion in a support affected by changing environmental conditions. SOLYS2 has both an isolated 4-wire RS-485 port and an Ethernet port for communication with the free SOLYSMonitor Windows™ software, or with data acquisition systems. RS-485 is particularly suited to a permanent remote access connection to regularly obtain the calculated sun position (zenith and azimuth angles) and the GPS time. Applications: For use in harsher climates and to carry multiple instruments. Meteorology, climatology and BSRN stations. Solar energy site prospecting and plant monitoring.

The Kipp & Zonen SOLYS Gear Drive is a high-end sun tracker for all weather conditions and locations. It builds on the features of the SOLYS2 and has enhanced capabilities that make it suitable for use with heavy loads up to 80 kg and in the harshest climates, such as polar conditions. SOLYS Gear Drive has the power to point accurately at the sun in very high winds, and to break the ice that can build up overnight when the tracker is ‘sleeping’. Due to the very high torque and large range of available mounting plates and adapters, multiple loads can be mounted and used in extreme climates. Applications: Designed for use in extreme climates; very hot, very cold, and high wind speeds. Can carry a large number of instruments and heavy loads. Ideal for many scientific research purposes.

The Kipp & Zonen RaZON+ is an all-in-one system that accurately measures both direct normal irradiance (DNI) and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) from the sun and sky, enabling it to provide very reliable values of global horizontal solar irradiance (GHI) and sunshine duration. The integrated data logger presents the irradiance measurements in W/m², sunshine duration in hours and energy in kWh/m² (kilowatt-hours per square meter). RaZON+ is fitted as standard with the PR1 pyranometer and PH1 pyrheliometer. A base version is also available for mounting SMP/SHP radiometers. Even though the standard RaZON+ instrument specifications are Class C, the calculated GHI is as accurate as the Kipp & Zonen SMP10 Class A pyranometer. The uncertainty of the PH1 is proven to be within 1% of Kipp & Zonen CHP1 and SHP1 pyrheliometers. Applications: It is a perfect fit for small meteorological stations, used in temperate climates. Ideal for solar energy resource mapping, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) and tracking PV site prospecting. Continuous power plant monitoring.

The new Lufft CHM 8k ceilometer empowers meteorologists at weather services and airports to make the right decisions with highest confidence and minimal maintenance. Especially in the critical height below 1 km, the Lufft CHM 8k detects cloud bases in any place and season with outstanding precision and reliability. Internal data storage and a battery backup enable unmatched sensor uptime and data availability even at the harshest conditions.

The CHM15k ceilometer measures aerosol backscatter profiles and cloud bases up to 15 km height. The unit has a solid state laser integrated and operates at 1064 nm, a wavelength where water absorption is not an issue. The detection unit is measuring in photoncounting mode. The CHM15k belongs to an instrument class, which are also called micro pulse lidars (MPL). It is mainly used in the science market operated by met services, environmental agencies and research institutes. The CHM15k is used whenever the whole tropheric range is of interest." This particular model is designed for a 230 VAC power connection.

The CHM15k ceilometer measures aerosol backscatter profiles and cloud bases up to 15 km height. The unit has a solid state laser integrated and operates at 1064 nm, a wavelength where water absorption is not an issue. The detection unit is measuring in photoncounting mode. The CHM15k belongs to an instrument class, which are also called micro pulse lidars (MPL). It is mainly used in the science market operated by met services, environmental agencies and research institutes. The CHM15k is used whenever the whole tropheric range is of interest." This particular model is designed for a 230 VAC power connection.

Millimeter-accurate snow levels in all weather conditions: The SHM31 operates with a visible measuring beam pointing to ground. It can be mounted up to 16 m high above the snow-free ground. Measurements can be done within seconds, millimeter-accurate and reliable. Various heating functions significantly extend the lifetime of the laser diode and allow high-quality measurement data in all weather conditions. A very robust housing and an elaborate operation principle reduces service work to cleaning the housing before the snow season starts. The calibration can be checked with the reference target plate set at the same time as the window is cleaned. Maintenance work is reduced to the exchange of the laser diode once or twice within the lifetime of the SHM31.

OTT Pluvio² Weighing Rain Gauge is a high‑precision precipitation sensor delivering accurate measurement of rain, snow, hail, and precipitation intensity.

OTT Pluvio² Weighing Rain Gauge is a high‑precision precipitation sensor delivering accurate measurement of rain, snow, hail, and precipitation intensity.

The Ott Pluvio² S weighing precipitation gauge measures the intensity and cumulative precipitation in a broad measuring range from 0 to 3,000 mm/h. The professional rain gauge is a further development of the tried-and-tested Ott Pluvio², with state-of-the-art technology in a compact design that captures up to 400 mm of precipitation on a collecting area of 200 cm². It is virtually maintenance-free, fits onto 2-inch pedestals, needs little space and can replace conventional rain gauges or tipping buckets without any structural work.

Ott PARSIVEL² Laser Present Weather Sensor is a high‑precision optical disdrometer for accurate measurement of precipitation type, intensity, drop size distribution, and visibility—ideal for meteorology, aviation, hydrology, and climate monitoring.

RDE300i™ is an in‑situ PV module measurement system that delivers real‑time I‑V curves, power output, irradiance, and soiling loss data to accurately assess and optimize solar panel efficiency.

RC22™ is a compact PV reference cell designed for high‑accuracy irradiance measurement in monofacial and bifacial solar systems.

Soiling monitoring system that measures light transmission losses on PV modules caused by dust and other airborne particles.

RDE300i™ is an in‑situ PV module measurement system that delivers real‑time I‑V curves, power output, irradiance, and soiling loss data to accurately assess and optimize solar panel efficiency.

The SMP3 is a smart pyranometer with low maintenance and industry standard digital and analogue amplified outputs. Based on the proven CMP3 technology the SMP3 adds Modbus® interface, improved response time and temperature corrected measurement data. The wide and low power supply range from 5 to 30 VDC makes integration in meteorological stations easy. The SMP is protected against over voltage, reversed polarity and short circuiting. Because all SMP’s have identical sensitivity and connections, exchanging instruments during recalibration is easy. SmartExplorer Windows™ for data logging, display of data and Modbus® address setting is provided as standard. SMP3 measures global solar radiation on a horizontal plane. When tilted with the same angle as a PV panel it measures the tilted global radiation for PV module efficiency calculations.

The SMP6 is a Spectrally Flat Class B pyranometer that combines the sensor technology and housing from the CMP6. The SMP6 has both digital and analogue outputs and is low maintenance, extremely robust and reliable. It also comes with 5 years warranty. The SMP6 has an internal desiccant that will last for at least 10 years, which minimizes maintenance significantly. The interval for dome cleaning can be extended, and the quality of measurements maximized, by fitting SMP6 with the CVF4 ventilation unit. The SMP6 has a RS-485 Modbus® RTU interface, amplified analogue output, improved response time and temperature corrected measurement data. The wide and low power supply range from 5 to 30 VDC makes integration in meteorological and solar energy stations easy. Thanks to standardized output and connections of every SMP6, exchanging instruments for recalibration is easy. SmartExplorer Windows™ software for data logging, display of data and Modbus® address setting is provided as standard.

The CM4 High Temperature Pyranometer is a radiometer specially designed for measuring solar or artificial light irradiance under the most extreme temperature conditions. With an operating temperature range of -40 ºC to +150 ºC and measurement up to 4000 W/m² it is a unique product. All the radiometer components are specially selected for their ability to withstand these extremely high temperatures and irradiance. The CM4 is supplied with a 10 m high temperature signal cable fitted to the instrument. The CM4 High Temperature Pyranometer has internal first-order temperature compensation, but it is also supplied with a built in Pt-100 temperature sensor to provide additional information on the measurement conditions. Monitoring the temperature during operations allows easy data correction afterwards for improved measurement accuracy. CM4 is supplied with a calibration table that gives the instrument sensitivity for a number of measurement temperature ranges and the maximum error in the measured irradiance values within each range. The screw-in drying cartridge is easy to remove and the replacement desiccant is supplied in convenient refill packets.

The SUV5 is a general-purpose instrument for applications in meteorology, for material testing, for monitoring of lamps and for use in ageing tests in solar simulators. The high quality dome and diffuser give optimized directional response. An optical filter provides sensitivity to combined UVA and UVB irradiance. The SUV5 is not suitable for the measurement of specific parts of the UV spectrum such as UVA, UVB or UVE / UV Index. For measurement of these individual parameters our SUV-A, B or E are quired. The SUV5 has a Modbus® interface, amplified analogue output, fast response time and temperature corrected measurement data. The wide and low power supply range from 5 to 30 VDC makes integration in meteorological and industrial application easy. The SUV5 is extremely robust and comes with 5 years warranty. Thanks to standardized output and connections of every SUV5, exchanging instruments for recalibration is easy.

The SUV-A series offers the latest detector technology, digital signal processing and Modbus® output and covers the UV-A spectrum 315-400nm. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the Sun’s light spectrum that reaches the earth. UV radiation breaks down into wavelengths that are invisible to the naked eye. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. They decrease in length from A to C but increase in intensity, meaning that the shorter the wavelength, the more potential for damage. Fortunately, only UVA and UVB rays can penetrate the earth’s atmosphere. With the new SUV-A and SUV-B you can measure both single wavelengths.

The SUV-B series offers the latest detector technology, digital signal processing and Modbus® output and covers the UV-B spectrum 280-315 nm. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the Sun’s light spectrum that reaches the earth. UV radiation breaks down into wavelengths that are invisible to the naked eye. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. They decrease in length from A to C but increase in intensity, meaning that the shorter the wavelength, the more potential for damage. Fortunately, only UVA and UVB rays can penetrate the earth’s atmosphere. With the new SUV-A and SUV-B you can measure both single wavelengths.

The SUV-E measures according to ISO 17166:1999 and CIE/S 007/E-1999 the erythemally active UV radiation that causes harm to human skin. It converts the irradiance in W/m2 into the UV Index for public health information. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the Sun’s light spectrum that reaches the earth. UV radiation breaks down into wavelengths that are invisible to the naked eye. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. They decrease in length from A to C but increase in intensity, meaning that the shorter the wavelength, the more potential for damage. Fortunately, only UVA and UVB rays can penetrate the earth’s atmosphere.

The CUV5 is a general-purpose instrument for applications in meteorology, for material testing, for monitoring of lamps and for use in ageing tests in solar simulators. The high quality dome and diffuser give optimized directional response. An optical filter provides sensitivity to combined UVA and UVB irradiance. The CUV5 is not suitable for the measurement of specific parts of the UV spectrum such as UVA, UVB or UVE / UV Index. For measurement of these individual parameters our SUV A,B or E are quired. The CUV5 has an analogue output and fast response. The CUV5 is extremely robust and comes with 5 years warranty.

NR Lite2 is designed for routine measurement of net radiation which is the balance between incoming and outgoing radiation under outdoor conditions. The design of the NR Lite2 is unique. The double-sided detector has black conical absorbers with an anti-stick weather resistant protective coating. The NR Lite2 has a virtually maintenance free design. The output voltage is proportional to the net radiation. It can be directly connected to voltmeter or data logger with an mV input.

The CNR4 net radiometer measures the energy balance between incoming short-wave and long-wave Far Infrared (FIR) radiation versus surface-reflected short-wave and outgoing long-wave radiation. The CNR4 net radiometer consists of a pyranometer pair, one facing upward, the other facing downward, and a pyrgeometer pair in a similar configuration. The upper long-wave detector of CNR4 has a meniscus dome. This ensures that water droplets roll off easily and improves the field of view to nearly 180°, compared with a 150° for a flat window. Two temperature sensors, a Pt-100 and Thermistor, are integrated for compatibility with every data logger. The temperature sensor is used to provide information to correct the infrared readings for the temperature of the instrument housing. The design is very light in weight and has an integrated sun shield that reduces thermal effects on both long-wave and short-wave measurements. The mounting rod can be unscrewed for transport. An optional CNF4 ventilation unit with heater is designed as an extension of the sunshield and can be fitted new to the CNR4 or retro-fitted later. This unit is compact and provides efficient air-flow over the domes and windows to minimize the formation of dew and reduce the frequency of cleaning. The integrated heater can be used to melt frost.

The CHP1 pyrheliometer is the most commonly used radiometer for the measurement of direct normal irradiance (DNI) and offers high accuracy and reliability. CHP1 fully complies with the most current ISO and WMO performance criteria for First Class Normal Incidence Pyrheliometer. Every CHP1 is calibrated upon manufacture, and is supplied standard with a WRR (World Radiometric Reference) traceable calibration certificate. The CHP1 is fitted with a high quality connector for easy installation and maintenance. The screw-in drying cartridge is easy to remove and the replacement desiccant is supplied in convenient refill packets. As standard CHP1 come with both Pt-100 and 10k thermistor temperature sensors. The instrument covers the total solar spectrum between 200 to 4000 nm. CHP1 is intended for use with any model Kipp & Zonen two-axis Tracker. The CHP1 is the perfect choice for high accuracy direct solar radiation measurements.

The combination of the CHP 1 sensor technology with smart interface advantages makes the SHP1 the best commercially available pyrheliometer. The smart interface not only provides versatile outputs, the integrated temperature sensor and digital polynomial functions also provide individual correction for the temperature sensitivity of the detector from -40 °C to +80 °C. The improved response time and the standardised output make it easy to interchange instruments for recalibration. Thanks to the Modbus® protocol, a range of instrument status and configuration information is available, with user-selectable options. SHP1 pyrheliometers have extremely low power consumption so that internal heating does not affect the detector performance. They operate from a wide range of supply voltages, making them ideal for power-critical applications. The power input is protected against reversed polarity, over voltage and short-circuits. SHP1 pyrheliometer is available in two versions, one has an analogue output of 0-1 V, the other is 4-20 mA. Both have a 2-wire RS-485 interface with Modbus® (RTU) protocol. The analogue outputs allow easy connection to virtually any data logger without the need for sensitive mV inputs. Modbus® interfaces directly to RTU’s, PLC’s, SCADA systems, industrial networks and controllers. A recalibrated instrument keeps the same analogue and digital measurement ranges, saving time by eliminating re-scaling of data collection equipment. The SHP1 is supplied with a comprehensive, traceable, calibration certificate. SmartExplorer Windows™ software for data logging, display of data and Modbus® address setting is provided as standard and SHP1 has a 5-year warranty.

CGR4 pyrgeometer is an instrument for the highest quality scientific measurements. The specially designed meniscus dome provides a 180° field of view with negligible directional response error. A hard-carbon coating on the outside of the dome smoothes the spectral response and provides extra protection to the silicon surface. The excellent thermal stability of the dome construction and coupling to the instrument body eliminates the need for dome temperature measurements or dome shading. CGR4 can be fitted with the CVF4 ventilation unit to further improve its performance. A waterproof socket is fitted for the signature yellow signal cable, which is available in a range of lengths pre-wired to the waterproof plug. The integral bubble level is raised to the top of the housing and can be viewed without removing the redesigned snap-on sun shield, which also covers the connector. The connector with gold-plated contacts allows for easy exchange and re-calibration. The screw-in drying cartridge is easy to remove and the replacement desiccant is supplied in convenient refill packets.

SGR4 pyrgeometer is an instrument for the highest quality scientific measurements. The specially designed meniscus dome provides a 180° field of view with negligible directional response error. A hard-carbon coating on the outside of the dome smoothes the spectral response and provides extra protection to the silicon surface. The excellent thermal stability of the dome construction and coupling to the instrument body eliminates the need for dome temperature measurements or dome shading. SGR4 can be fitted with the CVF4 ventilation unit to further improve its performance. The SGR4 has an internal desiccant that will last for at least 10 years. This minimizes maintenance significantly. The interval for dome cleaning can be extended, and the quality of measurements maximized, by fitting SGR4 with the CVF4 ventilation unit. The SGR4 has Modbus® interface, amplified analogue output, improved response time and temperature corrected measurement data. The long-wave net- and downward radiation are directly available over Modbus®. The wide and low power supply range from 5 to 30 VDC makes integration in meteorological and solar energy stations easy. The SGR4 is extremely robust and comes with 5 years warranty. Thanks to standardized output and connections of every SGR4, exchanging instruments for recalibration is easy. SmartExplorer Windows™ software for data logging, display of data and Modbus® address setting is provided as standard.