Solar sensor: Solar Cell + LabJack + Weather Display

Hi, I am new on this forum. I have been reading you for some days and finally I have been encouraged to write.

Well, I am trying to set up a solar sensor like what Breitling did in this topic:

http://discourse.weather-watch.com/p/163609

If I have understood it correctly, the solar sensor structure will be something like this, right?: :?:

Solar Cell —> Variable Resistor —> LabJack —> Weather Display

But reading this forum, I have seen that Weather Display does not interact well with LabJack U3 so, if I use the LabJack U12 model, would I have some kind of problem?

U12 does not have problems with Weather Display, not?

I have also seen that some math conversion and solar graphing problems have been reported when using this type of solar sensor.

http://discourse.weather-watch.com/t/28462

http://discourse.weather-watch.com/t/23748

http://discourse.weather-watch.com/t/25247

http://discourse.weather-watch.com/p/127394

Have these problems been solved?

And finally, would I need to program something with the computer (with programming language) or is like “Plug and Play”?

As I have seen, when you have build up this type of sensor you have to calibrate it, but if I do not have any professional equipment to do that, can I use a calibrated solar cell or I will need to calibrate it anyway?

http://www.spheralsolar.com/products/Calibrated-Solar-Cell.html

http://www.tiendaelektron.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2_19&products_id=260

http://www.pvmeasurements.com/products/reference-cells

http://www.newport.com/Reference-Solar-Cell-and-Meter/545467/1033/info.aspx

Thank you very much and sorry if there are some language errors.

Regards and thanks again.

the U3 should work OK with that type of sensor and WD
and yes there are some calibration work needed

you could instead use a 1 wire solar sensor

But U12 should work well also, not?

Have the problems with volts and mv math conversion been solved?

I do not have any 1 wire system. What would be best for use only with this solar sensor (I have not started or bought anything yet), use the LabJack or start a 1 wire system from 0?
I would need to program something with some of these methods?

And finally, is very difficult to calibrate the sensor without a weather station and no other solar sensors? Will it help if I use a calibrated solar cell?

Thank you, I am very grateful with your help.

Pd: I am writing from Spain so, sorry if I can not answer instantly your answers.

A 1-wire solar sensor will work with any weather station with WD. You can see the sensor here…

http://www.hobby-boards.com/store/products/Temp{47}Solar.html

…and here’s the FAQ for the WD setup of a 1-Wire sensor: http://discourse.weather-watch.com/t/55402

I used a 1-Wire solar sensor for a couple of years and this was the only 1-Wire sensor I had. It worked fine and was easy to set up, the only calibration needed was to alter the max solar through the year to match the max for that time of year. As you’re in Spain then you will have to do this less often than me. :wink:

I have never worked with 1 wire, and I do not have any intention of having more sensors apart from this solar sensor.

So, what would you recommend me? Continue with the solar cell and the LabJack project, or start working with 1 wire?

Which system is easier to set up and what needs less calibration?

What do I need to start with 1 wire from zero? It is necessary to programme something with the computer to make it work?

Thanks.

PD: I do not have any weather station or other solar sensors; it is my first time in the world of weather observation.

If you have no weather-station then Weather-Display may not work for you because it normally expects to be getting weather data, especially barometric pressure, which it validates as being reasonable before recording any data.

How important is calibration to you? How accurate do you need the data to be? Answering those questions will help determine the best solution, because to get a scientifically accurate result you would need to start with an accurate sensor, both electronically and optically.

Please tell us more about what you are trying to accomplish and we can help you better.

I am doing a Pre-University research project about Sun that will punctuate me for the access to the university; and one part of this project will be record data of the solar radiation in my city. But it do not have to be very accurate.

I was worried about calibration because I do not have any other weather observation equipment (weather station or other sensors) so, I do not know if it is going to be very difficult to calibrate (more or less; as I have said, it do not have to be very accurate) the sensor.

And, no I do not have any weather-station; my idea was to connect the solar cell to the LabJack U12 and the LabJack to computer with the Weather Display program to obtain a graphic like that. Will it work?

Well, that is my main idea. Do you think that is possible to do this or is better to use 1 wire system?

I believe you could run Weather Display in stationless mode and use a local METAR for weather data. Hopefully others will chime in and confirm that.

  • Jim

Yep, Stationless should work fine and then add either Labjacks or 1-Wire as an extra sensor.

Having used 1-Wire, that’s all I have to go on, but all you need is the 1-Wire solar sensor and the USB adaptor to run it with WD.
Once WD is set up with your location, it will calculate the max solar for your location & time of day to give you the solar percentage. There is very little calibration required other than getting the sensor in a position where it can “see” 180

[quote author=Budgie link=topic=56317.msg451597#msg451597 date=1344115008]
Yep, Stationless should work fine and then add either Labjacks or 1-Wire as an extra sensor.

Having used 1-Wire, that’s all I have to go on, but all you need is the 1-Wire solar sensor and the USB adaptor to run it with WD.
Once WD is set up with your location, it will calculate the max solar for your location & time of day to give you the solar percentage. There is very little calibration required other than getting the sensor in a position where it can “see” 180

If you’re only running the solar sensor then it’ll be fine using the power from the USB port, it’s only when you add the likes of the barometer and rain gauge that you need a hub or power injector added into the system. :wink:

If no one else answers about stationless and the solar then I’ll try it in the morning as I have WD on different PC to my normal weather PC, for testing and writing FAQ’s, and I can change that to stationless and add my 1-wire solar sensor into it to test. But I’m sure there won’t be any issues with it. :wink:

Most likely stationless + 1-wire solar will be OK, but it would be good to check.

Since the OP isn’t worried about accuracy then I agree, a 1-wire solar should do it.

stationless will work (and yes you could set to use a local Metar for data)
and then use a 1 wire solar sensor

Thanks Brian. :thumbright:

Ok, thanks for your help.

One thing, what do I have to do to enter in Sationless mode?

To set the local Metar what I have to do is:

Control Panel ---> FTP & Connections METAR/NOAA ---> METAR Download ---> Select the Metar Station from the list ---> Tick "Use this METAR to update Weather Display's data" and "Use this METAR for local sky/icon conditions" ---> Set the switch to "METAR ON" ---> OK

It is correct?

And Budgie, if you can check with your solar sensor if it works I will be very grateful with you.

So, if I have understood all correctly; I only need a PC with WD, the Solar Sensor, the USB Adaptor and the cables that Budgie has said in his post.
And it really does not need any calibration?

Finally, have the problems with the Solar Graphics that Breitling stated on this post been solved, or it will not happen usin the 1 wire solar sensor?

http://discourse.weather-watch.com/p/171011

Sorry for being boring and tedious, but I want to be sure and have everything clear before buying or doing something.

Thanks again for your help.

Selecting the METAR and data will go just as you mention. You’ll also have to go Control Panel - Station Type & Settings then the Stationless/WLK/Vortex/VWS tab and select Stationless there I believe.

Others will have to answer about the sensor.

If you haven’t already, you can download WD and get some of this going. It has a 30 free trial so you can check it out.

  • Jim

Thanks. Yes, setting “Stationless” is like you have said. Currently I am using the 30 days trial version.

Thanks for your help, I will continue waiting the answers about the sensor.

This post was the software author confirming that it will work.

OK. Thanks.

One thing, in a Spanish forum I have found that one user says that there are some problems with the Hobby Board Solar Sensor (translated with Google):

http://forum.meteoclimatic.net/index.php/topic,168.msg40163.html#msg40163

[quote]1. - The photodiode generates too much voltage. Above 250mv saturates the 1-wire bus with unpredictable results. That’s what they do is put some kind of diffuser, but you have to do it right.

    • The receiving angle of the photodiode is 140