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Understanding the Fluke IRR1-SOL & IRR2-BT Irradiance Meter

The Fluke IRR1-SOL & IRR2-BT Irradiance Meters are sophisticated devices for measuring solar irradiance. This article explains its technology and operation.

Wavelength Range

The Fluke IRR1-SOL & IRR2-BT uses a crystalline Silicon solar cell to measure irradiance. This technology operates within the wavelength range of 300 nm to 1200 nm. It’s important to note that the responsivity of Silicon solar cells varies within this bandwidth, depending on the specific wavelength.

Calibration and Accuracy

The IRR1-SOL and its counterpart, the IRR2-BT, are calibrated using a reference IRR1-SOL that was calibrated at the AM1.5G spectrum. This means these devices are highly accurate when measuring irradiance that aligns with the AM1.5G spectrum. However, their accuracy in measuring true irradiance decreases when conditions deviate from the AM1.5G spectrum.

Despite this, because the device uses a Silicon solar cell, it accurately measures the effective irradiance seen by a Silicon solar panel, regardless of the actual spectrum. This is particularly relevant because 99% of solar panels today are based on Silicon technology. Therefore, most customers can measure the irradiance seen by their solar panel with a good degree of accuracy using the Fluke IRR1-SOL & IRR2-BT.

For more information and product details, please visit Fluke IRR1-SOL Irradiance Meter.

author: Hans Garcia