Solar Project Instrumentation

Some suppliers of instruments useful in measuring the performance of solar and renewable energy projects.

 

Be sure to see the Measurements section as well.

 

Back to main supplier directory ...

 

Instrumentation
First, see this section on Measurements ... The Measurements section provides a lot of information on how to do good measurements for not much money.

 

Onset

http://www.onsetcomp.com/

Wide variety of data logging instruments.  I use the U12 series loggers, and have had good service from them.
DATAQ

http://www.dataq.com/applicat/index.htm

PC based data acquisition systems, including some nicely priced "starter" sets.
Labjack

http://www.labjack.com/

Inexpensive PC based data loggers.
Data Logger Kit

http://www.oceancontrols.com.au

Inexpensive data logger kit
Quasar -- Data Logger Kits

http://www.quasarelectronics.com

Inexpensive data acquisition and data logger kits.
Carl's Electronics

http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/complete.htm

 

Several interesting looking kits for sensors, controllers, and data loggers.   Low prices.
King Solar

www.kingsolar.com

 

 

King Solar carries quite a few flow measuring devices at pretty reasonable prices.
GEMS

http://www.gemssensors.com/

Wide line of affordable flow meters and other sensors.
Omega

http://www.omega.com

Very wide range of measuring instruments and sensors.  No problem with small orders.
Kestrel

http://www.nkhome.com/ww/1000/1000.html

Kestrel pocket wind meters  -- good for measuring low speed airflow in solar collectors.
Daystar Solar Meter

http://www.zianet.com/daystar/solar_meters.html

Inexpensive meter to measure incident solar radiation
Apogee

http://www.apogee-inst.com/pyr_spec.htm

Relatively inexpensive solar radiation measurement instrument.
Kipp and Zonen

http://www.kippzonen.com/pages/8/3

Solar Radiation Instruments.
Dwyer Instruments

Magnehelic Differential Pressure Gages

http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/pressure/Series2000Intro.cfm

Wide variety of instruments. 
Dwyer gages to measure small air pressure differences. Might try ebay first.
Quality Kits

http://store.qkits.com/category.cfm/TEMP

 

 

Some temperature logging kits that use the DS1820 one-wire temperature sensor.

Also some thermostats and other interesting kits.

Hobby Engineering

Data logger and sensor kits

http://www.hobbyengineering.com/H1255.html

 

Some inexpensive and interesting looking kits for data logging and various sensors, including a wind velocity sensor.
Simple Circuit Boards

http://www.simplecircuitboards.com/products.html

Some inexpensive boards for taking temperature measurements and interfacing thermocouples.
Kill-A-Watt

 

 

Kill-A-Watt power consumption meter This amazing $35 gadget measures voltage, current and power (in watts) consumed by a 120VAC appliance plugged into it.  It will also accumulate energy used (KWH) over the period of time the appliance is plugged into it.

The claimed accuracy is 0.2%, which is amazing. 

 

Please note that I have had no dealings with most of the suppliers, and cannot vouch for them in any way.  These links are just a place to get started in your system/component searches.  I have no financial or other arrangement of any kind with any of these suppliers.

 

Gary April 16, 2008