{"id":17340,"date":"2023-05-22T08:58:07","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T15:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/?p=17340"},"modified":"2025-07-18T13:40:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T20:40:44","slug":"go-direct-pyranometer-troubleshooting-and-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/17340","title":{"rendered":"Go Direct Pyranometer Troubleshooting and FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-pyranometer\/\">Go Direct\u00ae Pyranometer<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-PYR<\/nobr>)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/manuals\/gdx-pyr\/\">Specifications and\u00a0User Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/product.gdx-pyr._hero._001.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<p><strong>General: <\/strong>Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/get-started\/go-direct\">Getting Started instructions for your device<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary Test:<\/strong> Make sure that the sensor detects sunlight. A bright sunny day should approach a thousand Watts\/square meter in irradiance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary Test:<\/strong> If there is no sun, you can use an incandescent lamp, which should produce a couple hundred Watts\/square meter at a few centimeters range. If the Pyranometer is used with artificial lighting, be aware that there may be flicker in the lamp brightness, which can cause confusing signals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/413\/\">What is the conversion from lux to W\/cm<sup>2<\/sup> ?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sensing Unit: Apogee,SP-110, 5-volt pyranometer<\/li>\n<li>Irradiance Range: 0 to 1100 watts\/m<sup>\u00b2<\/sup> (in full sun)<\/li>\n<li>Absolute Accuracy: \u00b15%<\/li>\n<li>Repeatability: \u00b11%<\/li>\n<li>Long-Term Drift: Less than 3% per year<\/li>\n<li>Cosine Response:<br \/>\u26ac 45\u00b0 zenith angle: \u00b11%<br \/>\u26ac 75\u00b0 zenith angle: \u00b15%<\/li>\n<li>Wavelength range: 360 nm to 1120 nm<\/li>\n<li>Current draw: 300 \u00b5A<\/li>\n<li>Output signal: 0 to 4.4 V (dark to full sunlight)<\/li>\n<li>Typical Resolution: 0.3 Watts\/m\u00b2<\/li>\n<li>Sensor dimensions:<br \/>\u26ac Diameter: 2.4 cm<br \/>\u26ac Height: 3.3 cm<\/li>\n<li>Materials: Anodized aluminum with cast acrylic lens<\/li>\n<li>Operating Environment<br \/>\u26ac Sensor Head and Cable<br \/>\u2003\u25b8 \u201340 to 70 \u00baC<br \/>\u2003\u25b80 to 100% relative humidity<br \/>\u2003\u25b8Sensor head and cable can be submerged in water to the level of the sensor box.<br \/>\u2003\u25b8Designed for continuous outdoor use<br \/>\u26ac Sensor Box<br \/>\u2003\u25b80 to 40 \u00b0C<br \/>\u2003\u25b8Sensor box is not waterproof or weatherproof.<\/li>\n<li>Connections:<br \/>\u26ac Wireless: Bluetooth<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> v4.2 (wireless range 30 m unobstructed) <br \/>\u26ac Wired: USB 2.0 full speed<\/li>\n<li>Battery: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">300 mAh Li-Poly<\/a><br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (single, full charge): ~24 hours continuous data collection<br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (lifetime): 2 \u2013 5 years (typical)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calibration<\/h3>\n<p>Calibrate? No. The sensor is set to the stored calibration before shipping. If you are suspicious about the calibration, there are two ways to check.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Compare the readings value with another Pyranometer.<\/li>\n<li>Use the Clear Sky Calibration method. You will need a sunny day with no clouds or pollution effects.\n<ol style=\"list-style-type:lower-alpha\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.clearskycalculator.com\">Clear Sky website<\/a> where you can enter data into the web application to have the expected irradiance calculated.<\/li>\n<li>Input values for the calculation including latitude, longitude, altitude, time of day, day of year, air temperature, and relative humidity. <\/li>\n<li>You can compare the calculated irradiance with the reading on the Pyranometer.<\/li>\n<li>This procedure should be done at several different times. If the readings are consistently off, contact Vernier.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong>Debris build-up on the lens of the Pyranometer Sensor is a common cause of inaccurate readings. Salt deposits can accumulate on the sensor from evaporation of sprinkler irrigation water and dust can accumulate during periods of low rainfall.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor won\u2019t tur<\/span>n when on its own, but does when connected to a USB power source, try charging the sensor for at least 2 hours using a known-to-work USB cable.<\/li>\n<li>If you continue to have trouble<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, try swapping the battery with a working sensor to see if the problem follows the battery or stays with the sensor.<\/span><br \/>\u26ac If the problem stays with the sensor, the battery is probably not the issue.<br \/>\u26ac If the problem follows the battery, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the battery has likely reached its end of life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the battery is indeed at the end of its life, the battery should be replaced. <\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>See <a href=\"\/til\/4014\/\">How do I remove or replace a Go Direct battery?<\/a> for more information (including a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Lv2yCaL0ruU\">video<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Rechargeable batteries are covered by a one-year warranty.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>Batteries <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should last two to five years in typical use. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Products<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-to-usb-c-cable\/\">Micro USB to USB-C Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-C-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-charge-station\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Charge Station<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CRG<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-par-photosynthetically-active-radiation\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup>  PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation)<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-PAR<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/pyranometer\/\">Pyranometer<\/a> (<nobr>PYR-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacement Parts<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-cable\/\">Micro USB Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Products<\/h3>\n<p>This sensor is great for use with current and voltage probes in solar energy studies with solar cells.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SMALL SOLAR CELLS<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/kidwind-2v-400ma-solar-panel\/\">KidWind 2V\/400mA Solar Panel<\/a> (<nobr>KW-SP2V<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/vernier-energy-sensor\/\">Vernier Energy Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>VES-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-energy-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Energy Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-NRG<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/vernier-variable-load\/\">Vernier Variable Load<\/a> (<nobr>VES-VL<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/current-probe\/\">Current Probe<\/a> (<nobr>DCP-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-current-probe\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Current Probe<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CUR<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/differential-voltage-probe\/\">Differential Voltage Probe<\/a> (<nobr>DVP-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-voltage-probe\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Voltage Probe<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-VOLT<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>LARGER SOLAR PANELS<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/high-current-sensor\/\">High Current Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>HCS-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/30-volt-voltage-probe\/\">30-Volt Voltage Probe<\/a> (<nobr>30V-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/vernier-energy-sensor\/\">Vernier Energy Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>VES-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-energy-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Energy Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-NRG<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Specifications and\u00a0User Guide Troubleshooting General: Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the Getting Started&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8971,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7669,7667,720,7668,4644],"class_list":["post-17340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-gdx-pyr","tag-gdx-pyrmain","tag-maintil","tag-pyr","tag-pyranometer"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8971"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17340"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17340\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}