Seven Sensor Low Cost Irradiance Sensor 3S-IS-LR

The Low-Cost Irradiance Sensor measures solar irradiance for residential, rooftop, and other small-scale PV projects. While industrial, commercial, and utility-scale systems demand advanced features and the highest accuracy, this level isn’t typically necessary for smaller applications where cost should match system scale. SEVEN delivers exactly that with the Low Cost Irradiance Sensor. Measured data are sent to monitoring devices, data loggers, and other receivers via an RS-485 serial interface using the Modbus RTU protocol.

SEVEN’s Low-Cost Irradiance Sensor measures POA (plane-of-array) irradiance and, depending on the model, it can also connect to up to three external sensors. This gives you a more complete set of environmental and performance data for monitoring and troubleshooting.

• POA irradiance (W/m²): the on-module sunlight your array actually “sees”, the right input for meaningful Performance Ratio (PR) checks.
• Module Temperature: Measures the temperature on the back of the PV module. Module temperature is one of the most important factors affecting energy production and overall field performance.
• Ambient Temperature: Measures the air temperature around the PV plant. Ambient temperature influences module cooling/heating and therefore impacts cell temperature and energy output (higher temperatures typically reduce PV power).
• Wind Speed Sensor: Measures horizontal wind speed. According to IEC 61724-1:2021, wind speed is important for estimating module temperature and can also support warranty claims related to wind-driven damage.