A pyranometer is an weather instrument used to measure broadband solar irradiance on a flat surface and is a detector that is designed to measure the solar radiation rate density (in watts per meter square) from a tract view of 180 degrees. Pyranometers do not require any power to operate. Pyranometers are often used in meteorology, climatology, solar energy studies, and building physics. They can be seen in many meteorological stations – usually installed horizontally and next to solar panels – usually mounted with the detector surface in the plane of the panel.

By: Ben and Brant