- Pyranometer
Pyranometers are used to measure the radiation energy of
solar systems from the entire hemisphere.This meter has a wide range of its
applications in climate-research,solar-thermal,agriculture,Photovoltaic research
and many other development applications.
A pyranometer is used to measure broadband solar irradiance
on a planner surface and as a sensor to measure the solar radiation flux
density(W/m2)from a view of 180 degrees.
Usage
Pyranometers are commonly used in meteorology,solar energy
studies,climatology.these meters are installed in many meteorological stations
and can be seen easily in meterological stations.These meters are installed
horizontal and next to solar panels and mounted with the sensor surface in the
plane of the panel.
Explanation
The range of solar radiation spectrum is approximately from
300nm to 2800nm.These meters cover that spectrum with a spectral sensitivity
that is as flat as possible.To measure the irradiance of PV panel,hit the
meter’s sensor perpendicular to the to the surface when sun is at horizon.Then
the pyranometer will provide the directional response which will be near to its
ideal characteristics.
Voltmeter
A voltmeter is an instrument used to measure the electric
potential difference between two points in any electric circuit.Voltmeter
consists of its two types,Analog and Digital Voltmeter.Analog voltmeters move
the pointer across a scale with respect to the voltage of the device or circuit
while the Digital Voltmeters give the numerical display of the voltages of the
circuit or the device on a screen by using analog to digital converter.
Voltmeters are made
in a wide range of its styles.A meters which are permanently mounted in a panel
are always used to provide the value of the fixed apparatus or of a fixed
device.Portable instruments are used to measure the current,resistance,voltages
in the form of multimeters which are the standard testing instruments for the
electrical and electronics work.
Analog Voltmeters have an accuracy of a few percent of its
full scale and are used with the fraction of volt to several volts.Digital
Voltmeters are made with high accuracy.these meters are better than 1%.Specially
test instruments have higher accuracies with lab instruments.Meters which are
used in amplifiers can measure tiny voltages of very small amount.
Ampere meters
Current is a measure of the rate of flow of electrons in a
circuit.It is measured in the unit of Ampere called “Amp” and is denoted by
(A).To measure the current of any circuit,connect the ampere meter in series
and it will provide the rating.Ampere meters are always connected in series
with the circuit so that all the electrons flowing through the circuit also
have to go through the meter.It is very difficult to measure the current as
compared to voltage or resistance.
When an ammeter is connected
in series with a circuit,it doesnot drop voltages as current goes
through it.It acts like a piece of wire which consists of very little
resistancefrom one test probe to other.If ammeter is placed in parallel of the
circuit,it will act like a short circuit across the terminals and a surge will
damage the meter.
Ohm meter
An Ohmmeter is an
electrical instrument that measures electrical resistance(opposition of an
electric current).Micro Ohmmeters can
measure low amount of resistance whereas Mega Ohmmeters can measure high
amount of resistance.The unit of measurement for resistance is ohm(Ω).
Watt meter
Watt meter is an instrument which is used to measure the
electric power in watts of any electric circuit.Electromagnetic watt meters are used for measurement of
frequencies.A modern electronic wattmeter samples the voltage and current
thousands of times a second. Wattmeters provide readings in RMS current,VA,power,power factor and kilowatt
hours.The reading is displayed on the screen
of the device. Wattmeters vary considerably in correctly calculating
energy consumptions especially when real power is much lower than VA.Watt
meters consists of two types named analog and digital.Analog meters cannot
provide the exact values or observations whereas digital meters provide the
exact value with no error.
Tong tester
Tong tester is an electric
meter used in electrical and electronics engineering.It consists of two
jaws which open to allow clamping around an electrical conductor. These type of
meters allows to measure the electric current of the conductor without making
of physical contacts.Tong testers aare also called current clamp and this clamp
are used to read the magnitude of a sinusoidal current.by using this meter a
large amount of current can be measured very easily rather the current is
alternating or direct.These typese of meters consists of two types:Analog and
Digital current clamp.Analog meters have low accuracy whereas digital
meters consists of high accuracies.