Solmetric SunEye 210
User’s Guide
Solar Test and Measurement Equipment
Advanced Test Equipment Rentals
www.atecorp.com 800-404-ATEC (2832)
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© Copyright
Solmetric Corporation, 2011
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under
copyright laws.
Part No. 5000-0210
Version 4.55
February 2011
Printed in USA
Solmetric Corporation
www.solmetric.com
Tel: (707) 823-4600
Toll Free: (877) 263-5026
Limited Hardware and Software Warrantry
This Solmetric software and the Solmetric SunEye
TM
hardware
("Hardware") are warranted against defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of two years. During the warranty
period, Solmetric will, at its option, either repair or replace
products which prove to be defective. The warranty period
begins on the date of shipment.
For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned
to the appropriate authorized repair center listed in the Solmetric SunEye User's Guide. No returns will be accepted without an RMA (obtain from Technical Support). For products
returned for warranty service, the Buyer shall pay for shipping
charges to send the product to the repair center, and the repair
center shall pay for shipping charges to return the product to
the Buyer. However, the Buyer shall pay all shipping charges,
duties, and taxes for products returned to the repair center
from a country outside of the United States.
The forgoing warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from
improper or inadequate maintenance by the Buyer, unauthorized modification or misuse, or operation outside of the environmental specifications for the product. Unauthorized
modification includes disassembly of the Solmetric SunEye
hardware, removal of any part of the Solmetric SunEye hardware, modification to the operating system or operating system
settings of the Solmetric SunEye, or the installation of software
on the device other than Solmetric SunEye software.
The design and construction of any system or building by the
Buyer is the sole responsibility of the Buyer. Solmetric does not
warrant the Buyer's system, products, or malfunction of the
Buyer's system or products. In addition Solmetric does not
warrant any damage that occurs as a result of the Buyer's system, product, or the Buyer's use of Solmetric products.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, THE FOREGOING
LIMITED WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND
WE DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES
OR CONDITIONS, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF TITLE, NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
regardless of whether we know or had reason to know of your
particular needs. No employee, agent, dealer or distributor of
ours is authorized to modify this limited warranty, nor to make
any additional warranties.
SOME STATES OR COUNTRIES DO NOT ALLOW THE
EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE
ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS
WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS,
AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH
VARY FROM STATE TO STATE OR COUNTRY TO COUNTRY.
IN NO EVENT WILL WE BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY
DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE OF OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SOLMETRIC SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE
(EVEN IF WE OR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR DISTRIBUTOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THESE
DAMAGES), OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY.
SOME STATES OR COUNTRIES DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
PLEASE CONTACT TECHNICAL SUPPORT BEFORE
RETURNING ANY PRODUCT.
Limited Remedy
Our entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be the replacement or repair of any Solmetric hardware or software not meeting
our Limited Hardware And Software Warranty which is returned to
an authorized repair center with a copy of your receipt.
3
4
1 Getting Started
Precautions 1-1
Understanding the SunEye 1-2
Solar Panel Design and Installation 1-2
Passive Solar House Design and Green Architecture 1-2
Home and Property Inspection 1-3
Installing the SunEye and Desktop Companion Software 1-3
Minimum System Requirements: 1-3
Installation Procedure 1-3
Charging the Battery 1-5
Getting Familiar with the SunEye 1-5
1-6
System Controls and Settings 1-7
Power Button 1-7
Touch Screen 1-7
Five-Way Navigation Button 1-7
Wrist Strap 1-8
Resetting 1-8
2 Using the SunEye
Power-up the SunEye 210 2-1
Set correct Date and Time 2-1
About Sessions and Skylines 2-2
Create a Session 2-2
Site Survey Mode 2-8
Sky Type 2-9
Capture a Skyline 2-11
Quick Skyline Capture Mode 2-15
Align with Compass/Align with Target 2-17
View the Skyline Measurement Data 2-19
Annual Sunpaths View 2-19
Monthly Solar Access View 2-22
Obstruction Elevation View 2-23
Full Fisheye View 2-25
Session Data Summaries 2-25
Tools 2-27
Edit Tool 2-27
Zoom and Pan Tools 2-30
Browsing for Data 2-30
To Access the Sessions 2-30
To Access the Skylines of the Currently Open Session 2-31
Tools Menu 2-31
SunEye Setup 2-31
Select Locale 2-32
Orientation 2-32
Align Touch Screen 2-33
Set Date and Time 2-33
About Solmetric SunEye 2-33
The SunEye Extension Kit 2-33
Overview 2-33
Applications 2-34
SunEye Extension Kit Components 2-34
Using the SunEye Extension Kit 2-36
Precautions and Safety Notes 2-37
Operation Flow 2-37
5
Image Processing 2-39
Alternative Measurement Method 2-40
Magnetic Interference 2-40
3 Using the SunEye 210 Desktop Companion Software
Introduction 3-1
Transferring and Storing Your Data 3-1
Viewing and Analyzing your Data 3-2
Browsing Session Data 3-2
Exporting and Generating Reports 3-3
Print the Report 3-6
Save Images from the Report 3-6
Convert Report to Other Formats 3-7
MS Word 2003™ 3-7
Microsoft Word 2007™ 3-7
Exported Data Files 3-7
SkyXXDailySolarAccess.csv 3-8
SkyXXWindowedDailySolarAccess.csv 3-8
SkyXXShading.csv 3-9
SkyXXInsolation.csv 3-11
SkyXXObstructionElevations.csv 3-12
SkyXXObstructionElevation.xml 3-13
SkyXX_PV_SOL.hor 3-13
SkyXX_PVSYST.hor 3-13
SkyXXWindowedObstructionElevations.csv 3-13
AverageSolarAccess.csv 3-15
AverageWindowedSolarAccess.csv 3-16
AverageShading.csv 3-17
ObstructionElevations.csv 3-17
WindowedObstructionElevations.csv 3-17
GoogleEarthGeotags.kmz 3-17
PV*SOL horizon angles averages (.hor) 3-18
PV*SOL horizon angles maximums (.hor) 3-18
PVSYST horizon angles averages (.hor) 3-18
PVSYST horizon angles maximums (.hor) 3-18
4 Solar Access and Interpretation of Data
Introduction 4-1
Solar Irradiance 4-1
Shading 4-2
Weather, Air quality and Clouds 4-3
Surface Orientation 4-4
Numerical Calculations 4-5
5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Introduction 5-1
Compass Calibration 5-2
Upgrading or Downgrading Software 5-5
Reset 5-5
Battery 5-5
Contact Information for Service, Technical Assistance, and Sales 5-6
Corporate Contact Information: 5-6
Specifications 5-7
Regulatory Compliance 5-8
6
Getting Started
Precautions
1
Getting Started
Precautions
Magnetic Fields
Avoid nearby magnetic fields. The SunEye is a sensitive measurement device. Magnetic fields
from nearby iron can affect measurements and stronger magnetic fields may damage the SunEye. Always store and transport SunEye in the included magnetically shielded case to preserve
the compass calibration. Never store magnetized objects, such as hand tools or other magnetized
objects, in the case.
Temperature
Do not operate or subject the SunEye to temperatures beyond the published operating and storage temperature specifications found in “Maintenance and Troubleshooting” of the User Guide
and in the Quick Start Guide.
Moisture
Exposure to rain or condensation may damage the SunEye. Do not expose to rain. Condensation
will occur on the case whenever the dew point exceeds the case temperature. This can occur if
moving the SunEye from a cold outside environment into a warm office environment. Store the
SunEye in its protective case whenever not in use to protect and insulate the instrument.
Dirt and Dust
A precision optical fisheye lens is a key element of the SunEye. Protect from dust and dirt. Keep
lens cap on when stored between uses. Clean lens regularly with soft lens cleaning cloth.
1-1
Getting Started
Understanding the SunEye
Battery
CAUTION The SunEye contains a lithium battery and should not be disposed of with general refuse. Dispose
of the SunEye in accordance with all local codes and regulations for products containing lithium
batteries. Contact your local environmental control or disposal agency for further details.
WARNING Only use the power supply supplied by Solmetric or a UL or certified equivalent with a
rated output of 5 Vdc 2.6 A.
Understanding the SunEye
The SunEye (patent pending) provides complete solar access and shade analysis in an integrated
powerful hand-held tool for the following uses:
• Solar panel system design and installation
• Passive solar house design and green architecture
• Landscape design and landscape architecture
• Home and property inspection
Solar Panel Design and Installation
The SunEye is an invaluable tool for the professional solar installer, saving time and money and
helping to design the highest performance systems. Home and business owners who care about
the performance and payback of their systems hire installers that use the SunEye. It is equally
useful for photovoltaic (PV), passive hot water, roof mount or ground-mount systems. The SunEye can help:
• Optimize new systems for maximum production.
• Analyze existing installations to solve problems of under production
• Identify specific shade-causing obstructions and know instantly how much additional energy
would be produced if the obstructions were removed.
Passive Solar House Design and Green Architecture
The SunEye is the right tool for the job when you need accurate site-specific solar access data
for a new home or renovation. Optimize the orientation of a structure by identifying where and
when the sun will shine. The SunEye helps you answer many different questions. For example,
“Will there be enough sun in the winter for passive heating of the house given the site-specific
shading?”, or “How will removing the large oak tree on the south-west corner affect the warming and cooling of the building?” Furthermore, by collecting data inside an existing structure,
you can identify the amount of direct sunlight that will enter a window or skylight or identify the
perfect location for a new window or skylight.
1-2
Getting Started
Installing the SunEye and Desktop Companion Software
Home and Property Inspection
The SunEye gives professional home and property inspectors a way to provide their clients with
important information about the solar access of a property. This information can be useful for:
• Identifying potential sites for solar panels, gardens, or new windows.
• Determining the amount of passive solar heating or cooling a particular building will experience.
• Determining how much direct sunlight will enter a particular window or skylight.
Installing the SunEye and Desktop Companion Software
NOTE The software on the hand-held unit and the Desktop Companion are simultaneously installed
from the same installation file. Refer to “Upgrading or Downgrading Software” on page 5-5 for
more information.
1 Before you start using your SunEye it is recommended that you install the SunEye Desktop
Companion software. Although you will not have any data to analyze on the desktop yet, this will
allow you to view the user’s guide.
2 The SunEye will most likely not need to be updated the first time you install the Desktop
Companion on your PC. However, it will prompt you to connect the SunEye while it determines
if you already have the latest version installed. You will then be given the option to reinstall or
skip the SunEye install and proceed straight to the Desktop Companion installation.
Minimum System Requirements:
• Operating System: Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP SP2 (Professional, Home, or
Media Center)
• Processor Speed: 1 GHz minimum
• RAM: 1GByte minimum, 2 GByte recommended
• Available Disc Space: 200 MByte or more
• MS Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher
• Display resolution: 1280 x 1024 or greater
Systems that do not meet these requirements may not operate correctly.
Installation Procedure
1 It is important that you are signed on as the Administrator when installing the software. To verify
this in Windows, go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts.
1-3
Getting Started
Installing the SunEye and Desktop Companion Software
2 Insert the SunEye DVD into the DVD drive on your Windows desktop computer.
3 If the welcome screen does not automatically open, click Start then My Computer and double-
click on the DVD drive. Then double-click on setup.exe. Alternatively, the installation file is
available at www.solmetric.com.
4 Follow the instructions in the welcome screen to install the SunEye Desktop Companion
Software and update the software on the SunEye device. If not already installed, the installation
will install Microsoft ActiveSync (for Windows XP) or Windows Mobile Device Center (for
Windows Vista and Windows 7), which is needed to communicate with the SunEye device, and
the Microsoft .net framework.
5 You can view the user’s guide from the welcome screen by clicking on the “View SunEye Users
Guide” link in the welcome screen.
If at any time the Solmetric welcome screen is not showing, click on the Solmetric installer icon
in the task bar at the bottom of your screen. If the welcome screen is accidentally closed, click
on setup.exe from the DVD as described in Step 3 or reinsert the DVD to automatically launch.
During the installation, the device connectivity software will try to connect to the SunEye
device.
6 You can now launch the SunEye Desktop Companion from the SunEye icon on your desktop or
from the Start menu > All Programs > SunEye > SunEye.
If this is the first time launching the SunEye Desktop Companion, or there has never been data
transferred from the SunEye hand-held device, then there is nothing that can be done on the desktop at this point other than view the User’s Guide. The screen you will see looks like this:
Figure 1-1. Session Properties
7 You can view the user’s guide by selecting Help > SunEye User’s Guide…
NOTE You must have Adobe Reader® installed in order to view the user’s guide. Adobe Reader can be
installed from the DVD welcome screen (setup.htm). Click on Click here to install Adobe
Reader.
8 Select File > Exit to exit the application.
1-4
Getting Started
Charging the Battery
Charging the Battery
• The battery in the SunEye is not removable. It may be recharged by attaching the device to the
AC wall-plug or optional car charger via the DC power port on the right side of the device. Alternately, the SunEye will trickle charge using the USB data port connected to a PC. However,
the trickle charge can take up to 33 hours to fully charge the SunEye. If operating the SunEye
while only plugged into a USB port, the SunEye will draw more current than the USB port can
supply. Therefore, the battery may discharge if connected to USB with power on.
• If the battery is completely discharged, you must use the AC charger if you want to operate the
device while it is charging. The USB cable and the car charger do not supply enough current to
both charge a completely discharged battery and operate the device.
• Charging the battery can take up to 2.5 hours. Once the battery has been charged, the device will
operate without the external power connection for approximately 6 hours of continuous operation.
• Power Status LED Indicator:
• Green = SunEye is turned on under battery power.
• Red flashing = SunEye is plugged into power and battery is charging.
• Red solid = SunEye is plugged into power and battery is fully charged.
• To see the current battery level of the SunEye, select the Menu icon, the Tools icon, and then select About SunEye.
• It is not harmful to the device to be continuously connected to AC power or to a computer. It is
also not harmful to the device or to your data for the battery to fully discharge.
Getting Familiar with the SunEye
The SunEye includes the following features to make it easy and efficient to use.
• Point-and-click data gathering
• Instant measurement results
• Plots sunpaths for the latitude and longitude of the site
• Determines annual, seasonal, monthly, and quarter-hourly shading percentages
• Automatically adjusts data for magnetic declination for a specific location
• Stores more than 100 site readings on the hand-held unit
• Transfers data to desktop PC for later review
• Automatically generates reports and exported data files using the Desktop Companion software
1-5
Getting Started
Getting Familiar with the SunEye
for desktop PC
• Hand-held, all-in-one tool with integrated fish-eye camera and processing software
• Easy-to-use finger-driven touch screen interface
SunEye
™
210
1 Digital camera with fisheye lens 6 Built-in stylus
2 Touchscreen VGA display 7 Reset button, DC Power, USB Port
3 Standard camera tri-pod mount (backside) 8 Home/Main Menu button
4 Power On/Off button 9 Five-way navigation buttons
5 Wrist strap attachment point 10 Quick Launch set-up buttons
1-6
Getting Started
System Controls and Settings
System Controls and Settings
Power Button
• Pressing the power button switches on or off the SunEye device.
• Holding the power button down for 6 seconds will initiate a soft reset. This reboots the device
and will preserve any sessions already stored.
Touch Screen
The touch screen is the main interface that you will use to interact with the SunEye. Although a
stylus has been included, it is not necessary for general operation. The user interface has been
carefully designed to allow easy control using your finger alone.
• Touching your finger tip to the screen is similar to moving a mouse cursor or other input device
on a personal computer screen.
• Tapping your finger on the screen is similar to clicking a mouse.
NOTE You will find that your fingernail works better than the fingertip on the touch screen.
Five-Way Navigation Button
The five-way navigation button can also provide input to many of the navigation features displayed on the SunEye screen. For example, you can use the five-way navigation button to scroll
through menus:
• Pressing the center button brings up the main menu.
• Pressing the left, right, up, or down button changes the selected menu item. The menu selection
is highlighted in blue.
• Pressing the center button again selects the highlighted menu option. Small arrows show possible
directions that can be pressed on the button to move to the next menu.
There are other specific uses of the five-way navigation button that are described in the following sections and chapters.
1-7
Getting Started
System Controls and Settings
Home Button
Displays the Session Properties window.
Star Button
Jumps to Site Survey Mode and prepares the SunEye for a skyline snap.
Orientation Button
Jumps directly to the orientation view. This function is used to measure the direction (azimuth)
of the solar array as well as the tilt of the array or pitch of the roof.
Wrist Strap
You may choose to use the included wrist strap for an added measure of security with the freedom of easy one-handed operation. Simply thread the looped end of the wrist strap through
either attachment point (whether left handed or right handed) and thread the sliding clamp
through the open loop.
Resetting
Located on the right side under the I/O door, is a green button. The following table describes
SunEye reset functions:
1-8
Getting Started
System Controls and Settings
NOTE
In all reset cases, session data is not disturbed and will be available to transfer after the reset
Table 1-1. Reset Type
Reset Type How Invoked Behavior
Soft Reset Hold down power button
for 6 seconds. Wait 5 seconds. Press power button
again normally.
Reboots the device in
about 50 seconds. Does
not lose date, time or any
user data.
Hard Reset Green side button. Hardware reset. Reboots
device and resets clock.
This takes about 50 seconds
Reinstall Reset Green side button + center
navigation button
Performs a hard reset,
reinstalls the SunEye
application, and deletes
SunEye user persistent
settings (but does not
delete any user data).
1-9
Getting Started
System Controls and Settings
1-10
Using the SunEye
Power-up the SunEye 210
2
Using the SunEye
This chapter contains step-by-step instructions for the basic use of the SunEye 210, including
the collection of solar access data.
Power-up the SunEye 210
1 If the battery has not been fully charged as described previously, connect the power cable to the
DC power port located on the right side, under the rubber I/O door.
2 Press the Power button.
Set correct Date and Time
1 Select menu icon at the bottom-left of the screen. You will see the SunEye menu.
2 Alternatively, press the center navigation button to bring up the menu.
3 Select to access the Tools menu
4 Select Set Date and Time...
5 Enter correct date, time, and time zone.
2-1
Using the SunEye
About Sessions and Skylines
About Sessions and Skylines
The SunEye organizes the solar access data in Sessions and Skylines.
Session A “Session” is a collection of measurement data that was taken for a
particular site visit. You will generally create a new session for each
client or site you visit. An example of a session name might be
“Roger Smith’s House”. One session will generally contain multiple
skyline data sets and photos.
You can add notes to the session to help identify the session in the
future. For example, you could include client contact information or
other information about the particular site being analyzed.
Skyline A “Skyline” is a single set of solar access data captured at a specific
location within a site. For example, one skyline might be captured at
the north side of the roof of Roger Smith’s house. Another skyline
might be captured at the center of the roof of Roger Smith’s House. A
skyline includes a fisheye image, a sunpath diagram, and solar access
calculations. Every time a new skyline is captured, the data is stored
under the current session. One session can hold many skylines.
You can add notes to a skyline to help identify the skyline in the
future. For example, you could include the location of the captured
data such as “north side of roof.”
NOTE The SunEye can store more than 100 skylines (the actual number depends on the particular
images captured and can store up to 200 in some cases). The number of sessions can vary. You
can have one session with 100 skylines or 100 sessions with one skyline each.
Create a Session
A session is like a site visit. You would generally create a new session for each new client. Each
session will generally consist of multiple skyline data sets. The Session menu selections are as
follows:
• Weather Properties – shows the properties for the selected weather model. See “Weather, Air
quality and Clouds” on page 4-3.
• Session Data Summaries– allows you to select the skylines used to compute the monthly solar
access averages or session obstruction elevation average or maximum. See “Session Data Sum-
2-2
maries” on page 2-25.
• Session Properties – displays the current session properties.
• Browse – allows you to view and select a previously created session.
• New – creates a new session.
1 Select the menu icon then Session to view the Session menu.
Figure 2-1. Session Properties
2 Select New.
Using the SunEye
Create a Session
You will see the New session dialog box.
Figure 2-2. New Session
3 You can accept the default session name (for example, Session 1) or you can select the keyboard
icon (next to the Session Name text box on the display) and enter a different name.
4 If you pressed the keyboard icon:
a To clear the current Session Name, click in the text box and click Clear Text.
b Select the characters from the keyboard to name the session.
c Press Enter.
For example, if you were creating a session for Roger Smith’s house, you could enter the name
to appear as shown.
2-3
Using the SunEye
Create a Session
Figure 2-3. Session Name
The keyboard entry dialog has a few features that make entering and modifying text quick and
easy. Select the Keyboard button to switch between an alphabetical keyboard and a QWERTY
style keyboard. (That is, a conventional keyboard.) Also, as you type text, the SunEye predicts
the words you are typing. To select the predicted word, click on the word where it appears above
the text area, as shown in the example below. This feature reduces the amount of typing required
to enter text.
Figure 2-4. Session Name Auto Complete
5 Click inside the text box (where the typed letters appear) to bring up the scroll control. The scroll
control (left and right arrows) allows you to move the cursor inside the text box to delete or add
letters.
• Use the arrow buttons to move the cursor.
• Press Clear Text to clear all text.
• Click anywhere outside the scroll control box to close the scroll control.
Figure 2-5. Scroll Control Box
2-4
Using the SunEye
Create a Session
Additionally, you can select the keyboard icon next to the Session Note text box and enter a
description of the session. For example, you could enter the address of the site or the client’s
contact information.
Figure 2-6. Session Note
6 Select Next to advance to the Location dialog box to enter the site location information.
Figure 2-7. Location
7 Select the location of the site using one of the following methods.
• List of cities for the current region
• SunEye GPS
• Manual entry
• To select a city from a list of cities.
a In the Location dialog, select List of cities for the current region, then Next.
b Select the state where your site is located.
c Click on Next and select the nearest city to the site.
2-5
Using the SunEye
Create a Session
Figure 2-8. City Location
The SunEye will automatically determine the correct latitude, longitude, and magnetic declination for the city you select. It is not necessary to select the exact city since the latitude and longitude will be very similar for nearby cities. The lists of states and cities available depend on the
currently selected region refer to “Select Locale” on page 2-32. The city latitude and longitude
data was obtained from www.geonames.org.
• Optional: Use the SunEye GPS to acquire your current location.
a In the Location dialog box, select SunEye GPS, then Next.
Figure 2-9. Get New GPS Location
b Click on Acquire Session Location and the latitude, longitude and calculated magnetic dec-
lination will be acquired. If you would like the GPS to acquire the location for each new skyline, select the Get new GPS location for each skyline option.
• Alternatively, enter the location manually.
a In the Location dialog box, select Manual Entry.
b Enter the longitude, latitude, and magnetic declination. (If you have previously selected a city,
the corresponding latitude, longitude, and magnetic declination for the selected city appear in
the text boxes.) The Calculate button will recompute the magnetic declination for the latitude
and longitude that are entered.
8 Select Done. You will see the Session Properties which lists the information you entered for the
session.
2-6
Using the SunEye
Create a Session
Figure 2-10. Session Properties
9 Change the weather model (United States only). In United States locations, there are two weather
models available: NASA and NREL – TMY3 (Typical Meteorological Year). The weather model
used by the SunEye may impact the insolation and solar access calculations. To learn more about
the weather models, refer to “Weather, Air quality and Clouds” on page 4-3.
10 To select the most appropriate weather model for each session,
a Select Session > Weather Properties > Change Weather Model... .
b Select NREL – TMY3 or NASA – Kt. If NREL – TMY3 is selected, then information about
the selected NREL weather station is displayed. By default, the SunEye selects the weather
station that is closest in geographical distance to the session location that you entered. The
name, Weather Bureau Army Navy (WBAN) identification number, and latitude and longitude of the station are displayed, as well as the distance from the session location to the station
location. The optimal unshaded tilt and azimuth are also displayed for the specific location.
Figure 2-11. Weather Model
11 To change the weather station, for example, to better match weather patterns at the selected
location, select “Change Weather Model” > Next. Select the US state or territory and then click
Next, then pick the desired weather station from the list and click Done.
12 Change any information, as necessary.
2-7
Using the SunEye
Site Survey Mode
NOTE The time zone associated with a session is the time zone setting last set (via the Set Date and
Time… dialog box) at the time the session was created. Changing the time zone (via the Set Date
and Time… dialog box) does not change the time zone of any existing session or sessions. Click
on the blue time zone link to change the session time zone. Data (skylines) that are already take
will be updated with the new time zone.
Site Survey Mode
The SunEye 210 includes an operating mode used for initially surveying a site to understand
exactly where on a roof or potential array site the best module locations exist. In this mode a live
preview is visible through the fisheye lens and in real-time the calculated sun’s path is overlaid
on the display. The sunpaths are automatically corrected for tilt and orientation such that you can
simply walk the site, keeping the SunEye approximately level and oriented south and observe
when and where any obstructions will cause shade any time of the year. Be aware of any nearby
magnetic (iron containing) objects that may affect orientation measurements as discussed in the
next chapter.
To enter Site Survey Mode press Select > Skyline > New
Or, Press the star Quick-setup button.
Figure 2-12. Site Survey Mode
2-8
Using the SunEye
Sky Type
Sky Type
The SunEye 210 automatically analyzes the skyline image and attempts to identify unobstructed
open sky and shade-causing obstructions. The image may contain many types of objects, including:
• Open sky
• Clouds
• Sun
• Structures
• Trees
With a wide variety of possible colors, intensities, and textures, the analysis is difficult and com-
plex. For instance, differentiating between a bright white cloud and a white painted wall is one
of the difficulties you may encounter.
The SunEye 210 uses advanced image processing techniques and performs well in most conditions. If occasionally the software fails to detect the open sky, you can manually edit the image.
If you are capturing many skylines, however, this editing operation may become time consuming.
You can increase the accuracy of the detection by using a new feature that adjusts the SunEye
210’s color balance before capturing the skyline. This new control addresses two common types
of detection error:
• Confusing clouds with obstructions
• Accurately defining the edges of complex shading (such as vegetation)
The Skyline Detection control is available when viewing the Preview Mode. Access it by click-
ing the arrow in the upper left corner of the screen. The following pop out menu will appear:
Figure 2-13. Skyline Detection Screen
The normal setting is the default and will work well for most conditions. However, in certain sky
conditions, you may see incorrect skyline detection such as below, where the sky is indicated to
be an obstruction. This is most typically seen in the case of bright white clouds and blue sky.
2-9
Using the SunEye
Sky Type
To correct this problem, select the “Clouds and Blue Sky” setting in Preview Mode. In most
cases, this will allow the analysis to proceed to the correct conclusion. Press the ? symbol to
access on screen help.
Figure 2-14. Normal Setting-Sky incorrectly identified as obstruction
Figure 2-15. Clouds and Blue Sky Setting
At other times, shading obstructions may be incorrectly identified as open sky. See, for instance,
the tree branches in the image detail below.
In this case, you may be able to improve the shading detection by using the “Shaded” selection.
You can experiment to find out which setting works best for each session, reducing the amount
of hand editing you have to perform.
Figure 2-16. Normal setting-Edge of tree misidentified
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Figure 2-17. Shaded setting
Capture a Skyline
Using the SunEye
Capture a Skyline
A skyline is the basic data set representing the solar access for a particular location within a session or site visit. You will generally capture multiple skylines for each session. For example, if
you were analyzing a roof site for a new solar installation, you might capture a skyline at each
corner and at the center of the roof. A skyline consists of a fisheye image, superimposed sunpaths, and the calculated solar access and obstruction elevation numbers.
NOTE The SunEye 210 has a built-in electronic compass. It is important to understand that all magnetic
compasses are susceptible to magnetic fields from external magnets or objects containing iron
such as a metal roof or chimney. Because the sunpaths in “site-survey mode” are computed
relative to the electronic compass reading, it is important to keep away from metal objects when
surveying a potential array site. Operation is different when capturing a skyline. If you can’t avoid
nearby metal objects, a work-around is to use Align with Target discussed later.
1 Select > Skyline > New
Before capturing the first skyline in a new session, you will need to set the default skyline panel
orientation for the session from the Panel Orientation dialog box.
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