When would I use an Irradiance Meter?

[The Launderer]

Very new to all this and only found out about irradiance meters through links from this forum.

I have been practicing using the 3D version of PV Sol and that would seem to give me a fair idea of the best positioning of panels.

Can anyone tell me in what circumstances an irradiance meter would be useful and do I need one?

 

[dansk]

At night time to see how bright the moon is.......seriously it's used when testing to calculate isc, the brighter it is the higher the current.

 

[The Launderer]

I would assume our electrician will know this as he has been on the Solar PV course and he will be doing the testing.

 

[dansk]

Should do - its a bit of a two man job, because you need to take the ISC reading at the extact same time as the Irradiance reading, so man outside with Irradiance meter and man inside with clamp on Isc meter.