Atonometrics RC22M User Manual
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Atonometrics RC22M User Manual

Irradiance, temperature, and wind measurement system
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Document Number 880106 Rev. A, August 2024
www.atonometrics.com
Copyright © 2024 Atonometrics, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Summary of Contents for Atonometrics RC22M

  • Page 1 Document Number 880106 Rev. A, August 2024 www.atonometrics.com Copyright © 2024 Atonometrics, Inc. All rights reserved.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Mounting ........................22 Configuration.......................... 25 Documentation ......................25 Configuration Kit ....................... 25 Configuration Manager Software ................26 Connect to RC22M ....................26 Setting Communication Parameters ................. 29 Activate Wind Sensor ....................30 Checking Output Data ....................32 Updating Software ....................34 Modbus ..........................

  • Page 3: System Overview

    1 System Overview The RC22M PV Reference Cell (part number 810323-01), shown in Figure 1-1, is an enhanced version of the RC22 PV Reference Cell, providing additional inputs for measuring wind speed, ambient temperature, and/or back of module temperature. Key features include: Irradiance, wind speed, back-of-module temperature, and/or ambient temperature •...

  • Page 4: Quick Start

    2 Quick Start Mount and Wire: Mount the RC22M in its installation location. Ensure the RC22M is parallel to the plane- • of-array of your PV system. Refer to Section 3.2 for different RC22M mounting solutions. • Mount the optional Pt1000 RTDs and/or the optional Wind Sensor, if equipped. Refer to Sections 4.2, 5.2, and 6.2 for mounting instructions for these accessories.

  • Page 5: Rc22M

    3 RC22M 3.1 Unpacking Figure 3-1 shows an RC22M unit with its shipping box and contents. Each unit includes a Standard Mounting Plate pre-attached in the bottom-mount configuration, a Calibration Certificate and Calibration Report, and caps to cover unused ports.

  • Page 6: Mounting

    3.2 Mounting 3.2.1 Orientation To minimize the potential for water entry via the connectors, please mount the RC22M unit with its cable facing down or to the side, as shown in Figure 3-2. Avoid mounting with the cable facing up, unless mounted on the rear side of the PV plane of array.
  • Page 7 3.2.2 Standard Mounting Plate The RC22M Standard Mounting Plate (610494) is shipped with every RC22M unit and will be pre- mounted as shown in Figure 3-3. The plate can be mounted in two orientations on the bottom, as shown in Figure 3-3, and two orientations on either side of the housing, as shown in Figure 3-4.
  • Page 8 MOUNT ON EITHER SIDE OF ENCLOSURE Figure 3-4: Side mount configuration 880106_A Page 8 of 35...
  • Page 9 3.2.3 Mars-RC22M Mounting Bracket Kit The Mars-RC22M Mounting Bracket (810331), sold separately, enables the user to mount RC22M to the Mars Optical Soiling Sensor, as shown in Figure 3-5, for convenient measurement of both irradiance and soiling. 4X M5 X 0.8 X 8 MM...
  • Page 10 PV module to measure rear plane-of-array irradiance. See Figure 3-6. Mount the clamp to your RC22M unit with the two included M5 screws, then clamp it anywhere onto the rear side of a module frame overlapping the frame area between two modules.
  • Page 11 The Tube Mounting Plate (610493), sold separately, can be used to mount RC22M or RC22 to tubes such as meteorological station crossarms, as shown on the right in Figure 3-7. Mount RC22M or RC22 to the plate using the M5 x 0.8 x 8mm flathead screws originally included with the device.
  • Page 12 3.2.6 Dimensions & Mounting Holes Figure 3-8 shows the RC22M dimensions and Figure 3-9 illustrates its mounting hole options. Bottom View Side View Figure 3-8 : RC22M dimensions 880106_A Page 12 of 35...
  • Page 13 2X Mounting Holes 4X Mounting Holes 2X Mounting Holes Side View Bottom View Side View Figure 3-9 : Mounting holes for M5 screws 880106_A Page 13 of 35...

  • Page 14: Wiring

    RTD2 Figure 3-10: Connector inputs for RC22M 3.3.2 Power The RC22M unit accepts 10-30 VDC and typically draws ~6 mA in operation without a wind sensor. With a wind sensor activated and connected, current draw is <60 mA. 880106_A Page 14 of 35...
  • Page 15 When using cables 50 m or longer, insert an 830331 RS485 termination cable between the 830303 cable and the RC22M to suppress RS485 signal reflections. Note: The 830303 cables include an additional wire (blue) not used for the RC22M product. Check all wiring before turning on power. Incorrect wiring may damage the WARNING: unit and/or your other equipment.
  • Page 16 Protect any unused wires on the 830303 cable from accidental contact by cutting to unequal lengths, folding back, and insulating, as shown in Figure 3-12. Insulate Figure 3-12: Protecting unused wires from accidental contact 880106_A Page 16 of 35...

  • Page 17: Back-Of-Module Rtd

    The optional back-of-module RTD, ordered separately, is a self-adhesive Pt1000 RTD for measuring a PV module temperature. The RTD has a 3-meter cable and overmolded M8 connector for easy attachment to the RC22M. For information on cable extensions contact Atonometrics.

  • Page 18: Mounting

    4.2 Mounting Follow the installation instructions card to adhere the RTD to the back side of your module. Figure 4-2 : Back-of-module RTD mounted on a module Note: Application of the self-adhesive RTD should be performed when the module temperature is between 21 °C and 38 °C to ensure proper adhesive bonding.

  • Page 19: Ambient Rtd

    The optional ambient RTD, ordered separately, is a tube shaped Pt1000 RTD for measuring the ambient air temperature at the PV array site. The RTD has a 3-meter cable and overmolded M8 connector for easy attachment to the RC22M. For information on cable extensions contact Atonometrics.

  • Page 20: Mounting

    Radiation Shield Brackets Screws Product Manual Figure 5-3 : Optional radiation shield 5.2 Mounting If you did not purchase a radiation shield, mount the ambient RTD by tie-wrapping the cable near your preferred RTD location with the RTD probe extended into the air and shielded from sunlight.

  • Page 21: Wind Sensor

    The optional wind speed sensor (810328), ordered separately, is used with RC22M to measure wind speeds from 0 to 50 m/s. Refer to Section 7.6 for information on setting up your RC22M to collect wind speed data from your wind sensor.

  • Page 22: Mounting

    6.2 Mounting 6.2.1 Dimensions Figure 6-2 shows the 810328 wind sensor dimensions. Side View Bottom View Figure 6-2: 810328 wind sensor dimensions 880106_A Page 22 of 35...
  • Page 23 6.2.2 Mounting Plate The Wind Sensor Mounting Plate (610635), sold separately, enables the user to mount a wind sensor to tubes, such as meteorological station crossarms as shown in Figure 6-3, or purlins or framing material on the PV array. Mount the wind sensor to the flat plate using the two captive M5 nuts under the mounting plate (not shown in Figure 6-3) and two customer-supplied M5 screws.
  • Page 24 Figure 6-4: 610635 Wind Sensor mounting plate dimensions 6.2.3 Wiring Connect the wind sensor to the RC22M using its included 830354-005 cable. 880106_A Page 24 of 35...

  • Page 25: Configuration

    (RC22M User Guide, document 880106). 7.2 Configuration Kit The Configuration Kit (810276), sold separately, allows you to conveniently power your RC22M unit, perform configuration, and test communication and system status. Relevant kit contents are shown in Figure 7-1.

  • Page 26: Configuration Manager Software

    Select your PC’s COM port corresponding to the USB/RS485 adapter of the Configuration • Kit. (Click Refresh to update the list of connected COM ports.) If you do not know the Modbus communication settings of your RC22M unit, Scan for the • RC22M using the Find and Connect button.
  • Page 27 Figure 7-2: Connecting to RC22M 880106_A Page 27 of 35...
  • Page 28 Once your RC22M unit is connected, the software will display the Connected status, as shown in Figure 7-3. Your unit’s firmware version, serial number, and part number will also be displayed at the top of the screen. Figure 7-3: RC22M connected...

  • Page 29: Setting Communication Parameters

    7.5 Setting Communication Parameters Your RC22M unit’s default Modbus serial communication parameters are Address = 22, Baud Rate = 57600, and Data Format = 8-N-1 (8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit). To update the communication parameters, use the Settings tab of RC/MT Configuration Manager, shown in Figure 7-4.

  • Page 30: Activate Wind Sensor

    7.6 Activate Wind Sensor Upon initial setup, your RC22M will not have a wind sensor part number set and therefore its wind speed register will return “NaN” and RC-MT Configuration Manager will show the wind speed greyed out in the Outputs tab as shown in Figure 7-5, even if the wind sensor is connected to RC22M.
  • Page 31 RC22M. To finish activating your wind sensor, cycle power to RC22M by removing the cable from the MAIN port on RC22M and then reconnecting it. Now your RC22M will calculate wind speed data and output the result.

  • Page 32: Checking Output Data

    7.7 Checking Output Data Use the Outputs tab to check the measurement results from your unit, as shown in Figure 7-7. The tab displays your RC22M’s measured irradiance, Isc, cell temperature, Pt1000 external RTD temperature(s), and wind speed (if wind sensor is activated).
  • Page 33 Figure 7-8: Checking output data, outputs paused 880106_A Page 33 of 35...

  • Page 34: Updating Software

    7.8 Updating Software If your PC is connected to the internet, the “Software Updates?” Check button on the Support tab will automatically detect if there is an RC22M firmware or RC-MT Configuration Manager update. If software updates are available, visit support.atonometrics.com...

  • Page 35: Modbus

    8 Modbus Table 8-1 lists the registers available for your client software to read data from the RC22M unit. Each numbered register in the table is a 16-bit (2-byte) register. Parameters requiring more than two bytes must be read from sequential registers as indicated by the Register Start and Register End columns.

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