What is more accurate? A solar sensor based on a light sensor or based on a temperature sensor in a black painted bottle?
Thanks. :?:
That may depend what you are trying to measure. To my (possibly very wrong :? ) way of thinking the temp sensor in a jar is measuring the ability of the available light to heat a surface i.e infrared/ultraviolet radiation. Whereas the light sensor is just measuring the amount of light available.
Quantity vs Quality :?: :?:
I’m also very interested to hear other views on this.
i guess it depends on how much the light intensity change during the day can be measured by a light intenisty sensor…i.e the resolution…
a temperature sensor in a jar is actualy quite good resoltutiuon…if tuned well…but it has a slow response time…so there are pros and cons of both
i am sure others will let us know what they think of each system 
Hi Brian,
when you say me right settings, then can i talk, what
The question is “what exactly are you trying to measure?”.
The Davis VP solar sensor measures “Global solar irradiance” which is a measure of the rate of total incoming solar energy (both direct and diffuse) on a horizontal plane at the Earth’s surface.
If the choice is between “temp in a jar” (TIAJ) and a some undefined visible light sensor as a substitute for a true global solar irradiance sensor, then my guess would be that TIAJ could do a better job, especially if it had a significant horizontal heating surface. But that’s just my guess 
Hiu,
i will measure sunshine hours here by me with a Lightsensor.
i need the specially setup for this.
If the choice is between "temp in a jar" (TIAJ) and a some undefined visible light sensor as a substitute for a true global solar irradiance sensor, then my guess would be that TIAJ could do a better job, especially if it had a significant horizontal heating surface. But that's just my guess
I have a Hobby-Boards solar sensor with temperature on the same board thus in the same enclosure. The enclosure is just a plastic waterproof storage container I stole from the kitchen. It’s clear and is about 4x4x3 inches (10.16X10.16x7.62 cm for the challenged :)). It sits on top of a black chimney cap.
Below is screen cap of the extra sensors where both the solar (yellow) and temp (green) plot over about a 5 day period (what’s the equivalent of 5 days in metric?) . As you can see the temp follows the solar pretty well without much lag.
–Dave
Right, we’ve seen you asking for that. My question is whether it is reasonable for the author of the software to modify it to support something that one person has built, and nobody else may ever use ?
I think, more people use a light sensor, but the settings are for temp in jar !!!measure its the difference from out temp ??
sorry, my english not good, i
can you post a picture from your jar and your setup !!! ???
thanks
I’m leaving on vacation this afternoon so won’t be able to post pic until I get home next weekend. I’ll be glad to do it then.
I’ve seen pictures on the forum with jelly jar sensors so try doing a search for ‘solar’ or maybe better ‘jar’ to narrow the results. You should be able to find some ideas.
–Dave