title: A new and inexpensive pyranometer for the visible spectral range.
abstract: This paper presents the design, construction and testing of a new photodiode-based pyranometer for the visible spectral range (approx. 400 to 750 nm), whose principal characteristics are: accuracy, ease of connection, immunity to noise, remote programming and operation, interior temperature regulation, cosine error minimisation and all this at a very low cost, tens of times lower than that of commercial thermopile-based devices. This new photodiode-based pyranometer overcomes traditional problems in this type of device and offers similar characteristics to those of thermopile-based pyranometers and, therefore, can be used in any installation where reliable measurement of solar irradiance is necessary, especially in those where cost is a deciding factor in the choice of a meter. This new pyranometer has been registered in the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office under the number P200703162.
authors.affiliation: DIESIA, Escuela Politécnica Superior de la Universidad de Huelva, Ctra. Palos de la Ftra.-Huelva s/n, 21819, Palos de la Ftra. Huelva, Spain; E-Mails:  andujar@uhu.es  (J.M.A.);  juanm.enrique@diesia.uhu.es  (J.M.E).
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Andújar
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Enrique