Upgrading shade analysis tool. Solmetric, Wiley?

[tfrsolar]

I did a search and didn't pull up anything on this topic. Not sure whether to post this here or on the installers forum, so I'll start here. I'm looking to upgrade from the trusty Solar Pathfinder. I've used the Solmetric Suneye. It does more than I really need and is pretty pricey even though it's fun to use. I also see a unit called the Wiley ASSET. Does anyone have helpful experience, opinions, other alternatives? I want the built in camera, but I don't really need a lot of built in software because I do the analysis on a laptop. It would be important for the unit to download to a computer in a format compatible with PVSYST.

Thanks.

 

[tfrsolar]

Just closing this out...purchase made. I didn't find any alternatives to the units I listed in the original post.

 

[jaggedben]

So which did you get?

 

[CA Contractor & Builder]

Yes I have I same question, Which one did you purchase? The cost? And why that choice? How is your experience with it so far?

 

[Zee]

I like the solar pathfinder with a digital camera to just shoot the shade graph on it, then enter info from pathfinder back at the office. No more paper replacement sheets. Rather than tracing with the lame crayons while balancing it on a pitched roof...... Solmetric unnecessary for most people and very expensive. Keep it simple. First thing i rememeber is how, after going on and on about how awesome a tool it was the guy who showed it to us busted it out....and..... nothing. Batteries hadn't been charged, so it was dead.....

 

[tfrsolar]

Well, I went with the Solmetric 210. As I dug into it, I found there are features that I like and right now I'm able to afford it (and I admit to enjoying nice tools!). So without sounding like an advertisement, here's what I value in it:

• With its internal compass and level it auto-corrects for being somewhat off perfect level and due south when you snap the picture. I've done enough setups with the Solar Pathfinder to know that it takes time and is sensitive to being off level. When I'm looking at multiple locations on site or evaluating a big roof, it's just a nice time saver. It also gets me some data I wouldn't otherwise have -- near the peak of a roof with some snow cover, I just held it up to approximate south and level and got the shots within its correction window. I couldn't build a case for the optional GPS, though, and I didn't get that.
• It uses one picture per skyline. I think the fisheye lens is elegant in the same way the dome is on the Pathfinder. The Wiley creates a composite from a number of photos stitched together. My first use was on a complicated 125' long roof and I took 7 skylines in short succession. Its just fast.
• It has the capability of taking the shots remotely on top of an extension pole to avoid tricky places. I can't see why one would need to buy the official extension pole instead of a cheaper alternative.
• The results work well with PVSYST, the modeling software I use.

As for batteries failing, we all manage to keep our cell phones and cameras working when we need them, so that's not an issue as I see it. The price is on the web. Is it worth it? I have to admit it feels a little extravagant. But then I have a couple of beautiful bronze block planes that I just like to pick up and use. If you're a tool guy I don't need to say any more!