Did Solmetric issue a Service Alert for all SunEye 210 products?

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Solmetric recently issued a Service Alert for the SunEye 210 products

Regarding:    Time Zone bug in SunEye 210’s

Solmetric has identified a bug in the device software, where the time zone will revert back to the factory default (GMT -8:00) after being turned off for twelve hours or reset with the small pin-hole button next to the power and USB connectors.

Which units are affected?   Units shipped from Solmetric after February 1st, 2011, with Version 4.40 software. This alert applies to serial numbers between 23451-23572 for SunEyes with GPS and 12331-12359 for SunEyes without GPS. Your serial number is displayed on the back of the product. To check your software version number on the device press Main Menu (sun icon), Tools, About Solmetric SunEye.

Problem details:  The time zone affects the display of the times on the annual sunpath view and in the data files in the reports.   If the time zone is not reset to the correct value for the Skyline location, the time labels will be offset in the annual sunpath view and in the data files. Also, Skylines imported into PV Designer will be misinterpreted, due to mismatch with the hourly weather files. A time offset will not affect solar access calculations.

Temporary workaround:  The workaround is to always reset the time zone whenever the SunEye 210 has been turned off for at least twelve hours or if it has been reset with the pin-hole reset button under the flap on the right side of the SunEye 210.

More permanent fix:  A fix to the problem is implemented in Version 4.55, which will be available as a beta before the end of March 2011. This upgrade is highly recommended for all units shipped after February 1st 2011. Version 4.55 will also add a feature that will allow you to change the time zone of an existing session, even if that session was taken on an older version of the device software. Solmetric will update this Service Alert when the software is available.

To access the beta version of the Version 4.55 software when available, download the installation file from www.solmetric.com/support-downloads, and follow the instructions.

Solmetric released a fix for the Time Zone bug in SunEye 210’s

Update: The software upgrade for SunEye Version 4.55 fixes this issue, and can be downloaded from downloads page.

Background: In recent SunEye units, there is a bug in the device software, where the time zone will revert back to the factory default (GMT -8:00) after being turned off for twelve hours or reset with the small pin-hole button next to the power and USB connectors.

Which units are affected?   Units shipped from Solmetric after February 1st, 2011, with Version 4.40 software. This alert applies to serial numbers between 23451-23572 for SunEyes with GPS and 12331-12359 for SunEyes without GPS. Your serial number is displayed on the back of the product. To check your software version number on the device press Main Menu (sun icon), Tools, About Solmetric SunEye.

Problem details:  The time zone affects the display of the times on the annual sunpath view and in the data files in the reports.   If the time zone is not reset to the correct value for the Skyline location, the time labels will be offset in the annual sunpath view and in the data files. Also, Skylines imported into PV Designer will be misinterpreted, due to mismatch with the hourly weather files. A time offset will not affect solar access calculations.

Fix:  A fix to the problem is implemented in Version 4.55, which will now available as a beta. This upgrade is highly recommended for all units shipped after February 1st 2011. Version 4.55 will also add a feature that will allow you to change the time zone of an existing session, even if that session was taken on an older version of the device software.

Note: This upgrade also includes some useful new features, including support for the SunEye Extension Kit, a telescoping pole that enables measurements up 5.4m (17.7 ft) above ground level. In addition, skylines can be aligned more easily since results are automatically corrected if the device is not oriented exactly south or level. 

To access the beta version of the Version 4.55 software when available, download the installation file from www.solmetric.com/support-downloads, and follow the instructions. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via email at support@solmetric.com or by phone at 1-707-823-4600, or toll free in the US at 877-263-5026.

We apologize for any inconvenience this bug may have caused.

Submitted
13 years 5 months ago