DustVue / DustVue 10
DustVue 10 Solar-Module Soiling Sensor
High Accuracy PV Soiling Measurement with Virtually No Sensor Maintenance
Automated clean reference technology to preserve the IEC 61724‑1 preferred measurement method while eliminating routine manual cleaning and calibration effort
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The DustVue™10 directly measures photovoltaic (PV) soiling losses using collocated clean and naturally soiled PV reference cells—the preferred methodology defined by IEC 61724‑1. Unlike traditional implementations that require frequent manual cleaning to remain accurate, the DustVue 10 protects the clean reference automatically and only exposes it when environmental conditions are suitable for reliable comparison.

The result is a measurement that operators can trust continuously, without the labor or cost burden normally required to maintain it, including routine manual cleaning or water‑spray reference systems. The standard Modbus communications protocol allows the instrument to integrate directly into existing plant monitoring systems.

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Avantages et caractéristiques

  • True IEC‑Preferred Measurement Method – Side‑by‑side PV reference cells measuring actual module soiling behavior rather than estimating it
  • Automated Clean Reference Protection – Motorized cover to prevent contamination and preserve measurement stability without daily manual cleaning
  • Reduced O&M Maintenance Burden – Maintains measurement accuracy without daily cleaning, calibration routines, or water‑spray reference systems
  • Confidence in Cleaning Decisions – Provides reliable loss data to support wash scheduling and performance evaluation
  • Bifacial Monitoring in One Instrument – Simultaneous front and rear soiling measurements without installing duplicate sensors
  • Built for Long‑Term Field Deployment – Industrial mechanical design and environmental controls to support continuous outdoor operation
  • Open SCADA Integration – Standard Modbus RS‑485 output to integrate with virtually any data logger, SCADA, or monitoring platform

Images

<b>Click through the images to learn more about the DustVue 10.</b>
Click through the images to learn more about the DustVue 10.
<b>Click through the images to learn more about the DustVue 10.</b>
When closed, the DustVue 10's automated shutter prevents contaminates like water, dust, and pollen from fouling the clean reference sensor.
Your soiling ratio number is only as good as the clean reference behind it. The DustVue 10 protects that reference with an automated sliding shutter that opens briefly to measure and seals closed the rest of the time. The control logic can override the scheduled opening when conditions point to higher contamination risk (e.g., rain or rapidly changing cloud cover), helping to keep the baseline stable over long deployments.
IEC 61724-1 points to a clean-versus-soiled comparison as the preferred way to quantify soiling loss because it mirrors the physics of PV production. The DustVue 10 is built around that method: two matched references, one protected to stay clean and one allowed to soil naturally, so the measurement stays representative and defensible without constant manual cleaning.
Mount the DustVue 10 where the performance happens: directly on the tracker torque tube, in plane-of-array, moving with the modules. Because it sees the same tilt, wind, and airborne debris as the production panels, the soiled reference experiences a representative deposition rate. When the application calls for it, the same instrument can be installed on solar resource assessment (SRA) or met structures.
Representative soiling starts with a representative surface. The soiled reference uses PV-module glass selected to mimic how standard panels collect dust, so the reported loss is tied to real module behavior, not a convenient surrogate. The photo tells the story: the soiled reference matches the naturally soiled test panel, while the protected clean reference remains pristine for a true side-by-side comparison.
Bifacial plants need front and rear soiling—at the same time, at the same location. The DustVue 10 integrates upward- and downward-facing clean and soiled references in one unit, so you don’t have to buy, mount, align, and reconcile two separate sensors. That’s simpler installation and a cleaner measurement chain.
In controlled evaluations, panel-to-panel comparison is the benchmark because it directly measures what soiling does to PV output. The DustVue 10 delivers that comparison continuously while reducing the routine maintenance burden that many optical and manually cleaned approaches depend on to stay accurate, especially when dust, pollen, or debris characteristics change.
Treat the soiled reference like your modules: let it soil naturally and clean it when the array gets cleaned. The protected clean reference typically only needs periodic inspection (often once or twice per year), because it is sealed between brief measurements. Less maintenance means fewer missed cleanings, fewer data gaps, and less risk that the reference drifts simply because it wasn’t serviced on time.
The stay-clean shutter isn’t a cosmetic cover; it’s a measurement safeguard. By sealing the clean reference between measurements, it blocks buildup from water, frost, pollen, and windblown dust that would otherwise bias the baseline. The heater inside the assembly helps prevent freezing in cold conditions so the shutter can keep operating.
Commissioning shouldn’t require a programmer. The DustVue 10 uses an onboard, browser-based interface for fast setup, checks, and adjustments using a simple USB‑C connection. It then drops into plant monitoring via Modbus RS‑485 so virtually any SCADA or data logger can pull measurements and status.
The DustVue 10 doesn’t just output a number and hope for the best. Status registers (System Status, Measurement Status, and Measurement Flags) provide actionable diagnostics like motor/voltage issues, conditions preventing a valid reading, and flags that warn when a measurement may be compromised. That’s the difference between “data” and “data you can trust.”
Need a fast, flexible install? The universal mounting hardware supports common field structures such as Unistrut and crossarms, making it easy to place the sensor where it will be representative. Proper placement is what makes the soiling ratio number meaningful.
Tracker geometries vary, but the measurement requirement does not: stay in plane-of-array and maintain clearance for the downward-facing window. Multiple torque-tube mounting options help you fit common tracker hardware while keeping the correct alignment, which reduces install friction and helps ensure the rear-side measurement is usable from day one.
Utility-scale sites are not gentle; heat, cold, wind, blowing dust, and precipitation are normal operating conditions. The DustVue 10 is designed for that reality, combining sealed protection for the clean reference with field-ready construction and integration. The result is a soiling measurement approach that can stay deployed, not one that constantly asks for attention.

Fichiers 3D/CAD :

DustVue™10 2D (PDF)

Description technique

Accurately quantifying soiling losses requires comparing a naturally soiled PV surface to an identical clean reference. For this reason, IEC 61724‑1 identifies collocated PV reference devices as the preferred measurement approach. The challenge has never been the method, but rather, it has been maintaining the clean reference.

Traditional approaches attempt to preserve a clean reference through frequent manual cleaning or automated washing systems. Both introduce operational challenges: scheduled site visits, water logistics in remote locations, nozzle maintenance, and uncertainty about whether the reference surface has actually returned to a true clean state after each cycle.

The DustVue 10 instead prevents contamination rather than repeatedly trying to remove it. An automated sliding protective cover shields the clean reference cell from contamination and only exposes it briefly during stable irradiance conditions, preserving a consistent comparison baseline.

Because the clean reference condition is preserved automatically, operators can rely on the measurement as a decision‑making input rather than a periodically validated instrument. Instead of questioning whether the sensor is still clean, teams can focus on what the data indicate, without managing cleaning schedules, wash systems, or calibration cycles.

The DustVue 10 is installed in the plane of array so the soiled reference experiences the same environment as production modules. A bifacial configuration monitors front and rear soiling simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate upward‑ and downward‑facing instruments. Environmental sealing, integrated heating, and mechanical reliability testing support continuous outdoor operation across harsh climates.

The DustVue 10 outputs measurements over standard Modbus RS‑485, allowing a connection to virtually any SCADA platform, data logger, or performance monitoring system capable of reading Modbus registers. This allows projects to adopt accurate soiling measurements without redesigning their communications infrastructure or standardizing on a specific vendor ecosystem.

The purpose of soiling measurements is not simply to record a number; it is to remove uncertainty. The DustVue 10 preserves the trusted measurement approach while removing the ongoing effort traditionally required to maintain it, supporting confident operational and financial decisions throughout the life of the plant.

Spécifications

Operating Temperature Range -40° to +70°C
Soiling Ratio Uncertainty ±1%
Input Power 12 to 32 Vdc
Power Consumption - Idle
  • < 1 W above 5°C
  • ~13 W below 5°C (when heater active)
Power Consumption - Active
  • 0.5 A at 24 V (during measurement) above 5°C
  • ~1.0 A at 24 V (during measurement) below 5°C (when heater active)
Power Consumption - Active with Heater Full on ~24 W
-NOTE- A small heater prevents the cover gasket from freezing shut, which could interfere with measurements or damage the gasket. The heater can be active when the ambient temperature is below 5°C and when humidity and temperature conditions could cause frost.
Communications Modbus RTU over RS-485
IP Rating IP65
Shipping Dimensions 27.94 x 58.42 x 11.43 cm (11 x 23 x 4.5 in.)
Shipping Weight 3.54 kg (7.8 lb)

Téléchargements

DustVue 10 OS v.1.02 (1.58 MB) 16-01-2026

Current operating system for the DustVue 10.

DustVue 10 Program Example v.1 (3 KB) 21-11-2025

Use this program as a template to create a program to read and write to the registers on a DustVue 10 sensor.

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