Apogee MQX Series User manual

APOGEE INSTRUMENTS, INC. | 721 WEST 1800 NORTH, LOGAN, UTAH 84321, USA
TEL: [phone] | FAX: [phone] | WEB: APOGEEINSTRUMENTS.COM
Copyright © 2021 Apogee Instruments, Inc.
OWNER’S MANUAL
QUANTUM METER
Models MQ-100X and MQ-200X
Rev: 1-Jun-2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Owner’s Manual ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Certificate of Compliance......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Sensor Models ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Specifications ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Deployment and Installation.................................................................................................................................................... 9
Battery Installation and Replacement.................................................................................................................................... 10
Operation and Measurement ................................................................................................................................................ 11
Apogee AMS Software ........................................................................................................................................................... 15
Maintenance and Recalibration............................................................................................................................................. 17
Troubleshooting and Customer Support................................................................................................................................ 19
Return and Warranty Policy................................................................................................................................................... 21

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
EU Declaration of Conformity
This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer:
Apogee Instruments, Inc.
721 W 1800 N
Logan, Utah 84321
USA
for the following product(s):
Models: MQ-100X, MQ-200X
Type: Quantum Meter
The object of the declaration described above is in conformity with the relevant Union harmonization legislation:
2014/30/EU Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive
2011/65/EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS 2) Directive
2015/863/EU Amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 3)
Standards referenced during compliance assessment:
EN 61326-1:2013 Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use –EMC requirements
EN 50581:2012 Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and electronic products with respect to
the restriction of hazardous substances
Please be advised that based on the information available to us from our raw material suppliers, the products
manufactured by us do not contain, as intentional additives, any of the restricted materials including lead (see
note below), mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated
diphenyls (PBDE), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and
diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). However, please note that articles containing greater than 0.1% lead concentration are
RoHS 3 compliant using exemption 6c.
Further note that Apogee Instruments does not specifically run any analysis on our raw materials or end products
for the presence of these substances, but rely on the information provided to us by our material suppliers.
Signed for and on behalf of:
Apogee Instruments, June 2021
Bruce Bugbee
President
Apogee Instruments, Inc.

INTRODUCTION
Radiation that drives photosynthesis is called photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and is typically defined as
total radiation across a range of 400 to 700 nm. PAR is often expressed as photosynthetic photon flux density
(PPFD): photon flux in units of micromoles per square meter per second (µmol m-2 s-1, equal to microEinsteins per
square meter per second) summed from 400 to 700 nm (total number of photons from 400 to 700 nm). While
Einsteins and micromoles are equal (one Einstein = one mole of photons), the Einstein is not an SI unit, so
expressing PPFD as µmol m-2 s-1 is preferred.
The acronym PPF is also widely used and refers to the photosynthetic photon flux. The acronyms PPF and PPFD
refer to the same variable. The two terms have co-evolved because there is not a universal definition of the term
“flux”. Some physicists define flux as per unit area per unit time. Others define flux only as per unit time. We
have used PPFD in this manual because we feel that it is better to be more complete and possibly redundant.
Sensors that measure PPFD are often called quantum sensors due to the quantized nature of radiation. A quantum
refers to the minimum quantity of radiation, one photon, involved in physical interactions (e.g., absorption by
photosynthetic pigments). In other words, one photon is a single quantum of radiation.
Typical applications of quantum sensors include incoming PPFD measurement over plant canopies in outdoor
environments or in greenhouses and growth chambers, and reflected or under-canopy (transmitted) PPFD
measurement in the same environments.
Apogee Instruments MQX series quantum meters consist of a handheld meter and a dedicated quantum sensor
that is integrated into the top of the meter housing (MQ-100X) or connected by cable to an anodized aluminum
housing (MQ-200X). Integrated and separate sensors consist of a cast acrylic diffuser (filter), photodiode, and are
potted solid with no internal air space. MQX series quantum meters provide a real-time PPFD reading on the LCD
display and offer measurements that determine the radiation incident on a planar surface (does not have to be
horizontal), where the radiation emanates from all angles of a hemisphere. MQX series quantum meters include
manual and automatic data logging features for making spot-check measurements or calculating daily light integral
(DLI).

SENSOR MODELS
Apogee MQX series quantum meters covered in this manual are self-contained and come complete with handheld
meter and sensor.
Sensor model number and serial number are
located on a label on the backside of the handheld
meter.
MQ-100X:
Meter w/ integral
sensor
MQ-200X:
Meter w/ separate
sensor

SPECIFICATIONS
Calibration Traceability
Apogee MQX series quantum meters are calibrated through side-by-side comparison to the mean of four transfer
standard quantum sensors under a reference lamp. The reference quantum sensors are recalibrated with a 200 W
quartz halogen lamp traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
MQ-100X
MQ-200X
Calibration
Uncertainty
± 5 % (see calibration Traceability below)
Measurement
Repeatability
Less than 1 %
Long-term Drift
(Non-stability)
Less than 2 % per year
Non-linearity
Less than 1 % (up to 4000 µmol m-2 s-1)
Response Time
Less than 1 ms
Field of View
180°
Spectral Range
370 to 650 nm (wavelengths where response is greater than 50 % of maximum; see
Spectral Response below)
Directional (Cosine)
Response
± 5 % at 75° zenith angle (see Cosine Response below)
Temperature
Response
-0.04 % per C (see Temperature Response below)
Operating
Environment
0 to 50 C; less than 90 % non-condensing relative humidity up to 30 C; less than 70 %
non-condensing relative humidity from 30 to 50 C; separate sensors can be
submerged in water up to depths of 30 m
Meter Dimensions
126 mm length; 70 mm width; 24 mm height
Sensor Dimensions
Integrated w/ Meter
24 mm diameter; 33 mm height
Mass
150 g
180 g
Cable
2 m of two conductor, shielded, twisted-pair wire; TPR jacket (high water resistance,
high UV stability, flexibility in cold conditions)

Spectral Response
Mean spectral response of four MQ-100x
series quantum sensors compared to PPFD
weighting function. Spectral response
measurements were made at 10 nm
increments across a wavelength range of
350 to 800 nm in a monochromator with an
attached electric light source. Measured
spectral data from each quantum sensor
were normalized by the measured spectral
response of the monochromator/electric
light combination, which was measured
with a spectroradiometer.

Cosine Response
Mean cosine response of five MQ-
100X series quantum sensors.
Cosine response measurements
were made by direct side-by-side
comparison to the mean of seven
reference SQ-500 quantum
sensors.
Directional, or cosine, response is defined as
the measurement error at a specific angle of
radiation incidence. Error for Apogee MQ-
100X series quantum sensors is
approximately ± 2 % and ± 5 % at solar zenith
angles of 45° and 75°, respectively.

AM-320 Saltwater Submersible
Sensor Wand
AM-310 Extendable Sensor
Wand
DEPLOYMENT AND INSTALLATION
Apogee MQX series quantum meters are designed for spot-check measurements, and calculation of daily light
integral (DLI; total number of photons incident on a planar surface over the course of a day) through the built-in
logging feature. To accurately measure PFFD incident on a horizontal surface, the sensor must be level. For this
purpose, each MQX model comes with a different option for mounting the sensor to a horizontal plane.
The AM-310 Sensor Wand accessory incorporates a mounting fixture at the end of an extendable telescopic wand
(up to 33 inches/84 cm). The wand is not suited for wet environments; however, it is excellent for greenhouses and
growth chambers. Its ability to retract to a smaller size also makes it ideal for travel use.
The AM-320 Saltwater Submersible Sensor Wand accessory incorporates a mounting fixture at the end of a 40 inch
segmented fiberglass wand and is well-suited for saltwater use. The wand allows the user to place the sensor in
hard to reach areas such as aquariums.
The AL-210 leveling plate is recommended
for use with the MQ-100X.
The AL-100 leveling plate is recommended
for use with the MQ-200X. To facilitate
mounting to a cross arm, the AL-120
mounting bracket is recommended.

BATTERY INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Use a phillips head screwdriver to remove the screw from the battery cover. Remove the battery cover by slightly
lifting and sliding the outer edge of the cover away from the meter.
To power the meter, slide the included battery (CR2320) into the battery holder, after removing the battery door
from the meter’s back panel.
The positive side (designated by a “+” sign) should be facing out from the meter circuit board.
NOTE: The battery cradle can be damaged by using an incorrectly sized battery. If the battery cradle is damaged,
the circuit board will need to be replaced. To avoid this costly problem, use only a CR2320 battery.
Battery Removal
Press down on the battery with a screwdriver or similar object. Slide battery out.
If the battery is difficult to move, turn the meter on its side so that the opening for the battery is facing downward
and tap the meter downward against an open palm to dislodge the battery enough so that it can be removed with
your thumb to slide the battery out of the battery holder.