Overview

A cost-effective and reliable data logging and monitoring system was developed in-house at ARCI to track the performance of a single solar panel. Utilizing an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module in conjunction with an Arduino microcontroller, the system captures essential solar panel parameters and logs them locally on an SD card. Additionally, it securely uploads the data to a cloud platform, enabling remote monitoring, analysis, and system verification.

Key Features

  • Wi-Fi Connectivity: ESP8266 module enables real-time data transmission to a secure cloud platform.
  • Local Data Storage: SD card logging ensures redundancy and offline data availability.
  • Arduino-Based Control: Provides reliable, low-cost operation and ease of programming.
  • Cloud Access: Remote access to performance data through a web interface for ongoing monitoring.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Enables easy download of data for further analysis or record-keeping.
  • Compact and Scalable: Suitable for single-panel setups but easily extendable to larger systems.

Potential Applications

  • Solar Panel Performance Monitoring: Ideal for small-scale or prototype solar installations.
  • Remote Energy Systems: Enables monitoring of solar installations in off-grid or rural locations.
  • Educational Use: Useful for academic experiments and demonstrations in renewable energy labs.
  • System Verification and Troubleshooting: Assists in real-time diagnostics and performance tuning.
  • Cloud-Based Energy Management: Foundation for scalable Internet of Things (IoT) energy monitoring solutions