ESP32 Solar Panel Monitoring System

Introduction to Solar Panel Monitoring with ESP32

In this project, we will use the ESP32 to monitor the key parameters of a solar panel system, including voltage, current, and temperature. Solar panels are highly dependent on environmental conditions, and monitoring their performance can optimize energy production. With this system, we can continuously track and analyze the performance of the solar panels to detect any issues early.

Components Required

To build the ESP32-powered solar panel monitoring system, you will need the following components: ESP32 microcontroller, voltage and current sensors, a temperature sensor, and a web server to display the data. You'll also need a power supply and Wi-Fi connectivity to enable real-time monitoring.

Install necessary libraries (Wi-Fi, ESPAsyncWebServer, and sensor libraries) in the Arduino IDE.
Connect voltage, current, and temperature sensors to the ESP32.
Write code to collect data from the sensors and send it to a web interface.
Set up a simple web server to display real-time solar panel data (voltage, current, and temperature).
Upload the code to the ESP32 and monitor the solar panel’s performance through the web interface.

Formula: Power (W) = Voltage (V) × Current (I)

Components List

1 × ESP32 Development Board
1 × Voltage Sensor
1 × Current Sensor
1 × Temperature Sensor (e.g., DHT11)
1 × Breadboard and Jumper Wires
1 × Power Supply (e.g., 5V USB adapter)
1 × Wi-Fi Network
1 × Computer or Smartphone with Web Browser

Pin Configuration

GPIO 34 (Voltage Sensor): Voltage sensor's analog output connected to GPIO 34 on the ESP32.
GPIO 35 (Current Sensor): Current sensor's analog output connected to GPIO 35 for current readings.
GPIO 21 (Temperature Sensor): Temperature sensor (e.g., DHT11) data pin connected to GPIO 21.

Ensure that the voltage and current sensors are rated for the voltage levels in your solar panel system. Also, make sure that the ESP32 is powered using a stable power source.

Wiring and Connections

-> GPIO 34 (Analog Input)
-> GPIO 35 (Analog Input)
-> GPIO 21 (Data Pin)

Code for ESP32 Solar Panel Monitoring System

1#include <WiFi.h>
2#include <ESPAsyncWebServer.h>
3#include <DHT.h>
4
5const char* ssid = "Your_SSID";
6const char* password = "Your_PASSWORD";
7
8#define VOLTAGE_PIN 34
9#define CURRENT_PIN 35
10#define DHTPIN 21
11#define DHTTYPE DHT11
12
13DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);
14AsyncWebServer server(80);
15
16void setup() {
17  Serial.begin(115200);
18  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
19  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
20    delay(1000);
21    Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi...");
22  }
23  Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");
24  dht.begin();
25  pinMode(VOLTAGE_PIN, INPUT);
26  pinMode(CURRENT_PIN, INPUT);
27
28  server.on("/getSolarData", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {
29    int voltage = analogRead(VOLTAGE_PIN);
30    int current = analogRead(CURRENT_PIN);
31    float temp = dht.readTemperature();
32    String response = "<h1>Solar Panel Data</h1><p>Voltage: " + String(voltage) + "</p><p>Current: " + String(current) + "</p><p>Temperature: " + String(temp) + "°C</p>";
33    request->send(200, "text/html", response);
34  });
35
36  server.begin();
37}
38
39void loop() {
40  // No need for continuous code in loop() as the web server handles it
41}

Code Explanation

#include <WiFi.h>: This line includes the WiFi library to allow the ESP32 to connect to a wireless network.
#include <DHT.h>: Includes the DHT library for reading temperature data from the DHT11 sensor.
server.on("/getSolarData", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request) {: Defines the web route for fetching solar data (voltage, current, and temperature readings).
int voltage = analogRead(VOLTAGE_PIN);: Reads the analog value from the voltage sensor.
int current = analogRead(CURRENT_PIN);: Reads the analog value from the current sensor.

Applications

Monitoring the performance of solar panel systems.
Real-time tracking of energy generation from solar panels.
Optimization of solar panel energy output based on performance data.
Solar panel system maintenance and troubleshooting through real-time data.

Conclusion

The ESP32-powered solar panel monitoring system provides real-time monitoring of solar panel performance, enabling users to track voltage, current, and temperature. This system can be expanded with additional sensors or features to further optimize solar panel energy production, making it a valuable tool for solar panel owners and energy engineers.

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