IoT Solar Power Monitoring System

This guide will help you create an IoT-Based Solar Power Monitoring System using Raspberry Pi. The system will track solar panel performance, energy production, and efficiency, providing real-time data and analytics through cloud integration.

Components Required

• Raspberry Pi (Model 3 or later)
• Current sensor (e.g., ACS712)
• Voltage sensor (e.g., ZMPT101B)
• Power supply (for Raspberry Pi and sensors)
• Connecting wires and breadboard
• Cloud service account (e.g., ThingSpeak, Blynk, or AWS IoT)
• Optional: LCD display or LED indicators for local monitoring

Setting Up the Hardware

Follow these steps to set up the hardware:

1. Connect the Current and Voltage Sensors

   Connect the current sensor and voltage sensor to the Raspberry Pi using GPIO pins. The sensors will measure the current and voltage generated by the solar panels.

2. Power the System

   Ensure the Raspberry Pi and sensors are powered using appropriate power supplies. Verify all connections are secure before powering on the system.

Programming the Raspberry Pi

Write the code to read data from the sensors and send it to the cloud. Below is an example code using Python:

                import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
                import time
                import requests

                # Configuration
                CURRENT_SENSOR_PIN = 17
                VOLTAGE_SENSOR_PIN = 18
                CLOUD_URL = "https://api.thingspeak.com/update?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

                # Setup
                GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
                GPIO.setup(CURRENT_SENSOR_PIN, GPIO.IN)
                GPIO.setup(VOLTAGE_SENSOR_PIN, GPIO.IN)

                def read_sensor_data():
                    # Dummy data for demonstration; replace with actual sensor reading logic
                    current = GPIO.input(CURRENT_SENSOR_PIN) * 5.0  # Example conversion
                    voltage = GPIO.input(VOLTAGE_SENSOR_PIN) * 5.0  # Example conversion
                    return current, voltage

                def send_data_to_cloud(current, voltage):
                    response = requests.get(f"{CLOUD_URL}&field1={current}&field2={voltage}")
                    print(f"Data sent to cloud: {response.status_code}")

                try:
                    while True:
                        current, voltage = read_sensor_data()
                        print(f"Current: {current} A, Voltage: {voltage} V")
                        send_data_to_cloud(current, voltage)
                        time.sleep(60)  # Send data every minute

                except KeyboardInterrupt:
                    GPIO.cleanup()
            

This code reads current and voltage data from the sensors, then sends it to the cloud service at regular intervals for monitoring and analysis.

Setting Up Cloud Integration

To visualize and analyze the solar power data, integrate your system with a cloud service. Configure your cloud service to receive data from the Raspberry Pi and create dashboards or reports to track solar panel performance and energy production.

Testing and Calibration

Test the system by monitoring the sensor readings and verifying that data is correctly sent to the cloud. Adjust sensor calibration and code parameters as needed to ensure accurate measurements and reliable performance.