Published January 30, 2024 © GPL3+

Solar-panel energy monitoring system

A simple solar energy monitoring system for DIY projects using Pi Pico W (web-server).

BeginnerShowcase (no instructions)7 hours805

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Raspberry Pi Pico W

RobinCore voltage sensor

acs712 current sensor

cn3791 12v mppt solar charger

18650 li-ion cell

12v solar panel

Software apps and online services

thonny

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Story

The "Pi Pico-based Solar Power Energy Monitoring System using Webserver" is a project designed to provide efficient monitoring and management of solar energy systems. This project leverages the capabilities of the Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller to collect and display crucial data, ensuring the optimal utilization of solar energy resources.

The key components of this system include a 12V MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar charger module (CN3791), a voltage sensor for monitoring the output voltage from the solar panel, an ACS712 current sensor for tracking power consumption, and a 12V solar panel. The Pi Pico serves as the central processing unit, controlling data acquisition, processing, and web server hosting.

The project's core functionality is to measure and report three vital parameters: the output voltage from the solar panel, the battery voltage, and power consumption. These parameters are continuously sampled and presented in real-time through a user-friendly web interface hosted on the Pi Pico.

Users can access the web server from any device with a same WIFI connected with the pi Pico, making it a practical tool for homeowners, businesses, and organizations seeking to harness solar energy efficiently.

top view of the prototype

back view of the prototype

web-page

WORKING VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/YHCOJKWWfvY

Code

code

import network
import socket
import time
from machine import Pin, ADC
import urandom

# Define the ADC pins for solar panel, battery, and output current
solar_panel_pin = Pin(26, Pin.IN)
battery_pin = Pin(27, Pin.IN)
output_current_pin = Pin(28, Pin.IN)

solar_panel_adc = ADC(solar_panel_pin)
battery_adc = ADC(battery_pin)
output_current_adc = ADC(output_current_pin)

# Your network SSID and password
ssid = ''
password = ''
wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
wlan.active(True)
wlan.connect(ssid, password)

html = """<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Solar Power Monitoring System</title>
    <style>
        body {
            display: flex;
            justify-content: center;
            align-items: center;
            height: 100vh;
            margin: 0;
 background-image: url('https://media.istockphoto.com/id/525206743/photo/solar-panel-on-a-red-roof.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=xcAkdNj8dFDhu8734FpRDAZDtN2bjr48RKEd9j2FL0U=');
            background-size: cover;
            background-repeat: no-repeat;
        }

        .container {
            text-align: center;
            background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); /* Adding a semi-transparent white background for better readability */
            border: 1px solid #ccc;
            padding: 20px;
            border-radius: 10px;
            box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
        }

        h1 {
            text-decoration: underline;
        }

        p {
            font-size: 24px;
        }

        button {
            font-size: 20px;
        }

        #credits {
            display: none;
            font-size: 18px;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="container">
    <h1>Solar Power Monitoring System</h1>
    <h2>Solar Power Monitoring System using PI PICO W</h2>
    <p>&bull; Voltage from Solar panel: %.2f V</p>
    <p>&bull; Battery Voltage: %.2f V</p>
    <p>&bull; Output Current: %.2f A</p>
    <button onclick="refreshPage()">Refresh</button>
    <button onclick="showCredits()">Credits</button>
    <div id="credits">
        <p><h3>Created by:</h3> A.S. Akash</p>
        <p><h4>College:</h4> HINDUSTAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE</p>
    </div>
</div>

<script>
    function refreshPage() {
        location.reload();
    }

    // Auto-refresh every 10 seconds
    setTimeout(function () {
        location.reload();
    }, 5000); // 10000 milliseconds = 10 seconds

    function showCredits() {
        var credits = document.getElementById("credits");
        credits.style.display = "block";
    }
</script>
</body>
</html>

"""

max_wait = 10
while max_wait > 0:
    if wlan.status() < 0 or wlan.status() >= 3:
        break
    max_wait -= 1
    print('Waiting for connection...')
    time.sleep(1)

if wlan.status() != 3:
    raise RuntimeError('Network connection failed')
else:
    print('Connected')
    status = wlan.ifconfig()
    print('IP = ' + status[0])

addr = socket.getaddrinfo('0.0.0.0', 80)[0][-1]

s = socket.socket()
s.bind(addr)
s.listen(1)

print('Listening on', addr)

# Listen for connections
while True:
    try:
        cl, addr = s.accept()
        print('Client connected from', addr)
        
        # Read sensor values
    
        #
        R1 = 30000.0;
        R2 = 7500.0;
        solar_panel_value = ((solar_panel_adc.read_u16() * 3.3) / 65535)/ (R2/(R1+R2));
        battery_voltage = ((battery_adc.read_u16() * 3.3) / 65535)/ (R2/(R1+R2));
        output_current = (output_current_adc.read_u16() / 65535) * 3300  # Convert to voltage (3.3V reference voltage)
        output_current = ((output_current - 1650) / 100) - 0.10

        response = html % (solar_panel_value, battery_voltage, output_current)
        cl.send('HTTP/1.0 200 OK\r\nContent-type: text/html\r\n\r\n')
        cl.send(response)
        cl.close()

    except OSError as e:
        cl.close()
        print('Connection closed')

Credits

akash a s

4 projects • 5 followers

Electronics student who loves making projects

Solar-panel energy monitoring system

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

circuit diagram

Code

code

Credits

akash a s

Comments

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Solar-panel energy monitoring system

Solar-panel energy monitoring system

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

circuit diagram

Code

code

Credits

akash a s

Comments

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