Sir iam doing project on Solar panel power measurement using arduino. Sir iam using the components like current sensor, relay,trim pot potentiometers arduino uno and stepper motor drive.
Sir iam willing to do project in this manner by tracking the solar power and that power i have to measure by current sensor and iam using relay and iam powering arduino by potentiometer i.e by connecting 2 variable resistors. I dont know how to design the circuit i just have an idea so please help me if you any idea Sir. Thank you Sir.
I don't understand why you have the relay, the potentiometers or the stepper motor.
And you don't mention a battery - which is is usually needed with solare power systems.
Neither do I understand what you mean by "iam powering arduino by potentiometer i.e by connecting 2 variable resistors". Normally one tries to avoid having resistors in a power supply.
Perhaps you can post a diagram illustrating what you have in mind.
What is the purpose of measuring the solar panel power?
What size (watts) is your solar panel?
...R
Robin, I will admit, I am guessing. He says he's powering the Arduino using two potentiometers. I think he's probably using two pots to create a variable voltage divider and powering the Arduino directly off the panel. Doable? Yes. Recommended? No. Risky? Yes.
From that diagram it looks like the purpose of the relay is to disconnect everything from the solar panel - why would one want to do that?
It is quite impractical to power an Arduino from a voltage divider - as well as risking damage to the Arduino if the voltage goes over 5v. Voltage dividers are used for voltage measurement purposes, not for power purposes. Something like a 7805 voltage regulator should be used for power regulation.
To be honest, it is impractical to power an Arduino from a solar panel (even a 100 watt solar panel) without a battery to guarantee a steady power supply.
If you want to measure the solar panel power output you must measure both the voltage and the current very frequently as the power output can change very rapidly if clouds or smoke obscure the sun.
If this is a laboratory experiment there seems to be no reason to power the Arduino from the solar panel - indeed that is just going to confuse the power measurements.
If it is not a laboratory expermiment then I must say I have doubts about the value of the exercise. Solar panels produce whatever they feel like and knowing or not knowing will not make any difference. The system that is using their power should be designed so it can cope with the normal variation.
...R
OK, thanks for the drawing. That makes a few things clearer but it also makes things more difficult. Do you have that exact relay shown or do you have some other relay? It really isn't helpful to show pictures of things you don't have and don't intend to use.
Normal schematics are much better because they show a simple representation of a relay and you can write the model number or capacity next to the component. Fritzing has a schematic view. I suggest you use that instead of the breadboard picture. Or a pencil sketch photographed with a phone is better.
That picture doesn't show how you are powering the Arduino. You need a consistent power source because it needs to work at night when the solar panel is making no power. 12V or less to the barrel jack or Vin pin will be good. If you already have a 5V regulator then use that to power the 5V pin.
Then you need to consider the high-current path for the main power flowing from the solar cell to the load. Get that laid out neatly with wire that is thick enough for the current you plan to use. You can use a relay if you like.
Most relays cannot be driven directly from an Arduino pin. What that Fritzing appears to show will not work or it will over-stress the Arduino and fail quickly. A commercial relay shield is usually best to get started.
Sir can give any suggestions regarding how i measure solar power by using arduino uno, current sensor ,variable resistors .And i also want to do solar tracking for that iam using stepper motor i dont know how to connect the circuit. i just have an idea that stepper motor is give to arduino ,solar panel connected to stepper motor for solar tracking .Next the solar panel power has to be measured by current sensor and resistors . I dont know the coding for stepper motor here can you help me regarding the circuit and code.
bhulakshmi:
Sir can give any suggestions regarding how i measure solar power by using arduino uno, current sensor ,variable resistors
We have mentioned these things in earlier Replies and you have not responded to our comments
.And i also want to do solar tracking for that iam using stepper motor i dont know how to connect the circuit. i just have an idea that stepper motor is give to arduino ,solar panel connected to stepper motor for solar tracking .Next the solar panel power has to be measured by current sensor and resistors . I dont know the coding for stepper motor here can you help me regarding the circuit and code.
Generally speaking a stepper motor is a bad idea for solar tracking. Stepper motors are so inefficient that they will probably use all the solar energy. A simple DC motor with a worm gear drive will be much more suitable because you can switch off the motor power and the solar panel won't move.
If you really do want some info about stepper motors these links may be useful
Stepper Motor Basics
Simple Stepper Code
...R