PV Panel Monitoring Using Arduino And LabVIEW

Abstract

This paper proposes a low-cost platform for real-time monitoring PV panel operation. The data acquisition is performed using inexpensive hardware. The real-time data measurements (current and voltage values) are continuously acquired using an Arduino Uno embedded board and a PmodISNS20 current sensor and are transmitted to a PC via USB connection. The monitoring software (HMI) was developed using LabVIEW virtual instrumentation tools. The measured values are displayed on the front panel of LabVIEW application numerically (through text indicators) as well as graphically (the current PV panel operating point is plotted on the I-V and P-V characteristics). The data are also recorded via ODBC connection on a MS Access database, making it possible to analyze and use historical data. This is useful when it comes to developing an MPPT control system. The data is viewed remotely using a windows form application.