IoT solar panel systems utilize several types of sensors to monitor and optimize the performance and maintenance of solar installations. Key sensor types include:
- Voltage sensors: These sensors interface with the solar panel’s voltage output to monitor electrical parameters critical for assessing power generation efficiency and system health.
- Temperature sensors: Devices like the LM-35 temperature sensor measure the panel or ambient temperature, which is vital since temperature affects solar panel performance and longevity.
- Light intensity sensors (LDR sensors): Light-dependent resistors (LDRs) assess the intensity of incident sunlight to evaluate the solar energy input and optimize panel positioning or operation.
- Additional environmental sensors: Although not always specified for solar panel systems, common IoT sensors such as humidity, dust, and vibration sensors could be used to detect environmental factors impacting solar panel efficiency and maintenance needs.
- RFID tags and readers: Used for asset tracking, managing solar panel specifications, installation details, and maintenance history.
- Communication-related sensors and modules: While technically not sensors, IoT solar systems incorporate communication technologies like NB-IoT, LTE-M, satellite communication, mesh networks (Zigbee, Thread), and NFC for data transmission and device configuration.
These sensors feed data into IoT devices and solar controllers, which typically operate on DC voltage aligned with most IoT sensors’ requirements, avoiding energy losses from multiple AC/DC conversions. The collected data is often sent to cloud servers for real-time monitoring, fault detection, preventive maintenance, and performance optimization.
In summary, primary sensor types in IoT solar panel systems include voltage sensors, temperature sensors (e.g., LM-35), and light intensity sensors (LDR), supplemented by asset tracking via RFID and supported by various communication technologies tailored for IoT applications in solar environments.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-types-of-sensors-are-used-in-iot-solar-panel-systems/
