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Cost-effective Energy Monitoring of Domestic Off-grid PV Systems
Institute of Applied Electronics, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Institute of Applied Electronics, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Institute of Applied Electronics, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
- 1 Institute of Applied Electronics, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
- 2 Institute of Applied Electronics, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
- 3 Institute of Applied Electronics, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Energy and Power Engineering·Volume 05 (2013)·Pages 182–188·Published 30 June 2013·DOI10.4236/epe.2013.54B035
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Abstract
Domestic off-grid renewable energy systems have become common place in many areas of the world, as humanity seeks to keep abreast with global technological changes and advancements. This paper aims to present a cost-effective energy monitoring system which may be used to analyze and evaluate the operation of a domestic off-grid PV system. Parameters which are monitored include the output voltage and current from a 55 W polycrystalline PV panel. The output voltage and current from a power regulation circuit (which could be a DC-DC converter, solar charger or MPPT) is also monitored with this singular system which incorporates a data logging interface circuit, a data logger and a personal computer.
KeywordsOff-grid PV SystemData LoggingCurrent SensorDifferential Amplifier
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