Arduino enable web server to monitor a small solar array and power management systems.
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Build an Arduino powered and web enable voltage and current system to monitor power coming in from my solar panels, Power from the charge controller to the batteries and power from the battery to the load.
This project is built for 3 ports, but can split out to any number of ports needed for your project.
Project has been running for over 2 years now and has been providing good solid data. I have had 2 ocassions that the unit hung up and both times we had storms in the area. A quick power cycle and the arduino was back up and running.
For now the project is complete. If I find any issue Ill post them up. If you have questions please drop me a note. good luck.
Here is the Arduino Sketch. Nothing fancy. It is a mix of my code, code fragments from other peoples projects as well as vendor sample code.
#include <SPI.h>
#include <Ethernet.h>
// Enter a MAC address and IP address for your controller below.
// The IP address will be dependent on your local network:
byte mac[] = {
0xDE, 0xAD, 0xBE, 0xEF, 0xFE, 0xee
};
IPAddress ip(192, 168, 1, 178);
IPAddress gateway(192, 168, 1, 1);
IPAddress subnet(255, 255, 255, 0);
// Initialize the Ethernet server library
// with the IP address and port you want to use
// (port 80 is default for HTTP):
EthernetServer server(80);
float current_input_value = 0; // value read from the carrier board
float amps = 0;
void setup() {
// Open serial communications and wait for port to open:
Serial.begin(9600);
while (!Serial) {
; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for Leonardo only
}
// start the Ethernet connection and the server:
Ethernet.begin(mac, ip);
server.begin();
Serial.print("server is at ");
Serial.println(Ethernet.localIP());
}
void loop() {
float voltage;
float watts;
char buffer[10];
String S_label ;
String S_voltage ;
String S_amps ;
String S_watts ;
String S_print = S_label + S_voltage + S_amps + S_watts;
// listen for incoming clients
EthernetClient client = server.available();
if (client) {
Serial.println("new client");
// an http request ends with a blank line
boolean currentLineIsBlank = true;
while (client.connected()) {
if (client.available()) {
char c = client.read();
Serial.write(c);
// if you've gotten to the end of the line (received a newline
// character) and the line is blank, the http request has ended,
// so you can send a reply
if (c == '\n' && currentLineIsBlank) {
// send a standard http response header
client.println("HTTP/1.1 200 OK");
client.println("Content-Type: text/html");
client.println("Connection: close"); // the connection will be closed after completion of the response
client.println("Refresh: 5"); // refresh the page automatically every 5 sec
client.println();
client.println("<!DOCTYPE HTML>");
client.println("<html>");
//get the volatage
voltage=get_voltage(A0); //get volatge on A0
//Get the Current
current_input_value = analogRead(A1);
amps = float ((((long)current_input_value * 5000 / 1024) - 500 ) * 1000 / 133)/1000;
if (amps < 0 )
amps = 0 ; // Get rid of sensor noise when currentt is at/near zero.
watts=(amps * voltage);
S_label = "Panel" ;
S_voltage = dtostrf(voltage, 2,2, buffer );
S_amps = dtostrf(amps, 2,2, buffer );
S_watts = dtostrf(watts, 2,2, buffer );
S_print = S_label + " " + S_voltage + " " + S_amps + " " + S_watts;
client.println (S_print);
client.println ("<br>");
//get the volatage
voltage=get_voltage(A2); //get volatge on A5
//Get the Current
current_input_value = analogRead(A3);
amps = float ((((long)current_input_value * 5000 / 1024) - 500 ) * 1000 / 133)/1000;
if (amps < 0 )
amps = 0 ; // Get rid of sensor noise when currentt is at/near zero.
watts=(amps * voltage) ;
S_label = "Battery" ;
S_voltage = dtostrf(voltage, 2,2, buffer );
S_amps = dtostrf(amps, 2,2, buffer );
S_watts = dtostrf(watts, 2,2, buffer );
S_print = S_label + " " + S_voltage + " " + S_amps + " " + S_watts;
client.println (S_print);
client.println ("<br>");
//get the volatage
voltage=get_voltage(A4); //get volatge on A5
//Get the Current
current_input_value = analogRead(A5);
amps = float ((((long)current_input_value * 5000 / 1024) - 500 ) * 1000 / 133)/1000;
if (amps < 0 )
amps = 0 ; // Get rid of sensor noise when currentt is at/near zero.
watts=(amps * voltage);
S_label = "Load" ;
S_voltage = dtostrf(voltage, 2,2, buffer );
S_amps = dtostrf(amps, 2,2, buffer );
S_watts = dtostrf(watts, 2,2, buffer );
S_print = S_label + " " + S_voltage + " " + S_amps + " " + S_watts;
client.println (S_print);
client.println ("<br>");
client.println("</html>");
break;
}
if (c == '\n') {
// you're starting a new line
currentLineIsBlank = true;
}
else if (c != '\r') {
// you've gotten a character on the current line
currentLineIsBlank = false;
}
}
}
// give the web browser...
Read more »The completed project has been running for several weeks. No major issues and seem to be collecting data correctly. While I check on the device via the web from time to time just see power levels. I mainly collect the data every 5 minutes from a Linux server running on my VM server. A simple curl script can pull and parse the data into a CSV file that I can use as needed. Long term I will look at putting this into a web site to do trending, but for now I can graph the data as needed.
Project has been online for a few days and starting to get some data captured. The current portion of the circuit seems to be working fine, but the voltage seems to never get below 11v on all 3 channels.. When there is sun the panel voltage go up but non of them tend to go below 11 volts. I suspect some cross talk. Will have to look at how to fix this....
Was also able to move the board into position in the solar panel charging room.
Will let it soak for a few days and see how well it works.
Was able to get the project mounted in a case. The cut outs are a bit messy but it will work. Best I could do with the dremel tool..
Now that I have some space to work I was able to get the project wired and into position for testing.
1st step was to get the voltage/current sensors connected to the Nano. I switched from the larger wire to wire wrap wire to minimize my soldering on the Nano chip. Currently only tacked the a couple of pins. The rest was wire wrap. Soldering is pretty crappy looking. Between a board that didnt take solder very will and my eye it was interesting soldering. I need a better magnifier..
Been busy with other projects. Main project was rebuilding the "shack" to make hobby time a little easier.. painted walls, new floorts, new counter tops, shelves, cabinets... looking much better and I now have room to do work.
Still around but other projects have been filling my time. ...
The project is just a typical bread board project. use what ever techniques your comfortable with. I use a mix of soldering for the voltage and current collectors and use wire wrap to tie those collectors back to the Arduino. One mistake I made that cause re-work was a case that was to small... While you can built this to whatever size you can fit it into my large Anderson power poles determine the project case width. I also use #10 wire to go from the power poles to the current sensors. I would recommend moving down to a size #12. The #10 was difficult to bend to mate up with the current sensors.
The voltage is measured with a simple resitor voltage divider network, this is required if your voltage is over 5v. with the divider the voltage from your source is scaled down to 0-5v. For the current sensor I used the ACS715 Current Sensor, this sensor takes upto 30 amps and scales the output to a 0-5v that the arduino can handle.
which hardware is used to measured load/current ?thanks in advace
Gary
colinakerr
Nathaniel VerLee
CaptMcAllister
can I get the circuit diagram for this project