Solar Panel
A rotative solar panel that moves toward the sun.
Author: Andrei Valentin-Alexandru
GitHub Project Link: https://github.com/UPB-PMRust-Students/project-ValiRupe
Descriptionā
The project will consist of a small solar panel attached to a servo motor. A number of photoresistors will be placed around the solar panel and the panel will move depending in the direction of the highest sunlight input. The energy will be stored and used for heating water behind it and a sensor will measure the temperature.
Motivationā
I wanted for a long time to learn and to do a project based around solar energy. I am not as motivated for a solar future as I am about the solar cell tehnology and it's intricacies.
Architectureā
Raspberry Pi Pico 2W is the machine which controls everything.
The solar panel is the main component which will be used for the application in gathering energy.
The photoresistors will be used as sensors and we will compare where is the lowest resistance and move in that direction.
The servomotor will rotate the panel based on the data from the photoresistors.
The PWM power controller will help control the flow of energy so the accumulator doesn't burn.
The accumulator stores energy.
The heating element heats the water.
The sensor for temperature reads data from the water.
Logā
Week 5 - 11 Mayā
I did the documentation part and bought some of the components ( I already had some of them ). I did the setup for picotool on my laptop.
Week 12 - 18 Mayā
I assembled the hardware parts, I did the KiCAD scheme, I managed progress with the picotool.
Week 19 - 25 Mayā
I started coding. I couldn't make the picotool work so i bought another pico to use as a debugger. I coded the functions of the program.
Hardwareā
Raspberry Pi Pico 2W is the main part of the hardware.
Solar Panel - 5V 25mA, 45x25 mm
Photoresistors - 1 MĪ© at 0 Lux, 10kĪ© at 25 Lux
Servomotor - moves 180 degrees, 5 V
PWM power controller - 5-36 V, 15 A
Acummulator - 5 V
Heating element - 5V / 50 ā / 0.3-1W
Sensor for temperature - NTC 100k
Schematicsā
Place your KiCAD schematics here.
Bill of Materialsā
| Device | Usage | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Pico W | The microcontroller | 40 RON |
| [Heating element] | Heats the water | 15 RON |
| [PWM Controller] | Controls the electricity sent to the accumulator | 7 RON |
| [Photoresistors] | Detects the light | 3 RON |
| [Thermoresistor] | Detects the temperature | 4 RON |
| [Accumulator] | The battery that charges | Free from a friend's vape |
| [Solar Panel] | Gets energy from the sunlight | 13 RON |
| [Servomotor] | Moves the panel left and right | From someone's kit, basically free |
Softwareā
| Library | Description | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| embassy-rp | General crate for the project | Since most of my project uses analog components most of them use it; the photoresistors, servo motor, heating element, thermistor |
| embassy-time | Usage for timings | Adjust the servo, reading sensors |
| embassy-executor | Async | Temperature monitoring + solar tracking |
| defmt, defmt-rtt, panic-probe | Support | Real time tracking of sensor values |