Design and Analysis of a Low Cost PV Analyzer using Arduino UNO

In this paper a new, low cost and efficient PV analyzer has been designed using the Arduino open source electronic platform for remote areas of developing countries. The designed analyzer is observed to have satisfactory accuracy and provides deep insight of PV arrays. The analyzer comprises of Arduino UNO, irradiation sensor, temperature sensor, voltage sensor and current sensor. It was tested for various commercially available PV panels of different types and sizes. The obtained results are reliable and have comparable performance to the commercially available PV analyzers. This PV analyzer is of special interest for solar energy research and application in developing regions, as it is both cost effective and open source. It can be modified according to the demands of the project. The details of the analyzer's components and implementation are described.