Monitoring solar heat intensity of dual axis solar tracker control system: New approach

• Published in: Case studies in thermal engineering 2024-01, Vol.53, p.103791, Article 103791
• Main Authors: Anshory, Izza, Jamaaluddin, Jamaaluddin, Fahruddin, A'rasy, Fudholi, Ahmad, Radiansah, Yadi, Subagio, Dalmasius Ganjar, Utomo, Yusuf Suryo, Saepudin, Aep, Rosyid, Oo Abdul, Sopian, Kamaruzzaman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ESP8266 microcontroller; LDR sensor; Photovoltaic system; Solar tracker dual-axis
• ISSN: 2214-157X; 2214-157X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.csite.2023.103791

Control of the amount of solar energy successfully absorbed by photovoltaic system equipment that can follow the movement of sunlight vertically and horizontally at any time is a very urgent need. The method used in this research activity is the utilization of the ESP8266 microcontroller as the primary control of photovoltaic movements that can follow the direction of sunlight based on information from the Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) sensor. The data variables measured and stored include current, voltage, and temperature, which are then processed and transmitted by the ESP 8266 microcontroller to the user through the Internet of Things (IoT) media to the BLINK application. The experimental results show that the proposed system using the ESP8266 microcontroller and LDR sensor increases efficiency, accuracy, speed, and convenience in the monitoring and control system of sunlight intensity by an average of 65%, compared with the manual monitoring system.