Abstract
•The reliance on multimeters for measuring PV system increase operational costs.•This study aims to develop Io T-enabled device for remote monitoring of PV system.•The data-logger was integrated with an SD card which allows information to be stored.•The accuracy of the system developed is comparable to industry standards.
The reliance on multimeters for measuring PV system increase operational costs due to frequent technician site visits. This study aims to develop an IoT-enabled device for real-time remote monitoring of photovoltaic (PV) systems, parameters such as voltage, current, and power across the PV array, battery bank, and inverter with a supporting monitoring capacity of up to 90 kW. The system comprises sensors, an Arduino Mega microcontroller, ESP32, and a GSM module. The Arduino reads PV parameters and transmits them to the ESP32, which connects to the internet to send the data to the MATLAB-based ThingSpeak server every two minutes, enabling real-time visualization on mobile devices or computers. The data logger was integrated with an SD card which allows information to be stored. To ensure prompt intervention and dependability, the system has an SMS alert mechanism that triggers alerts for critical issues in real-time, such as an inverter overload exceeding 80 W threshold or a low battery below 12.5 V threshold. The accuracy of the system developed, demonstrated by a Pearson correlation coefficient of (> 0.9) compared to industry standards, demonstrating its reliability. This device offers comprehensive monitoring of multiple components, providing real-time data, offline logging and timely SMS alerts, unlike previous solutions that limited users' ability to monitor the overall performance and efficiency of their PV systems. This device proposed in this study is recommended for users of standalone or mini-grid PV system. As a research tool, it is also recommended for obtaining load profiles, which are essential for the best optimal design of renewable energy systems.