Experiments with Alternative Energy: Part 2 - External Conditions that Affect Solar Panels

摘要

This is the second in our series of Experiments with Alternative Energy. In Part 1, you were introduced to how a Parallax BS2 and PICAXE 28X2 can be configured in hardware and firmware to measure certain electrical aspects of solar panels; namely what their voltage, current, and power outputs look like in both sun and incandescent light and the concept of the Maximum Power Point or MPP. This time, we'll use these same microcontroller circuits and code to illustrate three primary conditions that affect solar panel operation in the real world: heat, shading, and tilt angle.