A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel Characterization
Accurate photovoltaic (PV) panel characterization is critical for optimizing renewable energy systems, but it is often hindered by the high cost of commercial tracers or the slow, error-prone nature of manual methods. This paper presents a low-cost, Arduino-based I–V curve tracer that overcomes thes...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8186 |
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| author | Pedro Leineker Ochoski Machado Luis V. Gulineli Fachini Erich T. Tiuman Tathiana M. Barchi Sergio L. Stevan Hugo V. Siqueira Romeu M. Szmoski Thiago Antonini Alves |
| author_facet | Pedro Leineker Ochoski Machado Luis V. Gulineli Fachini Erich T. Tiuman Tathiana M. Barchi Sergio L. Stevan Hugo V. Siqueira Romeu M. Szmoski Thiago Antonini Alves |
| author_sort | Pedro Leineker Ochoski Machado |
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| description | Accurate photovoltaic (PV) panel characterization is critical for optimizing renewable energy systems, but it is often hindered by the high cost of commercial tracers or the slow, error-prone nature of manual methods. This paper presents a low-cost, Arduino-based I–V curve tracer that overcomes these limitations through fully automated resistive load switching. By integrating a relay-controlled resistor bank managed by a single microcontroller, the system eliminates the need for manual intervention, enabling rapid and repeatable measurements in just 45 s. This rapid acquisition is a key advantage over manual systems, as it minimizes the impact of fluctuating environmental conditions and ensures the resulting I–V curve represents a stable operating point. Compared to commercial alternatives, our open-source solution offers significant benefits in cost, portability, and flexibility, making it ideal for field deployment. The system’s use of fixed, stable resistive loads for each measurement point also ensures high repeatability and straightforward comparison with theoretical models. Experimental validation demonstrated high agreement with a single-diode PV model, achieving a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 4.40% against the manufacturer’s data. Furthermore, re-optimizing the model with field-acquired data reduces the MAPE from 18.23% to 7.06% under variable irradiance. This work provides an accessible, robust, and efficient tool for PV characterization, democratizing access for research, education, and field diagnostics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-959a1f228ce142ac897ead2a1dc19a4e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-959a1f228ce142ac897ead2a1dc19a4e2025-08-20T03:36:30ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515818610.3390/app15158186A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel CharacterizationPedro Leineker Ochoski Machado0Luis V. Gulineli Fachini1Erich T. Tiuman2Tathiana M. Barchi3Sergio L. Stevan4Hugo V. Siqueira5Romeu M. Szmoski6Thiago Antonini Alves7Graduate Program in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Parana (UTFPR), Curitiba 81280-340, PR, BrazilGraduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Parana (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa 84017-220, PR, BrazilGraduate Program in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Parana (UTFPR), Curitiba 81280-340, PR, BrazilGraduate Program in Industrial Engineering (PPGEP), Federal University of Technology–Parana, Ponta Grossa 84017-220, PR, BrazilGraduate Program in Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Parana (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa 84017-220, PR, BrazilGraduate Program in Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Parana (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa 84017-220, PR, BrazilPhysics Department, Federal University of Technology-Parana (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa 84.017-220, PR, BrazilGraduate Program in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Parana (UTFPR), Curitiba 81280-340, PR, BrazilAccurate photovoltaic (PV) panel characterization is critical for optimizing renewable energy systems, but it is often hindered by the high cost of commercial tracers or the slow, error-prone nature of manual methods. This paper presents a low-cost, Arduino-based I–V curve tracer that overcomes these limitations through fully automated resistive load switching. By integrating a relay-controlled resistor bank managed by a single microcontroller, the system eliminates the need for manual intervention, enabling rapid and repeatable measurements in just 45 s. This rapid acquisition is a key advantage over manual systems, as it minimizes the impact of fluctuating environmental conditions and ensures the resulting I–V curve represents a stable operating point. Compared to commercial alternatives, our open-source solution offers significant benefits in cost, portability, and flexibility, making it ideal for field deployment. The system’s use of fixed, stable resistive loads for each measurement point also ensures high repeatability and straightforward comparison with theoretical models. Experimental validation demonstrated high agreement with a single-diode PV model, achieving a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 4.40% against the manufacturer’s data. Furthermore, re-optimizing the model with field-acquired data reduces the MAPE from 18.23% to 7.06% under variable irradiance. This work provides an accessible, robust, and efficient tool for PV characterization, democratizing access for research, education, and field diagnostics.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8186data acquisition systemsI–V curve tracerlow costphotovoltaic systemsreal-time systemsrenewable energy |
| spellingShingle | Pedro Leineker Ochoski Machado Luis V. Gulineli Fachini Erich T. Tiuman Tathiana M. Barchi Sergio L. Stevan Hugo V. Siqueira Romeu M. Szmoski Thiago Antonini Alves A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel Characterization Applied Sciences data acquisition systems I–V curve tracer low cost photovoltaic systems real-time systems renewable energy |
| title | A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel Characterization |
| title_full | A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel Characterization |
| title_fullStr | A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel Characterization |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel Characterization |
| title_short | A Low-Cost Arduino-Based I–V Curve Tracer with Automated Load Switching for PV Panel Characterization |
| title_sort | low cost arduino based i v curve tracer with automated load switching for pv panel characterization |
| topic | data acquisition systems I–V curve tracer low cost photovoltaic systems real-time systems renewable energy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8186 |
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