Development of a low-cost pyranometer using a Light-Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Keywords:
Regression modeling, Solar energy, Low-cost Pyranometer, MicrocontrollerAbstract
A pyranometer is an essential device used to measure the intensity of solar radiation. It has a wide range of applications, including meteorology, energy, building systems, and agriculture. However, the high cost of this equipment is a major barrier to its use. This research aims to develop a low-cost pyranometer by using a Light-Dependent Resistor (LDR). Three LDRs were connected in series with a resistor of 100, 500, and 1,000 ohms. The voltage data was collected using an Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller board. The results were then compared with a KIPP & ZONEN CMP3 pyranometer, which served as the reference device. A total of 4,296 data points were collected. The data was analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression to create and test a regression equation. The results showed that the equation between the voltage of 100, 500, and 1,000 ohm resistors and the natural logarithm of the solar radiation intensity on a day with a maximum, minimum, and average light intensity of 1,131.5, 123.5, and 672 watts per square meter, respectively, has an R2 value of 0.979 and RMSEP of 54.913. This error was relatively small, indicating that the developed device can be a useful tool.
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