A Low-Cost Prototype I-V and P-V Curve Tracer for PV Modules

I-V curve tracers are available in the market, but they are expensive. Therefore, there is a need for a low-cost version of the device for students. This paper describes the design, building, and testing of a capacitive-load-based, low-cost autonomous prototype I-V Curve Tracer using an Arduino Uno microcontroller. The device allows students to evaluate and analyze photovoltaic (PV) modules in an academic environment as well as evaluate the structure and design of the system itself. The curve tracer enables the user to extract all samples of the measurements and import and export data to allow further analysis of PV module characteristics. The software for the microcontroller was developed in C programming language, and the user interface for the PC was designed in C# programming language via Microsoft Visual Studio. The main circuit was simulated in Simulink with switching losses taken into consideration, and a prototype was built. The UI for the curve tracer and the whole system was tested with the PV module. The output was compared and confirmed with the simulated results and compared with existing works regarding I-V and P-V plot; the graphs plotted using the designed GUI were found to be in accordance with the actual results.