PC-based instrument for monitoring global solar radiation using a phototransistor matrix

Authors

Mark Lester Altoveros ⋅ PH Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Zaldy A. Andales ⋅ PH Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Nelio C. Altoveros ⋅ PH Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Abstract

This study aimed to design and implement an instrument for PC-based monitoring of global solar radiation with the use of a phototransistor matrix device interfaced to a computer. Softwares were implemented to access the instrument hardware through the parallel port. Calibration was done on the instrument. The calibration equation was found out to be an exponential function given by y = 0.56466 exp(x/1.87705) and had a correlation coefficient of 0.9778, which is within the tolerable instrument error of 10%. A comparative analysis was done between the implemented instrument and the instruments used at the National Agromet Station, UPLB. Possible sources of the errors seen from the analysis were stipulated. The study was able to produce an instrument that cost only $120.

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Issue

2004: Proceedings of the 22nd Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Congress

Article ID

SPP-2004-2D-01

Section

Instrumentation Physics

Published

2004-10-25

How to Cite

[1]

ML Altoveros, ZA Andales, and NC Altoveros, PC-based instrument for monitoring global solar radiation using a phototransistor matrix, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 22, SPP-2004-2D-01 (2004). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2004-2D-01.