Development of a Solar Radiation Sensor Using Solar Cell

This paper presents the development of a solar radiation sensor utilizing a solar cell as the primary sensing element. The objective is to create a cost-effective, portable, and efficient solar radiation sensor suitable for various applications such as meteorology, climatology, and solar energy studies. The proposed system integrates a solar cell, signal conditioning circuitry, and data acquisition system. The design involves calibrating the solar cell against a standard pyranometer to ensure accuracy. The signal conditioning circuit amplifies and filters the weak signal from the solar cell, making it suitable for data acquisition. Performance evaluation was conducted by comparing the developed sensor with a commercial pyranometer over several days. The results showed a high degree of correlation between the sensor's output and the pyranometer readings, with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of less than 5%. The sensor's accuracy, coupled with its cost-effectiveness, portability, and ease of maintenance, makes it a viable alternative to traditional pyranometers.