SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The solar-powered data logger features a photodiode that measures solar insolation levels and converts this analog signal to a digital value that’s stored in flash memory. Every time the system logs a data point it also logs a time and date stamp so that the data can be downloaded to a PC and analyzed in the future.

 When the system is logging, real-time data is displayed on its small LCD screen. The system displays several useful bits of information: the battery’s voltage, the time and date, the length of time the system has been logging, and the length of time it can continue to log before running out of memory.      

The logger has a dedicated solar power system that enables autonomous operation. A simple charge controller regulates the charging of a sealed battery (gel cell lead acid) by a small solar panel.