Effective Real-Time Performance Monitoring of Individual Panels in PV Plants Through an Electronic Disconnection/Measurement System

Long-term monitoring of photovoltaic (PV) fields is of increasing interest for PV customers. Subsiding fees recompense produced energy; as a consequence, prompt identification of malfunctioning or failures is of paramount importance. In this paper, we present an improved version of a recently-developed monitoring electronic circuit devised to measure the effective voltage, the open-circuit voltage, and the short-circuit current of string-connected solar panels. The system substitutes the junction box, is fully self-powered, and does not require additional cables thanks to wireless communication. The experiments shown in the paper clearly demonstrate the reliability and usefulness of the system for continuous monitoring of PV fields.