Week 3 – Study On MPLab Software

Objective for this week :

•         To study how to use MPLab Software :

o   to read data from sensors

o   to read output voltage and output current from solar panel

o   to read battery voltage

o   to display all above onto LCD

Description:

•  At the beginning, I tried to read the sensors read using ADC function (one (1) of the micro controller function). Then the data from the sensor will be displayed on LCD.

•   Since I did not construct the circuit yet, to test the coding, I had to test coding using PIC Controller Trainer kit. The sensors and LCD are attached to PIC Controller Trainer kit.

 PIC Controller Trainer kit

•   Before we burn the micro controller with programming, we must to test our programming for micro controller to make sure it can be compiling without error. We use MPLAB IDE software to compile this programming.

MPLAB IDE software

Sensors reading display on LCD

Conclusion :

• Since I managed to display the data from the sensor to the LCD, it make easier to me to display the output voltage and output current from solar panel and also the battery voltage on the LCD because the setting are the same.

Week 2 – Body frame.. DONE!!!

Objective  :

• -          Build a body frame

Description:

-              For this whole week, I just focusing on designing the body frame. For the body frame, I realized that I need to use steel to support the weight of solar panel (the weight of solar panel around 800 grams).

-              After satisfied with the design, I go to steel workshop to weld the body frame. These are the pictures of the project body frame:

Week 1 – New Semester !!

Objective:

•           To continue previous research
•          To design body frame for solar panel

Description:

•           This week is first week for this semester (S2 2013). Hence, I continue my previous semester research for this week.

•           Start to sketch a body frame design for my Photo- Voltaic panel @ Solar Panel.