Arduino + XBee – Solar-Power Temperature Sensor
by admin on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 | 10 Comments
DIY project demonstrating the integration of an Arduino, Solar Panel, XBee modules, and ioBridge to achieve a solar-powered remote temperature sensor.
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@cool68yud In fact, the arduino was outside being powered by the solar panel. The arduino then used the Xbee to send wireless serial data up to my ioBridge. The ioBridge reported the data to the web. I just used the PC to view the data as a webpage. It could be any web browser in the world. What you describe should also work. Temp->serial input->arduino->XBee ))) XBee->rabbit->PC
I’ve read your blog and the Arduino Sketch, seem that you had connected Arduino to PC, transferred the Sketch into the Arduino first, then unplugged it from PC, isn’t it? But for my similar project, can I just read the data from the “serial monitor” of arduino software? I have my temperature sensor connected to the Arduino+XbeeShield, another Xbee connected serially with rabbit microcontroller to the PC. Thanks for help.
That is possible, but you will have to write some code on your PC to post any information to the web if you wanted it to be there. The ioBridge takes care of that stuff for you. If you don’t have one, however, you should be able to have the XBee and adapter shield hooked up to an arduino, and then have another xbee hooked through a serial cable to the PC.
Hi, I’m currently doing the same project in university. Do I really need IO bridge? I don’t have IO bridge provided so is that fine just having only a Xbee connected to the PC and receive data from another Xbee which is connected to Arduino?
Please refer to the blog post for code on the arduino. Its all there! Just a simple analog read and some conversion to scale raw analog data to farenheit. You’ll need a microcontroller to read the analog from the sensor and write serial to the Xbee (ioBridge, arduino, pic, etc, will work). The ioBridge has X10 control for lights, or relay for switching. Real easy. Arduino probably has equivalent as well that can be done simply.
Sorry, I looked around but could not find the information. Its just a solar panel for driving pumps in outdoor water features.
The serial communication board is to provide a buffered input/output for Xbee to the arduino. It is read only in the instance, but if I wanted to communicate to the arduino, the serial is there for it.
Im very interested in this project. I need help on this though. How did you program the arduino board to send the temperature? Do I HAVE TO HAVE the arduino board or can i just use an xbee adapter and a zigbee module mounted on top of it? My first goal is to control lights wirelessly but I dont know where to start n what to buy…please help. THanks!
why do you need a serial communication module?
Can you please post the solar panel information (model, where bought, etc) you used for this project? Thank you! Great project by the way!