ESP32 Solar Battery Monitor FYP with INA219 and Blynk
Build a practical solar battery monitoring FYP using ESP32, INA219 current sensing, voltage measurement, alerts, and a dashboard.
Rectronx
2026-07-14
Quick Summary
This project monitors a small solar battery system and shows voltage, current, estimated power, charging status, and low-battery alerts. It is a good FYP because students can demonstrate real measurements, data logging, and dashboard behavior without claiming to build a full commercial solar charge controller.
Project Scope
The realistic outcome is a monitoring and alert system. The ESP32 reads voltage and current, calculates power, stores readings, and displays them on Blynk, Firebase, or a web dashboard.
Do not claim the prototype controls a high-power solar installation unless the power electronics and safety design are properly validated. A small 6V or 12V demo setup is safer for academic presentation.
Suggested Components
Use ESP32, INA219 current sensor, voltage divider, small solar panel, rechargeable battery pack, charge module suitable for the battery type, OLED display, buzzer, and dashboard platform. Add a fuse or current limit for safer testing.
Build Steps
- Test voltage measurement with a known multimeter reading.
- Test INA219 current reading with a small load.
- Add calculated power and battery status logic.
- Send readings to a dashboard at a fixed interval.
- Record test cases for charging, normal load, and low-battery warning.
Accuracy and Safety Notes
INA219 is useful for low-voltage current monitoring, but the final accuracy depends on wiring, calibration, shunt range, and reference measurements. For lithium batteries, charging must use a proper battery charging module; the ESP32 should not directly manage charging safety.
Common Mistakes
- Measuring battery voltage without a proper voltage divider range.
- Ignoring common ground between modules.
- Powering the ESP32 from an unstable solar source.
- Claiming battery percentage without calibration.
- Testing only one condition before the demo.