Tracking Solar Brightness with a Homemade Sun Logger

The Sun Logger, a data logging device, combines several components we’ve used in previous Weekend Projects. You may recognize the light-sensitive photoresistor (Optical Tremolo Box) and the Arduino Uno microcontroller (Touchless 3D Tracking Interface). These parts, when combined with a 74AHC125 Level Shifter and SD card socket mounted on a homemade “shield,” will record the levels of light shining down on your project box. That data, recorded every 15 seconds to the SD card, can be exported later to any popular spreadsheet software and graphed, giving you a visual representation of light changes over time.

This data could aid in knowing where best to plant a garden, or simply to understand changes of light intensity throughout the seasons in your micro-climate.

And while this project is readymade for recording levels of sunlight, the Arduino has a total of six analog inputs (labeled A0 – A5) and could easily record other variables. For example temperature, motion, or barometric pressure. Makers looking for a mid-level Arduino build, or knowledgeable coders looking to solder together their first homemade shield, the Sun Logger is a great project to build!

Sign up below for the Weekend Projects Newsletter to receive the projects before anybody else does, get tips, see other makers’ builds, and more.

More:
See all of the Weekend Projects posts

13 Responses to Tracking Solar Brightness with a Homemade Sun Logger

davad on September 7th, 2012 at 5:05 am said:

Lately I’m having a tough time finding the details for any of the blog entries. What changed ?

Reply ↓
- Nick Normal on September 7th, 2012 at 7:06 am said:
  
  hi Davad, Sorry for the hiccup – the details for any of the blog entries are back!
  
  Reply ↓
Martin N. on September 7th, 2012 at 5:08 am said:

Where is the text of the article?

Reply ↓
- Nick Normal on September 7th, 2012 at 7:06 am said:
  
  hi Martin, the blog is back online, sorry for the downtime.
  
  Reply ↓
jlrich on September 7th, 2012 at 6:35 am said:

Second time today that I have came to look at this sight and neither had text besides the headline

Reply ↓
- Nick Normal on September 7th, 2012 at 7:07 am said:
  
  hi Jlrich, everything should be working again now. Thanks for your patience.
  
  Reply ↓
Todd Welsh on September 7th, 2012 at 8:55 am said:

That was a great video! You said what to do, you said why to do it and you showed how to do it. Wonderful job. I look forward to more of the same.

Reply ↓
- Nick Normal on September 7th, 2012 at 9:24 am said:
  
  Thanks Todd!
  
  Reply ↓
Geraldo Cartolano on September 7th, 2012 at 6:02 pm said:

Good Job Nick !

Reply ↓
ameyring on September 8th, 2012 at 4:34 am said:

I coordinate garden activities for my son’s school and this will be a great project for kids to study sunlight patterns. Even if someone outside the school has to build the device (hard to tell if the teachers can work the construction into the students’ schedule), the students will get something out of studying the data. Can’t wait!

Reply ↓
- Nick Normal on September 10th, 2012 at 8:24 am said:
  
  That sounds wonderful ameyring. Keep me posted if you do find someone to build the device and coordinate with the students on tracking solar movements and intensity – it’d be great to get some localized data and input. Good luck!
  
  Reply ↓
Pingback: MAKE | Your Comments
Pingback: ○DIY/Tip▶ Your Comments « dot dot dob tob tob