{"product_id":"solar-panel-fault-locator-kit-arduino-mega-and-ina219-system","title":"Solar Panel Fault Locator Kit - Arduino Mega \u0026 INA219 System","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDiagnose Solar Panel Shade \u0026amp; Bypass Diode Faults with Arduino Mega Fault Locator Kit\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"value-summary\"\u003eEvery part needed, pre-tested for compatibility, with an AI build companion trained on this exact project. Shipped from Bengaluru in 3-5 days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"specs-strip\"\u003e\n  \u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Advanced\u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuild Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-6 hours\u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18-21\u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSkill:\u003c\/strong\u003e Solar PV string fault diagnosis\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSolar panels lose efficiency quickly when partial shading or a failed bypass diode goes unnoticed. Instead of climbing onto the roof with a multimeter, this kit lets you build a dedicated six-channel current monitor that flags exactly which panel in a series string is underperforming-in real time. Each of the six included 6V 2W panels gets its own INA219 sensor; a sudden drop in one panel's current while others remain steady triggers an alert on the OLED display and logs the event with a timestamp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat You'll Build\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA self-contained fault locator that connects to every panel in a 6-panel string. Current readings from all six INA219 sensors are routed through a TCA9548A I2C multiplexer and processed by an Arduino Mega. The 0.96-inch OLED shows live currents, the DS3231 real-time clock stamps each reading, and the MicroSD module stores data for long-term trend analysis. The entire circuit fits inside the supplied waterproof enclosure-ready for field testing or a lab demonstration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat You'll Learn\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCalibrating INA219 high-side current sensors for accurate solar panel monitoring\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eMultiplexing I2C signals using TCA9548A to read multiple sensors on a single bus\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eLogging time-stamped data to MicroSD with DS3231 RTC integration\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDiagnosing bypass diode failures through comparative current drop analysis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKit Contents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n  \u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eComponent\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eQuantity\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArduino Mega 2560\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eINA219\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTCA9548A I2C Mux\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSolar Panel 6V 2W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDS3231 RTC\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMicroSD Module\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.96in OLED\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.7k? Resistors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100nF Caps\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex15\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCB Prototype Board\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWaterproof Enclosure\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoldering Iron\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSolder Wire\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ex1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy This Kit Instead of Sourcing Parts Separately\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n  \u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFactor\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSourcing Separately\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCompoden Kit\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompatibility checks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYou verify every part\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePre-tested as a system\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBuild support\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForums and scattered tutorials\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAI companion trained on this exact project\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTime to first working build\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDays of debugging\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHours, with step-by-step guidance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShipping coordination\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMultiple sellers, multiple delays\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOne shipment from Bengaluru in 3-5 days\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho This Kit Is For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEngineering students in B.Tech ECE or EEE working on final-year projects that involve solar energy monitoring will find this kit a ready-to-build solution. It's equally suited for Smart India Hackathon teams tackling renewable energy challenges and for early-stage solar startups prototyping inexpensive fault detection. Used at IIT, NIT, VIT, and BITS-Pilani, the kit turns a complex multi-sensor system into a manageable weekend build.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBuilt and Backed by Compoden\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Compoden kit ships with an AI build companion trained on this exact project - accessible via a QR code on the box, with WhatsApp and email backup. We've spent 10 years building projects for makers, schools, and institutions across India. If a part fails because of a manufacturing defect, replace it free within 7 days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eWhat if I get stuck during the build?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eScan the QR code to launch the AI companion built for this specific kit; it answers wiring, code, and calibration questions instantly. You can also message us on WhatsApp for human help within the same day.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eCan I use this directly on a real rooftop solar installation?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe included 6V panels are for learning and prototyping safely. The circuit concept can be adapted for higher-voltage panels by adding voltage dividers and fuses, but always follow electrical safety guidelines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eIs soldering required?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, the kit includes a soldering iron and solder wire. All connections on the three prototype boards are through-hole, so the process is straightforward even for those new to soldering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\u003csummary\u003eHow does the AI build companion actually help?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe companion walks you step-by-step from unboxing to data logging, explains the I2C addressing logic for the multiplexer, and helps debug common issues like incorrect sensor addresses or SD card initialization failures.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"kit-description\"\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003eIndividual INA219 on each panel in string. Sudden drop in one panel flags shade or bypass diode fault.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003ch4\u003eWhat's in this kit\u003c\/h4\u003e\n  \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mega-2560-r3-development-board-arduino-compatible-54-io-256kb\"\u003eArduino Mega 2560\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ina219-bi-directional-current-sensor-i2c-module-cjmcu-219\"\u003eINA219\u003c\/a\u003e x6\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/tca9548a-8-channel-i2c-multiplexer-breakout-for-arduino-raspberry-pi\"\u003eTCA9548A I2C Mux\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/6v-2w-solar-panel-for-diy-electronics-iot-projects\"\u003eSolar Panel 6V 2W\u003c\/a\u003e x6\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ds3231-real-time-clock-module-i2c-rtc-with-battery-backup\"\u003eDS3231 RTC\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsd-card-reader-spi-module-for-arduino\"\u003eMicroSD Module\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/096in-oled-display-128x64-i2cspi-for-arduino-raspberry-pi\"\u003e0.96in OLED\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/resistor-variety-pack-100-pcs-10-values-14w-carbon-film\"\u003e4.7k? Resistors\u003c\/a\u003e x5\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/capacitor-variety-pack-6-values-100nf-to-470uf-30-pieces\"\u003e100nF Caps\u003c\/a\u003e x15\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/esp-wroom-32-breakout-board-pcb-55x52mm\"\u003ePCB Prototype Board\u003c\/a\u003e x3\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/waterproof-enclosure-ip65-abs-plastic-100x68x50mm-for-electronics\"\u003eWaterproof Enclosure\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/soldering-kit-25w-with-solder-wire-flux-paste-compoden\"\u003eSoldering Iron\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/soldering-kit-25w-with-solder-wire-flux-paste-compoden\"\u003eSolder Wire\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is included in the PV String Fault Locator Kit with Arduino Mega + LED?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The PV String Fault Locator Kit with Arduino Mega + LED includes all components needed: Arduino Mega 2560, INA219, TCA9548A I2C Mu, Solar Panel 6V 2W, DS3231 RTC and more. Everything is pre-tested for compatibility and shipped from Bengaluru, India.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What skill level is required for the PV String Fault Locator Kit with Arduino Mega + LED?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"This kit is designed for Advanced level makers, suitable for ages 18-21. Individual INA219 on each panel in string. Sudden drop in one panel flags shade or bypass diode fault. Estimated build time is 5-6 hrs.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can I buy the PV String Fault Locator Kit with Arduino Mega + LED online in India?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes, the PV String Fault Locator Kit with Arduino Mega + LED is available online at Compoden (compoden.in), India's AI-powered electronics and robotics store. Ships from Bengaluru in 1-5 business days across India.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n\u003c\/script\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"Product\",\n  \"name\": \"PV String Fault Locator Kit with Arduino Mega + LED\",\n  \"description\": \"Individual INA219 on each panel in string. Sudden drop in one panel flags shade or bypass diode fault.\",\n  \"sku\": \"CDN-KIT-1895\",\n  \"brand\": {\"@type\": \"Brand\", \"name\": \"Compoden\"},\n  \"offers\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/compoden.in\/products\/kit-pv-string-fault-locator\",\n    \"priceCurrency\": \"INR\",\n    \"price\": \"6600\",\n    \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n    \"seller\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"Compoden\"}\n  },\n  \"category\": \"Power \u0026 Energy\"\n}\n\u003c\/script\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoose your assembly option:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoldering Kit\u003c\/strong\u003e - 25W soldering iron, 60\/40 solder wire, flux, and small perfboard for permanent assembly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBreadboard Combo\u003c\/strong\u003e - 800-point full-size breadboard with 65-piece jumper wire pack for solderless prototyping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Compoden","offers":[{"title":"Clone \/ Soldering Kit","offer_id":53469288071533,"sku":"CDN-KIT-1895-CL-SLD","price":6340.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Clone \/ Breadboard Combo","offer_id":53469288104301,"sku":"CDN-KIT-1895-CL-BB","price":5810.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"R3 Original \/ Soldering Kit","offer_id":53469288137069,"sku":"CDN-KIT-1895-R3-SLD","price":8770.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"R3 Original \/ Breadboard Combo","offer_id":53469288169837,"sku":"CDN-KIT-1895-R3-BB","price":8240.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"R4 WiFi \/ Soldering Kit","offer_id":53469288202605,"sku":"CDN-KIT-1895-R4-SLD","price":8090.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true},{"title":"R4 WiFi \/ Breadboard Combo","offer_id":53469288235373,"sku":"CDN-KIT-1895-R4-BB","price":7560.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/3997\/5533\/files\/kit-pv-string-fault-locator.png?v=1781947369","url":"https:\/\/compoden.com\/products\/solar-panel-fault-locator-kit-arduino-mega-and-ina219-system","provider":"Compoden","version":"1.0","type":"link"}