Radiation Sensor for Optimizing Solar

Configuration
1

Morning Everyone,

I’m trying to find any solar radiation stations that I can use to view live solar production ability for my system.

I registered with solcast and that helps, but its limited for home users so updates are delayed.

Any advice on what can work better?

2

Hi,

I’m interesed in this as well, I think I’ll start with no hardware solution as described here : Optimizing Room Comfort: Using Solar Irradiance to Control Blinds with Home Assistant – DIY Ideas

3

Glad I’m not the only one looking into this.

I did see on the link you sent that for more accurate data the Solcast option is the better way to go.

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4

solcast limits to 10 API request per day…

I integrated both solcast and forecast.solar, granulometry is better with solcast but data is finally quite similar…

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sensor:
  - platform: rest
    name: "Forecast Solar Raw"
    unique_id: "Forecast_Solar_Raw"
    resource: https://api.forecast.solar/estimate/watts/xx/yy/90/52/1
    scan_interval: 3600
    value_template: >
      {% set data = value_json.result %}
      {% if not data %}
        unknown
      {% else %}
        {% set api_time = value_json.message.info.time %}
        {% set hour_key =
          strptime(api_time, '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z')
          .strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:00:00')
        %}
        {{ data[hour_key] if hour_key in data else unknown }}
      {% endif %}
    unit_of_measurement: "W"
    device_class: power
    state_class: measurement
    json_attributes:
      - result
      - message
  - platform: rest
    name: "Forecast Solcast Raw"
    unique_id: "Forecast_Solcast_Raw"
    resource: https://api.solcast.com.au/rooftop_sites/1ca6-7b01-5516-3f6b/forecasts?format=json&api_key=j***************************
    scan_interval: 3600
    value_template: 106.9  //hard value for the test only
    unit_of_measurement: "W"
    device_class: power
    state_class: measurement
    json_attributes:
      - forecasts
5

These work for me, but not water proof. I use them in windows.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807698597755.html

6

I have Solcast PV Forecast, Forecast Solar and and Open Meteo Solar Forecast. Note that a low rate limit is not much of a problem because forecasts do not change that often. If they would they are probably no good anyway.

The best sensor (as in how much radiation now) is the production itself. It takes solar panel orientation into account perfectly :wink: