Go Direct^® Energy Sensor

Simpler to use than a multimeter, the Go Direct Energy Sensor measures the voltage and current oputput of a renewable energy system. Connect a source, such as a small wind turbine or solar panel, and our free Graphical Analysis 4 app displays voltage, current, power, and energy output. For simple energy measurements, Go Direct Energy includes a fixed load of 30 Ω. For more advanced experiments, electrical contacts are built into the sensor to connect to an external load, such as the Variable Load, a resistor on Vernier Resistor Board, a water pump, or lights.

The Go Direct Energy Sensor is ideal for a wide variety of renewable energy experiments:

• Investigate the electrical energy generated by a wind turbine or solar panel.
• Explore the effect of load on wind turbine or solar panel output.
• Test blade design variables and evaluate data to determine optimal blade design.

Rechargeable Battery—Ready When You Are

The robust rechargeable battery offers long battery life and provides always-ready operation when using the sensor wirelessly. Monitor battery life directly from our free Graphical Analysis^™ 4 app or LabQuest 2 App. Should the battery run low, simply connect the sensor to the charging cable and keep on collecting—no interruptions or inconvenience to you or your students.

Wired or Wireless—The Flexibility to Choose

Our Go Direct sensors connect directly to your mobile device, Chromebook^™, or computer using our free Graphical Analysis^™ 4 app—no additional equipment or software purchases are necessary. Go Direct sensors can be used wired via USB or wirelessly via Bluetooth^® wireless technology, allowing you to choose the solution best for your classroom or laboratory.

• Investigate Renewable Energy Systems with Go Direct^® Energy

  Simpler to use than a multimeter, the Go Direct Energy Sensor measures the voltage and current of a renewable energy system. Connect a source, such as a small wind turbine or solar panel, and our free Graphical Analysis^™ app displays the power and energy output.

  5:10

• Source input potential range: ±30 V
• Source input current range: ±1 A

Select a lab book to see a list of experiments and more information.

• 

  Renewable Energy with Vernier (15)

  Includes student instructions, teacher tips, safety information, and sample data.

  Go to Book Page
  • 5 Current and Resistors
  • 7 Generators
  • 8 Exploring Wind Turbines
  • 9 Effect of Load on Wind Turbine Output
  • 10 Blade Variables and Power Output
  • 11 Solidity
  • 14 Power and Energy
  • 15 Project: Maximum Energy Output
  • 16 Project: Build a Wind Farm
  • 17 Exploring Solar Panels
  • 18A Effect of Load on Solar Panel Output
  • 18B Fill Factor and IV Curve of a Solar Panel
  • 19 Variables Affecting Solar Panel Output
  • 20 Effect of Temperature on Solar Panel Output
  • 21 Project: Build a Solar Charger
• 

  Investigating Wind Energy (9)

  Includes student instructions, teacher tips, safety information, and sample data.

  Go to Book Page
  • 3 Introduction to the Vernier Energy Sensor
  • 4 Wind Turbine Output: The Effect of Load
  • 5 Exploring Wind Turbine Blades
  • 6 Blade Design: Pitch
  • 7 Blade Design: Area
  • 8 Blade Design: Quantity
  • 9 Blade Design: Mass
  • 10 Blade Design: Material
  • 11 Project: Power Up!
• 

  Wind Energy Explorations (8)

  Includes student instructions, teacher tips, safety information, and sample data.

  Go to Book Page
  • 2 Measuring Wind Energy
  • 3 Exploring Wind Turbines
  • 4 Wind Turbines: Effect of Load
  • 5 Blade Variable: Pitch
  • 6 Blade Variable: Quantity
  • 7 Blade Variable: Area
  • 8 Blade Variable: Shape
  • 9 Engineering Project: Max Power
• 

  Solar Energy Explorations (7)

  Includes student instructions, teacher tips, safety information, and sample data.

  Go to Book Page
  • 3 Measuring Energy
  • 4 Making Connections: Circuits
  • 5 Solar Panel Output: Effect of Load
  • 6 Solar Panel Output: Effect of Shade
  • 7 Solar Panel Output: Effect of Angle
  • 8 Solar Panel Output: Effect of Temperature
  • 9 Project: Build a Solar Car
• 

  Investigating Solar Energy (6)

  Includes student instructions, teacher tips, safety information, and sample data.

  Go to Book Page
  • 3 Introduction to the Vernier Energy Sensor
  • 4 Making Connections: Circuits
  • 5 Solar Panel Output: Effect of Load
  • 6 Solar Panel Output: Effect of Shade
  • 7 Solar Panel Output: Effect of Angle
  • 8 Pumping Water with Solar Energy
• 

  Physics Explorations and Projects (3)

  Includes student instructions, teacher tips, safety information, and sample data.

  Go to Book Page
  • 25 Generating Electricity
  • 32 Energy Storage in Capacitors
  • 35 Solar Cells

• 

  LabQuest 2

  Full Support

  The Go Direct^® Energy Sensor is fully supported with LabQuest 2 (version 2.8.5), a standalone data logger with built-in graphing and analysis software.

  Learn more about LabQuest 2 »

  Compatibility Notes

  1. Wireless connection of this sensor to a LabQuest 2 requires a Go Wireless Bluetooth Adapter when used with some older LabQuest 2 models.

• 

  Computers

  	Software
  Interface	Graphical Analysis 4 for ComputersVersion 4.9
  No interface required	Full support 1
  LabQuest 2	Full support 2 3

  Compatibility Notes

  1. For Bluetooth^® connectivity, only computers running Windows 10 or Mac OS X 10.10 or newer are supported. The computer must also have a compatible Bluetooth 4.0⁺ radio.
  2. Connect this sensor directly to a computer or Chromebook via a USB or wireless Bluetooth^® connection for best results. Alternatively, this sensor is fully supported when used with LabQuest 2 when LabQuest 2 is connected to a computer or Chromebook via Wireless Data Sharing.
  3. Wireless connection of this sensor to a LabQuest 2 requires a Go Wireless Bluetooth Adapter when used with some older LabQuest 2 models.

• 

  Chromebook

  	Software
  Interface	Graphical Analysis 4 for ChromeVersion 4.9
  No interface required	Full support
  LabQuest 2	Full support 1 2

  Compatibility Notes

  1. Connect this sensor directly to a computer or Chromebook via a USB or wireless Bluetooth^® connection for best results. Alternatively, this sensor is fully supported when used with LabQuest 2 when LabQuest 2 is connected to a computer or Chromebook via Wireless Data Sharing.
  2. Wireless connection of this sensor to a LabQuest 2 requires a Go Wireless Bluetooth Adapter when used with some older LabQuest 2 models.

• 

  iOS

  	Software
  Interface	Graphical Analysis 4 for iOSVersion 4.9.1	Graphical Analysis GW for iOSVersion 4.0.5
  No interface required	Full support	Full support
  LabQuest 2	Full support 1 2 3	Full support 1 2 3

  Compatibility Notes

  1. Connect this sensor directly to a supported mobile device via a wireless Bluetooth^® connection for best results.
  2. iOS and Android^™ devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 via Wireless Data Sharing.
  3. Wireless connection of this sensor to a LabQuest 2 requires a Go Wireless Bluetooth Adapter when used with some older LabQuest 2 models.

• 

  Android

  	Software
  Interface	Graphical Analysis 4 for AndroidVersion 4.9	Graphical Analysis GW for AndroidVersion 3.2
  No interface required	Full support	Incompatible
  LabQuest 2	Full support 1 2 3	Full support 1 2

  Compatibility Notes

  1. Wireless connection of this sensor to a LabQuest 2 requires a Go Wireless Bluetooth Adapter when used with some older LabQuest 2 models.
  2. iOS and Android^™ devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 via Wireless Data Sharing.
  3. Connect this sensor directly to a supported mobile device via a wireless Bluetooth^® connection for best results.

• 

  Additional Platforms

  You can also use the Go Direct^® Energy Sensor with these platforms:

  • Javascript
  • Python
  • LabVIEW