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To track or not
By wpowokal, Section Remote Living Posted on Mon Jun 23rd, 2003 at 07:12:27 AM MST
Tracking of solar panels or not

Have just purchased 6x140 watt Shell(Siemens) solar panels, have not yet had time to incorporate them but when I pulled one out late in the day faced direct to the sun I got 2.3A short circuit, directed it in direction my fixed panels are and got just over 1A.
Sort of make me think building a tracking system may be worthwile, although most advice from suppliers is just buy another panel. Any advice from been there done that persons is most welcome.
regards Allan

To track or not | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#1)
by RobD on Mon Jun 23rd, 2003 at 08:30:26 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.dsgnspec.com

Hi Allan,
Look at it this way. 6 x 1amp = 6amps. 6 x 2.3 amps = 13.8 amps.
The down side of trackers is they are mechanical and may in time require maint.
I've heard trackers give about 15 to 20% improvement in power.
The more panels you have the more reason to get a tracker.
RobD

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#2)
by ADMIN (info74 at otherpower.com) on Mon Jun 23rd, 2003 at 09:07:03 AM MST
(User Info)

I don't track. A few reasons why -- number one I live in an area that gets extremely high winds in the wintertime. They interfere with certain kinds of tracker, can damage others, etc. I'm also at 40 deg N latitude...so in the summer a tracker would help quite a bit (a very long arc from the sun), but would give little gain in the wintertime (a very short arc from the sun), when I need the power most. I have surplus power in the summer already, so no reason to add a tracker.

In solar water pumping systems, trackers are used extensively.

That's my 2 cents!

DANF

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#3)
by Bach On on Mon Jun 23rd, 2003 at 09:39:50 AM MST
(User Info) change AT: bach_on AT hotmail.com

Allen,

Congratulations on your purchase. That sounds like a very nice addition to your system.

Trackers will add to the cost and complexity of your setup. As has been pointed out, they aren't install it and forget it.

I'd suggest first setting the new panels up without trackers. See what kind of average you get over a few months. Use that time to explore tracker options in more detail. I've even seen some used units for sale on eBay. New ones aren't cheap - if they are made to last.

Plan B might be to have your panels seasonally adjustable. You'd go out and change the angle three or four times a year to match the Sun's arc in the sky. It could probably even be partially automated with those electric actuators like they use on the older large satellite dishes. You can buy those on eBay too.

Another idea is to split your system up. Have some of the panels angled to favor morning Sun and the others optimally angled for afternoon Sun. They'd all probably still get some Sun throughut the day, but it might increase the daily average. You know - experiment.

Trackers will increase the power you get, but it will take more time to write off the additional cost. Does your state offer an alternative energy tax credit. That would help.

I'm envious of your system. Solar panels are probably the best way to go for alternative energy. I just wish the initial cost wasn't so high.

Bach On

- - I'm not superman, but I am very dense! -

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#4)
by N9WOS on Mon Jun 23rd, 2003 at 09:58:59 AM MST
(User Info)

Bach beat me to it, but I'll go ahead and post the reply I already had typed up.
..............................................
The main problem with tracker is their cost, and upkeep.
For the price of the tracker, you could probably buy enough
solar panels to achieve the same power gain.

The tracker will require lubrication and inspection to keep it working properly.

And a tracker is best suited for a pole mount application.
If you have your panels mounted on a roof or something,
It would be better to just forget the tracker idea.

The tracker is most viable if you can get the parts for the tracker for nothing/very little.
(ie) Scrounge for them/Do It Yourself.
And have a large number of panels to Move with the tracker.

Only problem is the tracker will usually pull electrical power.
That will offset the gain in panel output.
That can be avoided if you use a non electrical/mechanical for of a tracker.
(ie) gas filled cylinders or other variations.

[ Parent ]

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#5)
by Gordy on Mon Jun 23rd, 2003 at 12:08:30 PM MST
(User Info)

You might want to check out this web site. www.redrok.com . He has a lot of info and ideas for the DIYers. He also sells sun tracker modules that conect to your power and motors. One module is $35 for single axis trackers and $65 for two axis trackers.
Even if your not interested in trackers it's still a neat site to visit.
Happy hunting,
Gordy

PS. sorry I can't get that link to work, Idon't like to look a gift horse in the mouth but did you ADMIN guy's have to destroy every thing about the old board that worked????

[ Parent ]

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#6)
by wpowokal on Tue Jun 24th, 2003 at 05:27:39 AM MST
(User Info)

Thanks to all for the advice, it seems that they will just have to be mounted somewhere for now while I reserch tracking.

Our government does have a rebate for solar panels, but... the hoops one has to jump through does not make it worth it. By the time I paid an "expert" to install them my rebate has gone.

oh great winds here today, main generator flying at full load - 200% most of the day with stronger winds forcast tonight.

regards Allan
A life lived in fear is a life half lived.

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#7)
by WetinOR on Tue Jun 24th, 2003 at 09:22:28 AM MST
(User Info)

I have three different charge controllers on my system. Two of them are on sections of panels that don't track. The third one is on a home built tracking system. During the "best" times of the day for solar, the current from each group of panels are about equal, but during the early morning and late afternoon (evening) hours the tracker definitely puts out more current into the battery bank. Even without measuring the current, you can put your hand on the heat sinks and the tracking system controller gets warmer during those times. I plan on having all the panels tracking by the end of summer. I use the Redrok tracking board. George

[ Parent ]

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#8)
by zbotrobot on Sat Aug 16th, 2003 at 09:11:51 PM MST
(User Info)

I track 3 times a day. The first is at night for the morning sun until 11 am, then to 2pm them a last time to 3 pm to sunset - andstrait up on cloudy days. The advantage of manual tracking is its cheap, reliable and the cloudy days. A mirroring matrial can be used on the first and last movements - and this is clever: at certain angles the mirrors will work - conveiniently when the sun is low - and as the sun rises the angle of the mirror dimenishes! So that it is not overheating the pannels at the peak. Never mirror at the peak directly or they will blister. Also do not scrub pannels - the wires are shallow. Be aware that doping with salt in winter can cause corrosion issues.

Re: To track or not (none / 0) (#9)
by Windnutone on Fri Sep 5th, 2003 at 10:22:31 PM MST
(User Info)

I also track manually.... well I have an old satelite dish apperatus that has a 24
volt PM Motor DC .... turns the thing. Have it on a timer and it moves three times
a dayalso ... I only have a couple hundres watts ... but this has improved my system.
I gave 3.00 for it junk weight at the scrap metal yard. My home away from
home :-)

[ Parent ]

To track or not | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial)

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