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Solar Tracker needed.
By cr8zy1van, Section Solar Posted on Fri Aug 5th, 2005 at 05:39:47 PM MST
Any good easy schematics out there?

I am planning on building my own sun tracking rack for my panels, but would need
a solar tracker to tell the linear actuator when/where to move. I have searched this
site with google, but everyone talks about them, not how to make them. I found
this schematic and a few more that seemed very complicated. Would this circuit work?
Does anyone know of any place that would sell me the circuit only? Or does anyone have
any experience with building their own?

Solar Tracker needed. | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Solar Tracker needed. (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by GaryGary (gary@BuildItSolar.com) on Fri Aug 5th, 2005 at 11:52:30 AM MST
(User Info) http://www.BuildItSolar.com

Hi,
Try www.RedRok.com -- Duane has several simple solar trackers.

Gary
Gary gary@BuildItSolar.com www.BuildItSolar.com

Re: Solar Tracker needed. (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by georgeodjungle (georgeodjungle@hotmail.com) on Fri Aug 5th, 2005 at 01:52:54 PM MST
(User Info) http://www.serveingplumas.20fr.com

ya.ya. redrock
cheep & easy to build.
i use 2 of the 4 led trackers and satullite actuators for care free solar cooking.
works great.
only one lil thing:
to sqweez a lil more.
for better aligment make shure you line up the center of led "element" inside of the case not just the out side.
it's only a couple of degrees difference.
if you want every lil bit out of it.
o.k.ok.
a nother thing:
keep-em high and dry and away from shadows.
radio shack has every thing ya need to make em

Re: Solar Tracker needed. (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by geoffd on Mon Aug 8th, 2005 at 02:17:43 AM MST
(User Info)

I am still working on the mechanics of mine but I have the basic circuit on paper, I will be nuilding and testing it in the next week or so. If you are in no immediate rush I can let you have a copy of the schematic once it is done.

Cheers
Geoff

Re: Solar Tracker needed. (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by cr8zy1van (salsa117@hotmail.com) on Tue Aug 9th, 2005 at 08:24:32 AM MST
(User Info)

Please Please, I would love your schematic, and maybe a parts list.

[ Parent ]

Re: Solar Tracker needed. (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by geoffd on Tue Aug 9th, 2005 at 03:45:18 PM MST
(User Info)

Not problem, it will be a few weeks yet.

Here are some images of what I am planning to build. The tubes are all 50mm pipes and the panels are 4 x 150W Shell Solar Panels. I have 2 at the mom. and I'm saving up for the other 2.

The gearbox I got off an old 3 phase motor and eventually I will convert the motor to a hydroturbine (next years project!).

The drive motor is a 12 volt windscreen wiper motor off a Renault 5 van.

The tilt angle is fixed at 37 degrees which gives the the highest average output from the panels for my lat/long.

The models were done using the Alibre Free 100,000 give-away software that was mentioned on here a few weeks ago. For free software it is great and I can live with the need to a) be connected to the internet while I use it, b) have to use Windows as normally I use Linux.

Cheers
Geoff

[ Parent ]

Re: Solar Tracker needed. (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by Bruce S (bruce(dot)stahl <at>gmail (dot)(com)) on Tue Aug 9th, 2005 at 04:34:19 PM MST
(User Info)

Geoff;
Getting slightly off subject here, but which distro of Linux?
Bruce S

[ Parent ]

Re: Solar Tracker needed. (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by geoffd on Wed Aug 10th, 2005 at 11:15:27 AM MST
(User Info)

Hi Bruce

Gentoo Linux 2.6. I find the Portage update system they use very effective and easy to use. I normally do Java software development to earn money and I have very little down time due to update problems etc.

Just a shame that Alibre does not run under VMWare (not enough DirectX support) so I have to switch to windows to use it.

Cheers
Geoff

[ Parent ]

Solar Tracker needed. | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial)

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