Picaxe Tracking circuit from MTM

Slidegate · 11-22-11, 09:59 AM

Does anyone have any experience with the ST2Picaxe tracking circuit board. Ive assembled mine and done a bench test. Both photo cells work fine with the 1 minute delay time. But when checking the parking mode it did it's dedicated 5 minute parking and stopped but did not resume the parking. I don't know what the delay time is in the parking loop of the chip but I waited an hour and it did not resume. Does anyone have any input

Xringer · 11-22-11, 11:20 AM

I had the low priced model. No programming needed.

Solar Tracker Circuit Kit
I found the photo cell specs weren't suitable for our hot New England weather..
I stopped trying to use it when I got the second relay failure.

Slidegate · 11-22-11, 12:11 PM

Yea Xringer I have the early ones also same problem with the relays. I got this one because of the heavier 8 amp relays and the chip controlled time delays so it's not constantly trying to move every 10 seconds. This one can be set to 1 minute or 10 minute delays. Everything seems to be working but I can't figure out the parking mode

Xringer · 11-22-11, 12:40 PM

The parking mode on the simple trackers is just a small offset built into the west side circuit.
When it's dark, the imbalance sends it all the way east.. Very slowly..
My RedRock takes it very slowly to get back.. It's really really dark when it gets home..

Slidegate · 11-22-11, 03:54 PM

Yes I understand the simple trackers as I have one in service now. I've been reading the code for the Picaxe chip and I think I have a bad chip. After parking puts the tracker in dedicated mode for 5 min. it's supposed to have a 1 sec. delay and then double check darkness. If east and west are still dark its supposed to loop back to main which first priority is to check for light and move to that direction and the second priority is to park the tracker. I east and west are dark park tracker. After double checking is completed, proceed with parking mode for another five min. loop. There are 5 loops which puts it at a 25 min run. My tracker takes 25 min to rotate 180 deg. Which would be fine but it's not running past the initial dedicated 5 min. which leads me to think the chip has a flawed program. I notified MTM and as they are out for this week they will get with me next week. Ive ordered a Red Rok a week or so ago but he's behind about a month. If anyone has any knowledge on this it will be greatly appreciated. Keep on solaring Xringer

11-22-11, 09:59 AM	#1
Slidegate Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mercer, Pa. Posts: 19 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Picaxe Tracking circuit from MTM Does anyone have any experience with the ST2Picaxe tracking circuit board. Ive assembled mine and done a bench test. Both photo cells work fine with the 1 minute delay time. But when checking the parking mode it did it's dedicated 5 minute parking and stopped but did not resume the parking. I don't know what the delay time is in the parking loop of the chip but I waited an hour and it did not resume. Does anyone have any input

11-22-11, 11:20 AM	#2
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I had the low priced model. No programming needed. Solar Tracker Circuit Kit I found the photo cell specs weren't suitable for our hot New England weather.. I stopped trying to use it when I got the second relay failure. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

11-22-11, 12:40 PM	#4
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	The parking mode on the simple trackers is just a small offset built into the west side circuit. When it's dark, the imbalance sends it all the way east.. Very slowly.. My RedRock takes it very slowly to get back.. It's really really dark when it gets home.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

11-22-11, 12:11 PM	#3
Slidegate Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mercer, Pa. Posts: 19 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Yea Xringer I have the early ones also same problem with the relays. I got this one because of the heavier 8 amp relays and the chip controlled time delays so it's not constantly trying to move every 10 seconds. This one can be set to 1 minute or 10 minute delays. Everything seems to be working but I can't figure out the parking mode

11-22-11, 03:54 PM	#5
Slidegate Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mercer, Pa. Posts: 19 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Yes I understand the simple trackers as I have one in service now. I've been reading the code for the Picaxe chip and I think I have a bad chip. After parking puts the tracker in dedicated mode for 5 min. it's supposed to have a 1 sec. delay and then double check darkness. If east and west are still dark its supposed to loop back to main which first priority is to check for light and move to that direction and the second priority is to park the tracker. I east and west are dark park tracker. After double checking is completed, proceed with parking mode for another five min. loop. There are 5 loops which puts it at a 25 min run. My tracker takes 25 min to rotate 180 deg. Which would be fine but it's not running past the initial dedicated 5 min. which leads me to think the chip has a flawed program. I notified MTM and as they are out for this week they will get with me next week. Ive ordered a Red Rok a week or so ago but he's behind about a month. If anyone has any knowledge on this it will be greatly appreciated. Keep on solaring Xringer