Solar Tracker Project - Page 22

Kirby1946 · 09-30-12, 08:59 PM

I want to build a dual axis sun tracker. I would like your plans for the single axis sun tracker to see if I could modify it to make a dual axis sun tracker. Would you be so kind as to send them to me?

Kirby1946 · 09-30-12, 09:00 PM

I am building four 45 watt panels right now but may make it six to put on a suntracker

Xringer · 09-30-12, 09:50 PM

1946? That's when I was born!

Red Rock Energy Heliostats is the place to get the plans..

Why do you want to go dual axis? It's twice the money, five times harder to set up,
and is much more likely to fail in the middle of the winter.

Single axis with a manual elevation tweak every month or two works fine for most folks using small arrays.
If it's a jumbo array that you can't crank up by hand easily, elevation is needed,
otherwise it's best to avoid the extra complications.

Thanks for reminding me about the tracker.. I've got to center it up and shut off the tracking power.
Don't really need to be tracking these days. Only need enough juice to keep the bank topped off.

I was happy to see that my system was charging up a little this morning.
Had very high voltage on the bank, and it was overcast and raining!
I think about 150 ma was coming off the 500w panels..

Wayan · 11-22-12, 11:57 PM

being closer to equator, is it as beneficial to use a solar tracker?

my coordinates are: 8.6400° S, 115.1000° E

i have a roof facing north west which i think will be the least obstructive place to put solar panels. would be better to face it north, but i cant rotate my house, he he...

thanks

Xringer · 11-23-12, 07:15 AM

If you have a somewhat flat roof, perhaps you can use brackets to get the best angle?

Up here in the NE (of USA), we see big changes in solar angles as the seasons change.
Do you see a very noticeable difference between summer and winter Solstice?
Solstice - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For a visual look at where the sun is during different months, I've used Ham radio satellite tracking programs. Many can track the sun and moon.
I've seen 'free' tracking programs on the web.. Like this maybe? Satellite Tracking System: Orbitron by Sebastian Stoff / Satellite tracking easiest ever!

Wayan · 11-23-12, 09:01 AM

posted more details on my thoughts on another thread that i started, ive also put the sunchart that i would have at my location. but im not sure how to read that, he he...

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-...ar-panels.html

im downloading the satelite tracker, and will check out the suns path on that, might give me a better idea of the angle variation between the "summer and winter" months.

we actually have only wet and dry seasons, basically hot all year round, lol

ill need to measure the angle of my roof, house is still under construction, so this is going to be a work in progress as well as the house.

Wayan · 11-23-12, 09:09 AM

trying to digest this:

Solar Site Survey

just skimmed over it, so it has not really sinking in but i will once i am able to be on location and read the step by step survey instructions.

Xringer · 11-23-12, 04:43 PM

Yeah, that site UO SRML: Sun chart program

That's what I was looking for before.. Plug in your decimal lat & long + timezone for a really nice PDF (Adobe) or PNG chart, for the whole year..

Here's mine.. The blue month lines are the X & Y location of the sun and the red lines = time of day..

Wayan · 11-23-12, 09:36 PM

ya, if you look at my thread, you can see the sun chart i posted, there, the sun stays right overhead for several months each year.

Ambrogio · 12-15-12, 01:58 PM

Good day,
I am an Italian radio Ham, my call is IW2FVO.
I have a small 60 watt PV that charges my 12 VDC SLA battery ( 26Ah) through a simple diode. A comaprator detects over and undervoltages.
I would like to make a more efficient charger using a MPPT technique.
I will appreciate very much if you could help in finding out some project to homebrew for my personal radio station.
I thank you in advance forn any help.
Best regards,
Ambrogio

09-30-12, 08:59 PM	#211
Kirby1946 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I need plans I want to build a dual axis sun tracker. I would like your plans for the single axis sun tracker to see if I could modify it to make a dual axis sun tracker. Would you be so kind as to send them to me?

09-30-12, 09:50 PM	#213
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	1946? That's when I was born! Red Rock Energy Heliostats is the place to get the plans.. Why do you want to go dual axis? It's twice the money, five times harder to set up, and is much more likely to fail in the middle of the winter. Single axis with a manual elevation tweak every month or two works fine for most folks using small arrays. If it's a jumbo array that you can't crank up by hand easily, elevation is needed, otherwise it's best to avoid the extra complications. Thanks for reminding me about the tracker.. I've got to center it up and shut off the tracking power. Don't really need to be tracking these days. Only need enough juice to keep the bank topped off. I was happy to see that my system was charging up a little this morning. Had very high voltage on the bank, and it was overcast and raining! I think about 150 ma was coming off the 500w panels.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

11-23-12, 07:15 AM	#215
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	If you have a somewhat flat roof, perhaps you can use brackets to get the best angle? Up here in the NE (of USA), we see big changes in solar angles as the seasons change. Do you see a very noticeable difference between summer and winter Solstice? Solstice - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For a visual look at where the sun is during different months, I've used Ham radio satellite tracking programs. Many can track the sun and moon. I've seen 'free' tracking programs on the web.. Like this maybe? Satellite Tracking System: Orbitron by Sebastian Stoff / Satellite tracking easiest ever! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

11-23-12, 04:43 PM	#218
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Yeah, that site UO SRML: Sun chart program That's what I was looking for before.. Plug in your decimal lat & long + timezone for a really nice PDF (Adobe) or PNG chart, for the whole year.. Here's mine.. The blue month lines are the X & Y location of the sun and the red lines = time of day.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

12-15-12, 01:58 PM	#220
Ambrogio Lurking Renovator Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Italy Posts: 1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	MPPT circuit suggestions Good day, I am an Italian radio Ham, my call is IW2FVO. I have a small 60 watt PV that charges my 12 VDC SLA battery ( 26Ah) through a simple diode. A comaprator detects over and undervoltages. I would like to make a more efficient charger using a MPPT technique. I will appreciate very much if you could help in finding out some project to homebrew for my personal radio station. I thank you in advance forn any help. Best regards, Ambrogio

09-30-12, 09:00 PM	#212
Kirby1946 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I am building four 45 watt panels right now but may make it six to put on a suntracker

11-22-12, 11:57 PM	#214
Wayan Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bali Posts: 17 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	being closer to equator, is it as beneficial to use a solar tracker? my coordinates are: 8.6400° S, 115.1000° E i have a roof facing north west which i think will be the least obstructive place to put solar panels. would be better to face it north, but i cant rotate my house, he he... thanks

11-23-12, 09:01 AM	#216
Wayan Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bali Posts: 17 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	posted more details on my thoughts on another thread that i started, ive also put the sunchart that i would have at my location. but im not sure how to read that, he he... http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-...ar-panels.html im downloading the satelite tracker, and will check out the suns path on that, might give me a better idea of the angle variation between the "summer and winter" months. we actually have only wet and dry seasons, basically hot all year round, lol ill need to measure the angle of my roof, house is still under construction, so this is going to be a work in progress as well as the house.

11-23-12, 09:09 AM	#217
Wayan Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bali Posts: 17 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	trying to digest this: Solar Site Survey just skimmed over it, so it has not really sinking in but i will once i am able to be on location and read the step by step survey instructions.

11-23-12, 09:36 PM	#219
Wayan Lurking Renovator Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bali Posts: 17 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ya, if you look at my thread, you can see the sun chart i posted, there, the sun stays right overhead for several months each year.