Simple DIY Solar Tracker
November 27th, 2009 by admin
Another post from Solar Christmas Lights.
Solar Christmas Lights can save you allot of cash on your utility bill at a time of the year when money can be tight.
This tracker is lashed up from two solar cells salvaged from solar garden lights and a maxon geared motor.
That’s it. No frills.
Accuracy is around +/- 10 degrees.
If anyone thinks of a way I can get it to very simply auto-reset at the beginning of each day, I would love to hear about it!
Duration : 0:0:19
Solar Christmas Lights can save you allot of cash on your utility bill at a time of the year when money can be tight.
Posted in Solar Garden Lights
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
That’s excellent. …
That’s excellent. I’ve just started researching solar power and was wondering why solar panels can’t be made shaped like a pyamid? That way it will catch the sun at various angles and maybe pick-up some wind power at the same time?
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
That is a very cool …
That is a very cool solution. Great stuff. Thanks. Geoff.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
i use little shadow …
i use little shadow creating sheilds for left and right cells then i have a rear facing cell with a small mirrored reflector . it drives left for sunrise and it drives left till light hits the left front cell and the left front cell drives till centered..once the left cell takes over the rear cell is shadowed..and just goes along for the ride till morning…peace
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I like what I see, …
I like what I see, my problem is not only reset for the next day, but what if I don’t get sun for several days, then the sun comes out in the afternoon, see also Helio Stat Forum
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Hey. Could you just …
Hey. Could you just simply place a mirror on the side that will get the sun in the morning and shine it onto the solar cell that will track in that direction. Simple and may be effective.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Thanks. Sounds like …
Thanks. Sounds like a good idea. The power for resetting could be held in a large low voltage capacitor (charged during the day) which might be enough for the reset movement. If we ever get any sun this spring I might try it!!!
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Hi there. I built a …
Hi there. I built a solar tacker similar to this. I used a DPDT relay, and two SPST relays, and two small PC panels, instead of wiring the panels straight to the motor. As far as reset on your design, I think the way I’m going to try might work for you too. My idea for a reset is this: Have a “dusk” sensor mounted in between the two panels. It will follow the sun as well, and stay “off” all day. (((See Next Comment Post)))
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Then, once it(and …
Then, once it(and the panels) are facing west, and the sun goes down, it will activate. The dusk sensor will trip a relay to the motor, and cause it to rotate back all the way around to the east. A limit switch will kill the power to the motor. Then in the morning, the sun will turn off the dusk sensor before the panels start to move. Thus, a repeating cycle. Haven’t tested it yet, but I’m thinking it just might work.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
That is such a …
That is such a simple idea it is smart. Thank you for posting information in the comments, regarding the setup. We have built a tracker using your design for an interactive piece at an Earth Day outreach.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
That looks as …
That looks as though it would be most appropriate on a trough collector. Tune it in on two axis for dish but for a trough collector…only east to west angles matter. You’re almost home for an easy cheap trough actuator. I posted a vid too but they stripped the sound… bummer – was copyrighted.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Very nice.
Very nice.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
i have seen one of …
i have seen one of these made with 2 cells faceing forward (both faceing the same way at the sun) and a bored in the middle to make a shadow.. you could have a light sensor that resets it at night fall.. or even just a timer.. you could even use this to run a big array of panels by useing the small panels to switch some relays.. or even a stop switch at one end so when it hits that it simply goes into reset
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Solar panels are …
Solar panels are designed to charge two 1.2V cells so I would guess 3-4.5V. The motor is a Maxon permanent magnet type motor with a gearbox attached (probably 1:50 ratio – 1:100). It has the advantage of being able to start and run at very low voltage/current.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
nice what watage …
nice what watage and votltage solar panels ere this ? and what motor you are useing ?
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Thanks for the …
Thanks for the comments!!
I never did try out the ideas for the auto reset. I think a backward facing mirror may be the answer as suggested by teddyfix. I will get round to it one day!
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Well done. A very …
Well done. A very elegant solution to the problem of tracking the sun.
Im sure a lot of people will benefit from your idea.
Id put it the same category as Trevor Bayliss wind up radio, very simple, anyone could have done it, but we didnt.
Did you sort out the auto-reset issue? I was going to suggest the mirror option but I see someones already suggested that idea.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Vaya una tonteria, …
Vaya una tonteria, eso no se orienta. Lo unico que hace es mover el motor cuando pasa corriente por la celulas.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Solar cells are …
Solar cells are connected positive to negative and negative to positive. These two joints are connected across the motor. The motor has a reduction gearbox of maybe 50 or 100 to 1. The motor must take a relatively low current. If you’d like any more details you can always message me. regards, Geoff.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Can you please tell …
Can you please tell how to build one of these. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
It depends on how …
It depends on how large or small your solar panels are. If this one looks a bit small for you, the solar cells you might need may prove too expensive, making other bought or self made options a better bet. Hope this helps.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
how can i build one …
how can i build one for my solar panels?
or where can i get one?
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Thats a great idea. …
Thats a great idea. I will try it out (if we ever get any sunshine this summer in the U.K.!) Much appreciated. Thanks.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Dear Sir,
You …
Dear Sir,
You had asked if anyone had an idea on how to auto reset at the start of each day. May I suggest placing a mirror ( or two) placed such that the morning sun is reflected onto the cells that will casue it to rotate towards the east. You will likely also need a light baffle that rotates with the “west” cells so that when they rotate to the east during rest they will not see the reflected light.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Ah, solar cells! Of …
Ah, solar cells! Of course! I’ve been thinking about using some crazy LED effect for this.
Of course, +/- 10 degrees isn’t too good….but maybe I can improve on that.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Solar cells are …
Solar cells are wired positive to negative and negative to positive. The motor is connected in parallel to these two joints.
You will soon know if you need to swap the solar cells as it will avoid the sun!
If you’d like to discuss further, please feel free to message me.