Simple Solar Tracker Concept
Simple Solar Tracker Concept
Make a very simple sun tracker to maximise electricity generation from a PV solar panel
solar | electric circuit | generalIn our article
Solar Trackers we looked at how keeping
PV solar panels facing directly into the sunshine all day greatly increases the total amount of electricity generated. Achieving this goal automatically requires a
solar tracker - an electronic device which locates the direction of the sun and controls motors which turn the
solar panel to face it.
For large PV solar panel systems, the costs of a suitable electronic
solar tracker are more than covered by the cost savings provided since less PV panels are required to generate the same amount of electricity. However, for small PV panels, it is usually not economically viable to fit a solar tracking system.
In this article we will look at a very
simple solar tracker system which can be put together as a DIY project very cheaply and easily.
Simple Solar Tracker
Rather than using
light detecting components and other electronic circuitry, this
solar tracker has
no electronics at all. Instead, a small PV solar panel is used as both light sensor and motor driver powering a small low voltage DC motor directly.
The small solar panel is fitted at
90 degrees to the west of the direction of the main solar panel. When the main solar panel (used to charge batteries or power something directly etc) is facing
directly into the sun, the small solar panel will be exactly
side on to the sunshine and so will be generating insufficient electricity to power the motor.
As the sun moves from west to east across the sky, sunshine will start to hit the PV cells on the small solar panel sending power to the
motor and rotating the whole assembly. After a small amount of rotation, the main panel will again be in direct sunlight and the small panel side on to the sun (stopping the motor and its rotation).
Gearing is used to slow down the 100's-1000's of RPM of the motor so that it can rotate the solar panels in a controlled manner. At night and under heavy cloud, the small PV panel does not generate electricity and therefore does not power the motor.
One of the cleverest parts of this concept is the use of
aluminium foil to shield the small solar panel. During the day it casts a shadow on the small solar panel when the main panel is in direct sunlight thereby ensuring the motor stops turning with the panels in the correct orientation.
In the morning (when the main panel is still pointing to the West where the sun set the night before), the sun will rise in the East, reflect off the inside of the aluminium foil onto the small solar panel therefore generating the necessary power to re-orient the main panel toward the East to start a new day of
solar tracking!
Watch the Solar Tracker in Action
More Information
Click here to view the full article about this
Simple Solar Tracker on the excellent
José Pino Projects and Tidbits website.
Article Last Modified: 10:37, 9th Feb 2008
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