Tag Archives: solar tracker


Cloud-connected automatic solar tracker

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The use of solar tracking systems allows the solar panels to track the course of Sun during the day time and ensures that the panels are receiving maximum solar input. A photovoltaic system with a solar tracker can boost the output power by 20-40%, compared to a fixed installation. While there are lots of resources available on internet on solar trackers, this particular solar tracking system is unique in the sense that it offers lot more connectivity and other fancy features than just tracking the Sun. It is built to drive a 90 Watts solar panel with azimuth and elevation control using two step motors. The project is controlled with Electric Imp, which derives the inclination and azimuth angle of the solar panel using a 6-axis accelerometer/magnetometer. The use of Electric Imp also allows internet cloud connectivity to the  project.

Cloud-connected solar tracker

Cloud-connected solar tracker

 

mbed powered automated Sun tracker

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Maximizing power output from a solar system is desirable to increase efficiency. One way of maximizing power output is by keeping the solar panels always aligned with the sun. This requires a means of tracking the sun. Here is an mbed powered solar tracker that continuously keeps track of the sun and points the solar panels directly towards the sun all the time.

mbed powered solar tracker

The project uses two smaller solar cells (besides the large solar pannels) placed right angle to each other. The alignment of the big solar panels and smaller solar cells is such that when the solar panels are directly facing to the sun, the output voltages from then two smaller cells are almost equal. The mbed microcontroller reads the voltages via two of its analog inputs, compare them, and rotates a motor connected to the antenna rotator to move it so as to keep the voltages from the two solar cells nearly equal.