Non Optical Solar Tracker (East Tower 2.4KW)

Calculates the position of the sun relative to the trackers position on the earth and points the array at the sun.

Feb 1, 2017

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45 respects

Components and supplies

1

Arduino UNO

1

Real Time clock Modual

1

P82B96 Data Buffer

1

GYRO / MAG / ACC / TEMP / PRES sensor

1

LED matrix display

1

Satellite Jacks - Actuator to move the array 1 x 36" HD 1 x 24" STD

1

Solar Regulator- Powers motors and Arduino Board

1

12 to 30V step up power supply

1

Automotive fuse holders

1

2004 LCD with I2C backpack

1

Rotary Encoder with Push-Button

1

Battery 12V 7 AH - The ubiquitous UPS battery

1

HC-05 Bluetooth Module

Tools and machines

1

Fabrication Equipment - Welder / Cutters / Drill

1

Veroboard

1

Machining - Lathe is needed to machine shafts to bearings

1

Hand Drill

Apps and platforms

1

Arduino IDE

1

Android Studio

1

Visual Studio 2015

Project description

Code

Modified I2C library

c_cpp

Been asked a few times for my tweaked library files.. Small changes to suit LCD's and boards in my "kit" Thanks to the original author... From this you should find the rest...

TRACKER_ALL_IN_ONE_BOTTOM_PWM_SOFT.ino

c_cpp

PWM soft starter variation on the original design ... wiring changes described in top of the file

TRACKER_ALL_IN_ONE_BOTTOM.ino

c_cpp

This for a "Uno" Board using the described hardware There are 24 ish screens of data and diagnostics .... uses the chips internal eeprom for non-volatile storage. Good coding exercise as I has do be more efficient as the program grew...It been a long time since I have had only 32K to program in . Don't stress about the modified lib's - they are only patches to faults in the coding. If you need just ask....

Modified Modbus Library

c_cpp

Been asked a few times for my tweaked library files

modified LM303 lib

c_cpp

very small changes aimed at roll over detection of the millis function which is used to detect time outs

DS3231 lib

c_cpp

This is an older copy of this lib that works with this project

Modified Modbus Library

c_cpp

Been asked a few times for my tweaked library files

TRACKER_ALL_IN_ONE_BOTTOM_PWM_SOFT.ino

c_cpp

PWM soft starter variation on the original design ... wiring changes described in top of the file

DS3231 lib

c_cpp

This is an older copy of this lib that works with this project

modified LM303 lib

c_cpp

very small changes aimed at roll over detection of the millis function which is used to detect time outs

Modified I2C library

c_cpp

Been asked a few times for my tweaked library files.. Small changes to suit LCD's and boards in my "kit" Thanks to the original author... From this you should find the rest...

Solar_Calcs.bas

vbscript

Early proof of concept code....

TRACKER_ALL_IN_ONE_BOTTOM.ino

c_cpp

This for a "Uno" Board using the described hardware There are 24 ish screens of data and diagnostics .... uses the chips internal eeprom for non-volatile storage. Good coding exercise as I has do be more efficient as the program grew...It been a long time since I have had only 32K to program in . Don't stress about the modified lib's - they are only patches to faults in the coding. If you need just ask....

ht16k33 lib for matrix display

c_cpp

Been asked a few times for these library files

Solar_Calcs.bas

vbscript

Early proof of concept code....

Downloadable files

Mud map of circuits

Suggest you follow the TI PDF on the buffer chips Need to look at photos as well , but its not rocket science ... very basic stuff

Mud map of circuits

Mud map of circuits

Suggest you follow the TI PDF on the buffer chips Need to look at photos as well , but its not rocket science ... very basic stuff

Mud map of circuits

Documentation

Frame and Piviots

This shows the gimble piece and its relation to the frame and ost

Frame and Piviots

Panels Location

This shows the relationship of the panels to the frame and the relative dimesions

Panels Location

Post top section

This is the business end of the machine. This is then aligned north and welded to the support tower The frame then locks into this via two bearings.

Post top section

Tracker Frame

This is the support frame so the panels do not flex to much in the wind

Tracker Frame

Frame and Piviots

This shows the gimble piece and its relation to the frame and ost

Frame and Piviots

Panels Location

This shows the relationship of the panels to the frame and the relative dimesions

Panels Location

Post top section

This is the business end of the machine. This is then aligned north and welded to the support tower The frame then locks into this via two bearings.

Post top section

Tracker Frame

This is the support frame so the panels do not flex to much in the wind

Tracker Frame

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dougal

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Intro

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