my DIY solar tracker

[poxkix]

The tracker would travel from west to east or vice versa. My initial idea is to control the motor by using of PIC/microcontroller (programmable integrated circuit) by the using 2 photoresistors/LDR's to detect the sun for west or east.

I'm having trouble in what motor to use for the tracker. Is there a specific motor should I use?
My biggest concern is the weight of the motor it can handle and how to control it. Anyone got ideas to share? I really would appreciate any help.

Thanks

[electricsuperduty]

A dc motor out of an old garage door opener is what I used. DC motors are simplest to make run both ways.
Hit up your local garage door company's and see if there's one in the dumpster.

[poxkix]

That's a good suggestion. Do you know how much weight that kind of motors can handle? Thanks

[Slidegate]

Motor

Whatever DC motor you use make sure its geared reduction. Im just useing a car window motor with a double gear box running a flywheel. Check out my post in assy and connection and youll see. I,m also using a pic micrcontroller to track.
Good LuckIMG_0696.JPG

[roscho04]

how much weight are you going to try to move?

[Slidegate]

My whole panel assy is about 450 lbs but since it sits centered on the pole with tapered bearings there is hardly no load on the motor. With the motor disconnected you can move it with your little finger. The motor only draws 1 amp when running

[TnAndy]

I'd imagine too, it depends on how big an array you intend to move. Mine have 10 panels per array, and the last one I built uses 245w panels, which, if I recall, were 39" x 68"....so you're talking 184 sqft of panel....which is quite a SAIL if you get much wind. While they move very easily on the bearings ( I used 2" pillow block bearings ), it's still a lot of SAIL area.

I used a heavy duty Linear Actuator, and on the biggest array ( which I made dual axis ), I put a pair of heavy duty MonroeMatic truck shocks on the North/South tilt axis to give some extra points of support.

The below is a single axis tracker ( east/west ).





The newest array, the one with sun on it in the photo, ( this fall ) is a dual axis.

[pluto711]

Whatever DC motor you use make sure its geared reduction. Im just useing a car window motor with a double gear box running a flywheel. Check out my post in assy and connection and youll see. I,m also using a pic micrcontroller to track.
Good Luck[ATTACH=CONFIG]1703[/ATTACH]

Ok, I am registered.

[solar pete]

Ok, I am registered.

Hello pluto711 and welcome to Solar Panel Talk, cheers.

[akshaysravanj]

Can any one suggest standards to be followed while chosing or installing a solar actuator. HELP!

[Mike90250]

For the price of the actuator and moving mounts, it's generally cheaper now to just buy more panels