Anyone have an active solar tracking system?

[houstonscott]

Thinking of going to active solar tracking system like Wattsun Trackers produces. Anyone have a system up and how does it perform. Everyone tells me to just put up more panels for the extra money, but 30% more efficiency seems hard to pass-up at any price.

Example youtube

Wattsun Solar Tracker - YouTube

HS

 

[grsthegreat]

i have one....its my head. no matter where im at and i am not wearing my hat...the sun finds me :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[tcartwri]

I have a 10 kW fixed ground mount system. Putting trackers on, would have cost me another 30 to 40 K . I decided to live with the losses, and put up more panels.

Use this calculator to figure out if it's worth your while. It is surprisingly accurate against my real experiences.

PVWATTS v. 1

 

[jmanatee2]

You can build one Weld a simple frame to pivot east west, then using a linear actuator to move it and a led solar tracker to control the linear actuator.

You can get the electronics and more information here:

Electronic Projects

 

[tcartwri]

You can build one Weld a simple frame to pivot east west, then using a linear actuator to move it and a led solar tracker to control the linear actuator.

You can get the electronics and more information here:

Electronic Projects

Actually the cost is in the base and materials. Tough to save on that except for the labor. A home made system will also not be intelligent enough to go to a neutral position during a wind storm, as the potential wind loads on these things is huge.

 

[jmanatee2]

Actually the cost is in the base and materials. Tough to save on that except for the labor. A home made system will also not be intelligent enough to go to a neutral position during a wind storm, as the potential wind loads on these things is huge.

When I was researching these (a couple years ago) I never saw one with the ability to go to a neutral position because of wind.

I do know the cost savings by building one is huge. A buddy of mine in Florida built a working one (1 axis, although he could manually adjust 2nd axis to summer winter position) for around couple hundred dollars. base, steel, head, actuator etc.. The panels are obviously the most expensive part.

He was going to go to 2 axis but after researching it, the gain is minimal so he didn't

 

[tcartwri]

I do know the cost savings by building one is huge. A buddy of mine in Florida built a working one (1 axis, although he could manually adjust 2nd axis to summer winter position) for around couple hundred dollars. base, steel, head, actuator etc.. The panels are obviously the most expensive part.

I think we're talking different scales of projects here. My system has 48 245W panels..... that's a lot of surface area.

this is a 10 kW dual axis tracker. ( not mine )

Back of 10kW tracker, Innerkip | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[tcartwri]

My system from another solar thread earlier this year.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/2367072-post74.html

 

[KTurner]

You can build one Weld a simple frame to pivot east west, then using a linear actuator to move it and a led solar tracker to control the linear actuator.

You can get the electronics and more information here:

Electronic Projects

If' you're looking for some DIY inspiration, you may want to check into the systems that amatuer radio operators use so that their antenna can track a satellite across the sky. There's a local who built one about 20 years ago.

Keith

 

[Phils]

Everyone tells me to just put up more panels for the extra money, but 30% more efficiency seems hard to pass-up at any price. Wattsun Solar Tracker - YouTube

HS

The people that have told you that probably have learned by experience and are just trying to help you with the decision.

Yeah, a 30% efficiency increase looks nice. But at what expense? And how many more panels could you buy for those same dollars?

Now.... look a decade or two into the future. The tracker system would probably have requred significant maintenance and replacement parts. If panels were added instead, pretty much NO significant maintenance or replacement parts would have been necessary.

Having lived off-grid since the seventies, I believe the only and best reason for tracking is a limited space for panels. If that applies, a tracker would be for your benefit. If you have
plenty of room I'd agree with the advice you've already been given.

Phil