Solar Module Positioning

The Suntracker project develops a photovoltaic (PV) solar tracking controller. PV solar trackers control the PV panel direction to keep the panel perpendicular to the Sun, maximizing the power output. The power output difference for a fully aligned panel is reported to be in a range of 15~40%, which would be substantial.

Below is the history of prototypes with increasing complexity

Suntracker2 Revision 4
HD44780 on RCM4010SunTracker2 R4 is the follow-up project to SunTracker2 Revision 3.

This version adds dual-axis control, GPS location, wireless communication option, and drives a set of micro solar panels to demonstrate solar alignment. It is a interim prototype to develop tracking code for driving two NEMA stepper motors concurrently, positioning the horizontal and vertical axis.

Code and build resources are in the FM4DD Github Repository, and in the Hackaday Project Repo

Suntracker2 Revision 3
Suntracker2 Revision 3 Suntracker2 Revision 3 is a interim prototype to validate basic functionality by tracking the suns horizontal movement (Azimuth angle) across our sky.

The main feature of this prototype is a 32 LED display ring that is self-aligning to north, showing the sun's position. The prototype is used for visual feedback while developing the tracking code, driving a NEMA stepper motor for horizontal positioning.

Code and build details are in the FM4DD Github Repository, and in the Hackaday Project Repo.