Hi, I need a little help with a project, i want to create a Timer to a solar moving motor. It should power a motor for 10 seconds every hour and should return to the starting point in the evening 10PM. I dont know what i need for this, and i dont know the coding part. I am a begginer in arduino but i need this gadget to a work. Sorry for my english and thanks for any help!
Ok on being a beginner, but as a beginner, do you have physical device built, so the torque and distance parameters can be measured?
Have you made any parts list? What type of motor will you be using?
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Solar trackers are a popular project. An internet search for "arduino solar tracker" will turn up lots of projects and tutorials.
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I would use a 3 phase motor of about 5 kilowatts.
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You can get some idea here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTGhQMxSTQw
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This will require a contactor (mechanical/electronic) to control the motor. That will have an impact on the design. I am assuming the display is connected to a gear box. How do you know that it has returned to its home position or has gone past its maximum position? This is just part of what will be needed.
You can start with the timing portion. I highly recommend you get one of the accurate RTC modules for your base. Also how are you going to set the time and correct for errors. You can find Arduino controlled solar tracker designs with your favorite search engine.
I would use a 25watt motor and a gearbox.
Leo..
I think the earth rotates 15 degrees per hour....maybe that will help.
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A 5kW motor is quite a hefty motor, so I have to ask "are you sure?". Also what voltage?
Assuming 3 phase mains, I would probably use an inverter or VFD (Variable Frequency Drive).
Open loop control is likely to accumulate errors over a day, so you will need some sort of position feedback. Typically an encoder attached to the turntable is used.
Code wise, it sounds pretty easy.
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Sorry i write bad, the motor is 2kw, but I want use this motor because the support is really big, over 200kg with the panels, i want to set the clock with an RTC module, and every hour the motor will work for 10 sec, and when the clock reach the 9pm i will rotate the phases for the motor going in reverse, i will calculate when reach the starting point and i will set this for every 9pm. Sorry for my bad english, i try my best.
DC, AC, how many phases?
Have you built the support, with motor included? If not, that would be the first step, because you have to verify that the motor can actually do the job.
A 200 kg, properly balanced support, rotating on a ball bearing or wheel track, should not require anywhere near that amount of power to track the sun.
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Three phase motors are constant speed motors. Any time power is connected, they are VERY quickly at run speed. How do you intend to stop the motor when you turn the three phase power off?
I'm not using a high-rev motor
For help, please clearly describe what you have built, and post a link to the motor product page or data sheet, along with photos of the support and mechanism.
Just impossible with a three-phase motor. Within 5-10 cycles, the motor will be running at speed. With 60Hz three phase power, that will be 3600 RPM.
Sorry, my bad. This is not my own project, this is one off my client project, and i help him to finish. I remembered bad about motor. He use this motor, for the moving system(i uploaded the photo) . I have to limiter for the to end point, and i have 2 three phase relay. I think when is switch the phases, the motor moving direction is change, i use this for the finish project. But i dont know how to actually do with arduino.
Ok. Thanks for the picture of the motor name plate. When powered, the motor runs 1320 RPM. That is 22 revolutions per second. To run for 10 seconds it will turn approximately 220 revolutions.
How fast the motor accelerates and how fast it decelerates all depends on the load on the motor.
You already have relay/contactors to operate the motor.
Now, what do you want the Arduino to do? Do you want it to operate the contactors?
Post some information on your contactors, coil voltage, AC or DC, auxiliary contacts (NO / NC), overload protection?
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