Hi everybody,
I'm working on a project that track the sun all day.
After getting the Elevation angle from SPA algorithm and knowing that the Max Elevation in my region is 83°, How i can track the sun for ] 0°,180° [.
Thanks in advance for your support.
Your duplicate topic has been deleted
Please do not cross post in the forum as it wastes time for anyone offering help
EDIT : and I just found another one and deleted it
What hardware do you have?
Can you describe the mechanical design you are using to allow movement of the solar array?
Paul
The system will be an Horizontal Tracker (North::South) with rotation from East to West.
I'm working with an algorithm that give me correct Elevation angle.
=>And an MP6050 for i can compare the position angle of the collector.
The problem is that the result are from 0° to the max Elevation en then it will go back to 0°.
My question is how we can translate elevation value to a command for the motor ?
Depends on the hardware connected to the motor. Post a drawing, with dimensions.
Is that the best you can do?
the other group have 3D models with all measurements and stimulation
I'm working on control and command part.
If i can understand your requirement i can make another sketch.
Basic method is going to be something like:
Every so often (five minutes?) find out the current time and use your algorithm to calculate desired elevation.
Measure actual angle with MPU.
Run motor in appropriate direction until MPU reads close enough to desired angle.
Why not talk to them about how the motor will steer the collector?
The problem is not on the Mechanical side.
it's on command
Hi,
Are you using simple detection of direction of maximum sun radiation for your East-West control axis?
Google;
arduino pv sun tracker
Can you please tell us your electronics, programming, arduino, hardware experience?
Tom... 
That sounds seriously precious. I submit you are very much at risk of re-inventing the wheel and getting a square one. The tracking speed was known to the Babylonians and all you need know is when to start and when to stop, which is easily lifted from regular sources.
For all that, this is an Arduino world, and you would be well-advised to check a PV automatic tracker as suggested above.
Hi,
The fact that the sun follows a predictable path across the sky each day, does not necessarily mean that is the direction of maximum radiation.
A partly cloudy sky will result, if the sun is covered, with the direction of maximum radiation not always being from the suns direction.
The tracker will know from the sensors when it is night time and to sweep back to the East.
Tom..
Hi,
From this site, it is a no brainer about working out elevation;
Solar panels tilted at an angle equal to the latitude will face exactly midway between the sun’s highest point in the sky in summer and its lowest point in winter.2
This seems like a reasonable way to maximise solar electricity output, but because days are longer in summer it usually helps to tilt them a few degrees lower to take advantage of this. Seasonal differences in average cloud cover can also alter the optimal angle.
Tom...
Hi Tom,
Even if the sky is cloudy the tracker will be oriented to the sun not to the reflected radiation above the clouds, and that's not the situation all the year
That's why we use the Algorithm (SPA).
Did you find any other Solution ??
Find the Ephemeris library. It provides angles in AZ-EL, Hour Angle et cetera. It appears that you want hour angle
I have found one Algorithm that give Elevation and Azimuth.
But as you know the elevation angle don't give 360° rotation
Hi,
What do you want to follow, the sun or the source of maximum radiation, including through a variable thickness cloud cover.
Forget the Sun and think in terms of where the maximum radiation is coming from.
If half the sky is cloud covered and that happens to be where the sun is, your maximum radiation may be at the edge of the cloud cover, not where you assume the sun to be.
Tom...