Sun Tracking Solar Power Plant

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi pl :smiley:

I found this on web ( check attachements )
Youtube of the prosjekt: Mobile Sun Tracking Solar Power Plant - YouTube

I'm going to make improvements on it. Like: Screen where it shows posesions (like a 3d printer) and other info

First question

Is use Adafruit Motor Shield v2. But do i need it? Is there anything easier I can use.
Any suggestion?

Second question
In the code it says: #define SERVO_START_POSITION  90                      // Solar panel should be faced south at 90; then 60 is west and 120 is east
Can it find south by itself? Like: Where it goes in a position to be in the south, then he wait. Then I have to physically move the rig, until it says a sound "pipp". and it start to work efter 30sec :slight_smile:
Like to add this, if I get it to work (When is the position there sun going up, so i need to change it if I in other country, Like a screen and up/down button and it says: Where is sun going up: )

If there is a lot of work, then I can pay one of you to and fix the code :slight_smile:

My English is bad. So sorry for mistakes

SolarPowerSchematics.pdf (388 KB)

SolarTracker_Rev_2.ino (19.5 KB)

2

Knutarn:
Can it find south by itself?

Think about that for a minute. How would it know which way is south?

3

Knutarn:
(When is the position there sun going up, so i need to change it if I in other country, Like a screen and up/down button and it says: Where is sun going up: )

I suspect a person in any country will know where the sun is at midday and can position the device so it points at the sun with the panel in its centre position. In some countries that will be facing North :slight_smile:

...R

4

Yes true :smiley: what about first question :smiley:

5

Knutarn:
Yes true :smiley: what about first question :smiley:

I have no experience with that (or any other) motor shield and you have not told us what you plan to do with it. I assume you just want to control a small DC motor so it should probably be OK. Just make sure the shield can comfortably supply the volts and amps required by your motor.

How big is the solar panel and how much energy can you afford to "waste" in the positioning system? To minimize energy consumption it would be better to use an Atmega 328 on a PCB or piece of strip board rather than a complete Arduino.

...R

6

Knutarn:
I'm going to make improvements on it.

I would like to see that. This guy has done a seriously elegant job.

Is use Adafruit Motor Shield v2. But do i need it? Is there anything easier I can use.
Any suggestion?

You can use a separate motor drive module so long as it is suitable for the motor. The Adafruit shield is probably more convenient.

Can it find south by itself?

It could be made to eventually, but it surely has better things to do, as the sun usually rises in the east. Once it sorts east out, the rest follows.

7

Why I do not want to use Adafruit Motor Shield v2: I will not use the arduino board. Then I'll use the chip. and connect cabel to motor controller.

Need too control:
https://www.servocity.com/5-0-785hb-servo-gearbox
and this

any tips on controller (on ebay) I can use? And what i need to change in the code :slight_smile:

Other
Want to make some changes. Do you have any suggestions? The reason I want it is that it's fun and work with it. So it will not be copy and past from the maker :slight_smile:

Like and have a screen. Which shows the servo position and how strong sun is :smiley: And maybe show a watts and volt solar panel give :smiley: