You may have to increase that number even more to get it to work. Of course i have to add more codes for the second set of LDR and actuators.

I also changed the delay times so as not to burn up the actuator motor as rapid on off will do that. If you click on the breadboard layout itll open a larger image which you should be able to see. Opt for maintenance-free linear motion that keeps ongoing and never compromises on performance. I dont have pictures of the setup as the moment but Im not sure that they will help as there is a very wide range of different relays available and they have very different connection setups. I had it tracked to an acceptable level yesterday. So youre using both the COMs as well as both NCs and NOs. There are loads of active forums and repositories for Arduino projects and code. 0000001331 00000 n The module originally linked to was a relay similar to this on a single board.

I added limit switches to this setup and added those also in code. Ask me if you dont understand what i am talking about. Our precision solar linear actuators offer accurate positioning to get optimal exposure of the sun.

0000010901 00000 n hb```c`` |@16 F%|g&tv"(X&/xBE9[(Gmi20=..F0JJLP"3h120XkeCGTUv3\4t;pI1>SuT1nya@ So there would be no harm with removing any reference to TrackerPos? I currently have the delay within the loop set at 10000, that keeps the actuator running for ten seconds, and 5000 at the end of the loop, that causes a five second delay before the actuator runs again to drive the panels in the desired direction. As I mentioned, I rely on the actuator built in limit switches to shut down the motor once the actuator has moved to its extreme position. So it may be the case that your measured light level is not dropping to below 350 and triggering the return to East function. I cant copy and paste part of my own sketch to get your assistance. Once you have these values then youll be able to properly set the night time limit and the error margin before the actuator is triggered. Ensure you get your ideal solution for parabolic mirror placement for maximum heat effect and feedback to enable backtracking and live position sensing. You could do this with limit switches on each end as well. Our extensive range offers both single and dual axis options. DC drives from elero may be used in roller shutters and blinds, awnings and Venetian blinds, and are simple to install as independent systems. 0 Also remember that many actuators have duty cycles and could burn up if they are operated without the proper amount of rest. Hi Michael, 1/ foggy in the morning? is it possible to use this code? Once i have the reset figure out I will build one more actuator and gang all 6 panels together with two actuators driving all 6 panels and repeat the same for the other 6 panels. Hi John, No, the one youve linked to is a SPDT (single pole double throw) relay, you need a DPDT (double pole double throw) relay. I spent lot of times scratching my head to figure that part and still not working quite right with tracking, reset to E at night and polarity switch relay turn on in idle! Im unable to see it for some reason. Oh i will eventually convert to power MOSFET driver and get rid off the relays too. Night felt then the thing started to oscillate NOT reset to East. Thanks for the reply that site looks good, Good luck with your project, it sounds great! It should be fairly straight forward to duplicate parts of the code to create a dual axis version. 0000011305 00000 n I doubt that the majority will do this way. What i did was rewrite the sketch, build and use all solid state power mosfet H bridge along with opti coupler interfaces to Arduino. 0000003141 00000 n The double relay you linked above has 6 output pins and on the other side there is two choices you of input set you can place either 4 pins input (Vcc, grnd, in1, in2) or 2 pin input (VCC and RY-VCC). This combination signicantly increases the efciency of complex solar tracking systems and ensures a quicker amortisation of investment costs. why does that matter when the E. reset is only done at night to get it ready for the next day? 0000010380 00000 n startxref would this be a comparable component for the single relay? https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-TL-4100-C-12V-Electromagnetic-Power-Relay/dp/B07JH4N3CH/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=5V+DC+Single+Pole+Relay&qid=1619547322&sr=8-15, Yeah sorry, thats why I wasnt understanding what you were asking. I have 12 of these I want to turn them all with tracker.

Salt-spray and anti-corrosive coatings may be the way to go. Analog or digital, we offer a variety of feedback options such as hall effect sensors, potentiometers, reed switches and limit switch feedback. If you do too, grab a cup of coffee and settle in, I'm happy to have you here. This project is not a stand alone project but is meant to supplement our originalArduino Solar Trackerproject.

0000014368 00000 n n There is lots of information online on how to program Arduinos and how they work. Hi Tom Ho, Glad to hear you have your system working. Hi Bambang, The 200AH battery is my solar storage battery NOT the battery for the Arduino and relays. 0000000016 00000 n Im an old electrician new to this environment and trying to learn,I have this set up as a bench test and it works perfectly,but when the time comes to put it in use Ill need to drive a larger DC Motor, I have been trying to incorporate a single VNH2SP30 Motor shield and include PWM speed control,but Im not having a lot of success,any hints or help much appreciated. All works beautifully now. Something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0879LQQBQ. Can someone post a screenshot of the circuit design for this project? I try to rebuild the solar tracker. The power supply will direct 24vdc to the actuator and 12vdc to the actuator relays and the Arduino unit. I have made the circuit and all is in place. I am confused concerning the Tracker Position. Manufacturing high-quality products is part of our philosophy. A lot of trial and error. I presume if you put your finger over one LDR then the motor should turn one way and the other LDR, then it should turn the other way. Keep up with industry growth by working smarter, not harder. Products can be easily configured and CAD data can be generated and immediately downloaded. My panels do not raise back up to face the west until morning. As for why, because theyre open source and widely supported online. 0000015202 00000 n

Double your efforts and adjust both your elevation and azimuthwith two actuators. I cant see it for some reason. I would suggest running the system with the Serial monitor open on your PC and sending the measurements from the LDRs to the monitor. I will have a look at putting together a dual axis tracker project and sketch. /* xxxxxxx*/ is your best friend. Almost any microcontroller project you can think of has been tried by someone on an Arduino, so there is a wealth of information available for you to get started. Enough was enough i spent weeks building the h bridge power mosfet NOT 1 but 7 as i have 6 actuators to use and one for spare. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hi justin, I have a 4 panel array that lays on a sloped roof. 9 kw system. The voltage of your servo motor is fairly unrelated to whether it can rotate a panel. if you are still having problems with the controller resetting to the east at night, I might suggest you investigate using the Serial Monitor to identify the sensors actual output values which should enable you to correctly set the east reset value. hi, Michael, I am a student and I have a project about solar tracking systems and I want to know how did you program the Arduino and why did you use the Arduino for the project, and how it works. Now i can enjoy the fruit of my labor as they worked beautifully now. I want to try it too if there is one. I need to investigate that myself. 0000003823 00000 n That is the part i do not understand of the code. Hi Akash, Can you assist? Happy to hear you managed to get it working! 0000021286 00000 n 44 35 Albert your project sounds interesting. Hello, how do I get it to focus on 1 light. Do you have any suggestions sir ? Can we do p.m? 0000018522 00000 n There is also one condition which follows that limit switch in while command. c/ move E. again for 80ms on and keep doing it until it hits the limit switch (going too fast it blows right through the switch). Your entrance or front door to your home is the first thing people look at when they walk past, drive past or come to Arduino Solar Tracker, Get More From Your Solar Panels, How To Make Natural Pesticides For Your Garden, http://www.instructables.com/id/Monster-Motor-Shield-VNH2SP30/, https://12vactuators.com/solar-tracker-with-linear-actuator/, https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-TL-4100-C-12V-Electromagnetic-Power-Relay/dp/B07JH4N3CH/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=5V+DC+Single+Pole+Relay&qid=1619547322&sr=8-15, What Makes TMC2208 Stepper Motor Drivers Silent, I Made A Home Assistant Hub Using The Atomstack X20 Pro, 3D Printed Raspberry Pi Case Using The Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro, Recondition a Lead Acid Battery, Dont Buy A New One, DIY Raspberry Pi 4 Desktop Case With OLED Stats Display, How To Upgrade Your Homes Entrance & Increase Curb Appeal, 12V DC Linear Actuator (Sized to suite the weight of your array) , 12V DC Power Supply (Rating sufficient for your actuator) , 5V DC Double Pole Relay (Current rating sufficient for your actuator) , 5V DC SinglePole Relay (Current rating sufficient for your actuator) . The position counter coding sucks. 44 0 obj <> endobj Its great to receive help so rapidly,I would have been struggling for days. This variable is just used to provide travel limits for the actuator. Just wondered if you have any views or could point me in a direction for more info? You can also avail of plug and play solutions if AC power is required. In my instance, the power supply involved, a 24vdc unit, is controlled by a timer. Flexibly trade off force for speed, or vice versa, and get the ideal combination to fit your needs. elero, the name which stands for high-quality electric precision linear actuators. I mentioned the duty cycle because that was a warning that came with the actuator I purchased. Some of our actuators are available with onboard RS-485 or TTL/PWM communications protocol. I have a problem though, it seems to mainly want to go in one direction, when the LDRs are tested they read comparable voltages, so Im not really sure whats going on. After months of tribulation I am closed to finishing. This draws about 150ma vs 10 ma with relay off. To follow, the double relay has 2 input pins based on the diagram there is only 1 input is this correct?

Have a look at this Tutorial on using a VNH2SP30 shield, it takes you through it step by step http://www.instructables.com/id/Monster-Motor-Shield-VNH2SP30/ Does this make sense? but in summary, please reply, because this is for my school project. We are working on a solar tracker project to implement on a 12V DC solar panel of 17,4kg. Reset to E. for next day.

Hello.

I figured out how to do this. You can also send a price request directly to elero Linear actuator technology. The array will lay back down as the sun crosses over to the west. Thanks again for a great project. Highly cost-effective solutions through economies of scale, with less moving parts and more MW per motor. I changed to 550 nothing! I can give you an email address, the same I use on this site, [emailprotected]. I read this diy article; however, I am having issues incorporating the code for a dual axis solar tracker using two linear actuators, East-West and North-South. Many if not most people just buy ready to use, slap and adapt to make it work. But I didnt do it that way.

sorry sir, i dont use relay but i use driver motor. My aim is to make a sun lounger that can track the sun, your design seems very promising and is what I would like to use. Help. I havent got to implementing it yet, but I have discovered a problem with the original circuit that I missed previously. Thing I cant get my head around does the array need to rotate or just tilt as a lot of folks seem to do? Save money on your purchases by earning redeemable points with Progressive Rewards! Thank you for your reply. The two projects are essentially the same hardware both based on Arduino controllers and a linear actuator, the software is written a bit differently but they should take the same amount of time to build. Insolis 2 actuators are dedicated for photovoltaic systems up to a static load peak of 15,000 N. Download technical information and brochures in our Download Center. Since writing up ourproject on how to make an Arduino Solar Trackerwhich makes use of a single or multiple PWM servo(s)to actuate the panel, we have had a number of requests to modify the design and code to allow for a linear actuator to be used to move a heavier load; a large panel or array of panels. solar tracking panel system motion linear actuators firgelli besides increasing investment return systems I use a 24 vdc power supply off of 120vac to operate the sensor and actuator, 12vdc to the sensor and 24vdc to the actuator. ive been tinkering with it and making some progress but, its just getting frustrating. I do a real thing total of 12 full sizes 60-72 cells panels. End result way way way better than the original toy sketch. Stay updated with our news and offers. We have multiple customization options available to suit your actuators mounting requirements. It doesnt sound like its doing either from what youve said. I made while command which calculates the LDR sensors difference and continues after calculation reaches limit which is added there. Alternately, you can also drive the tracker with a stepper motor which is also controlled by the Arduino. Hi JohnV, I had the same problem, was driving me nuts, see my comments above. I have ton of them as i fix lithium battery (yes you can fix them along with lead acid battery). In the download section you can find instructions, brochures, flyers and everything to download, Linear actuators for agricultural technology, Linear actuators for solar tracking systems. This would just mean including a line of code around line 55 which turns the reverse relay back off. Does the panel only move a small amount or is it erratically moving? Hi Albert, Why does it idle with polarity switch relay on? Take advantage of guaranteed maximumperformance and power output, with an ideal blade pitch for all wind conditions. You have misunderstood me on battery. Do you ever have the reset to work on full size panels? 2/ actuator burns up; NOT apply as i build my own linear actuator; as a matter of fact multiple times it reached the end of the shaft could not turn any more and stuck there grinding away until i found out still did not burn it up, another instance it felt out of the screw shaft and just kept turning still did not burn up. The linear actuators Insolis have been specially developed for solar photovoltaic systems (Elevation and Azimuth). Thanks to our high IP ratings, choose heat resistant,reliable,and repeatable devices. Do you need that extra bit of protection for your actuator? 0000001469 00000 n This is the only thing left. I hope you are not using the position counter on original sketch. Hi Adrian, The linear actuator is represented by a DC motor in the above circuit diagram, a DC motor drives the actuating arm in your assembly.

inseguitore They are used for complex solar tracking systems with Elevation and Azimuth movements. What you want is equal amount of light thus equal amount of value if you use the ldr value sketch that i mentioned on here with Albert. We have detected your location to be from outside of the US, would you like to go to our Canadian Store? Intelligent home automation, wall-mounted devices, radio handheld-transmitters, radio transmitters, radio receivers, sensors and object controls, elero controls for motorized garage roller doors, roller grilles or smaller industrial roller doors, Integrating floor lamps, radiant heaters, aquarium lighting and much more comfortably in the house technology, The ideal motorization for roller shutters, awnings, blinds and screens, Intelligent elero drives for automation of blinds and stores, The ideal solution for the motorization of heavy roller shutters as well as small roller doors and roller grilles, elero folding shutter drives for stylish old building renovation, listed buildings and also for new buildings. I have came to the point to have to put in limit switch for safety cut off and able to reset to East at night. I want it to rotate slowly to follow the sun but it rotates pretty fast and Im not sure if its reading my LDRs correctly. Thank you so much for the response and help! 78 0 obj <>stream Do you have a photo of the connected relays because Im a beginner in arduino. Display the readings from your analogue inputs to your Arduino IDE Serial Monitor, they should be values between 0 and 1023. Looking forward to hearing from you. Can someone post the screenshot of the circuit design for this project? Are you doing the real solar tracker or the toy one? You essentially need to connect the double relay to reverse the positive and negative wires going to the linear actuator and the single pole relay to simply make or break the connection so that the actuator is powered or not powered. P.s: For anyone attempting to do the solar tracker, i cant emphasize enough the importance of using sketch of LDR reading. Can you explain how the time base tracking for the East reset at night work? I mentioned in my previous comments that I use a timer. Hi Tomi, HtTiTSI~Ka|0Vn`-"% "lXd 8lJ`\q9is&LO9|UU}8fj8nB-sL-W(JLNpn)gon$xNKH>-#p|ysJ|Uq$. Even being energized for 10 hours would only draw 1.5Ah from the battery, which from a 100 200Ah battery is fairly insignificant although wasteful. ZC@H3Nq4X F5 Exact stroke lengths can be customized down to the millimeter or inch, with maximum strokes of over 1500 millimeter or 60 inches. 0000019205 00000 n I am not really sure what you are asking. I opted for the more challenge, much more difficult routes to build a real practical solar trackers NOT a toy one likes i have seen all over the web. This suggests that youve got a wiring or code problem. The Arduino code has light levels and position dectection. 0000022822 00000 n

If I understand your question correctly, you are trying to get the actuator to stop immediately when a limit switch is activated. The timer is set to stay on for 5 minutes. In the search, I also found the article https://12vactuators.com/solar-tracker-with-linear-actuator/. Build or slap together purchase is easy. Invest in our quality products and years of experience to maximize your efficiency. Your existing code does not work! So the second input pin terminal is unused? 0000021705 00000 n Regards,JohnV.

One thing you have to take into account is how dark does it get where your sensors are mounted at night? You can build the h bridge for free if you have no good power tool lithium packs around. Could you post your code? Then you can add several conditions. The reset to East is not time based, it is based on a light level threshold from the sensor. In that painful process i damaged multiple Arduino mainly before doing the opti coupler interface. Have you sketch for dual axis actuator, Thanks Peter. How is it mounted? No wonder why because it is hard as hell and expensive to do the real thing!!!!! 1/ The relay board will chatter not engage because battery is low on juice due to many factors. In code there are condition that it wont do turning sequence if switch is activated. Youll then just be running two control loops, one which takes the east-west sensor values and adjusts the east-west actuator and another which takes the north-south sensor values and adjusts the north-south actuator. The connectors that come with each actuator are changeable based on your requirements. satellite dish volt actuator 4500n applications linear larger Hi Tom Ho, My system is different from that published in DIY. 2022 Progressive Automations Inc. All rights reserved. Fully sealed, IP69K washdown rated actuators with the capacity for massive wind and snow loads. Use /*xxxxxxxx*/ as method of divide and conquer to check for coding on sketch. This system has been working extremely well for over 4 years now. You will need to follow this guide in conjunction with the original guide in order to produce the linear actuator solar tracker. Changing that setting to 450, as you have, fixed it. I love tinkering with electronics, making, fixing, and building - I'm always looking for new projects and exciting DIY ideas. So far and for weeks now working with this it never resets to E. at night. If you are good at coding Arduino i sure can use that help. I use a small solar panel to keep it charge up. After the original raising of the panels at 5:30AM, the timer will turn on the controller for 2 minutes every hour and a half starting at 10:30AM untill they are completely down at around 3PM. Without understanding it is a struggle and time wasting with code trying to figure out how to make it work. Consistent Efficiency Gains with Linear Automation. Im using a 24v 5amp 24 inch actuator to raise my panels up on one end to face east. that depends on what you have the reverse light setting at. To save on the life of the cooling fan in the power supply, I use a timer to turn the system on usually four times a day. Sure hell complicated and time consuming. I got rid off the position counter, install end limit switches, eliminate all relays, drastically redo the sketch. Yep from bad power tool lithium packs. After many trials and errors and tribulations I am closed to what i want it to do. Whether your application is on-shore oroff-shore,get reliable,precise,and smooth adjustment thatwontagitate the blades. 0000014659 00000 n 0000015043 00000 n I had and have and will continue build up my solar power storage lithium packs. The difference between the two with equal light on both LDRs is what you should change your error to. I only used their code as a starting point to learn how to make something like this work. Will be grateful for your opinion. Until you know what the LDRs are getting it is pointless and cussing as the darn thing not working the way you expect it.

Im not too sure how we can PM but that would be fine with me. Amazing thank you for checking I thought I was going crazy! 0000002611 00000 n After changing the values to >450 instead of >350, it works like a charm.