“SOLAR TRACKER” USING ARDUINO

Solar power is renewable energy source and Solar panel helps in converting the solar power to electric power.

Solar tracker is a device which is used to sense solar intensity and rotate the solar panel in that respective direction. It would help in getting maximum solar energy through the solar panel and to its electrical conversion.

#wiki_stuffs: Orientation and inclination

A solar cell performs the best when its surface is perpendicular to the sun's rays, which change continuously over the course of the day and season. It is a common practice to tilt a fixed PV module (without solar tracker) at the same angle as the latitude of array's location to maximize the annual energy yield of module. For example, rooftop PV module at the tropics provides highest annual energy yield when inclination of panel surface is close to horizontal direction.

#wiki_stuffs: A solar tracker is a device that orients a payload toward the Sun. Payloads are usually solar panels, parabolic troughs, fresnel reflectors, lenses or the mirrors of a heliostat.

Things we need!!

• 1.      Solar panel (not necessarily a big one a mini could be better)
• 2.      DC motor(servo better if you know coding it)
• 3.      Motor driver
• 4.      Board, Wood piece or panel holding structure.
• 5.      Arduino and jumper wires
• 6.      Two IR (Infrared) sensors and resistor and diodes.
• 7.      Power source (12V or a power bank might work great)
• 8.    Incandescent bulb for testing purpose

Whats the Idea??

The idea is mounting two sensors and two ends of the solar panel and measuring the solar intensity via Arduino and then Arduino commands to tilt the panel toward that direction in which there is more intensity until the intensity of both the sensors became nearly equal. The tilting action can be done by motor and driving circuit.

Concept diagram for solar tracker.

Build IR Sensor!!

• You can easily find IR Receivers near by electronics store and build the above circuit.
• Don't forget to place diodes at output it will decrease interference.
• SEE REF:http://www.ganeshgadgets.co.in/2017/08/

How it looks when it is built!!

Coding!!!
Coding is simple one. That is the tilting process going on until the difference between the sensor values become less than desired value.

////////////////////////////Code Solar tracker////////////////////////////////////
int br = 3;//motor output reverse
int bf = 2;//motor output forward //you can use enable at pwm output or make iy short to 5v.

int a4=0,a5=0; //analog sensor input
int approx=10; //difference limit
void setup() {

  pinMode(bf,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(br,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(A4,INPUT);
  pinMode(A5,INPUT);
  Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
 a4=analogRead(A4);
 a5=analogRead(A5);

 Serial.print(a4);
  Serial.print(' ');
  Serial.print(a5);
  Serial.print(' ');
  Serial.print(a5-a4);
  Serial.println(' ');


if(a4>a5)
{
int diff=a4-a5;
    if(diff > approx)
    {
       digitalWrite(bf,HIGH);
       digitalWrite(br,LOW);
    }
    else{digitalWrite(bf,HIGH);
         digitalWrite(br,HIGH);}
 }

if(a4<a5)
{
int diff=a5-a4;
    if(diff > approx)
    {
       digitalWrite(bf,LOW);
       digitalWrite(br,HIGH);
    }
     else{digitalWrite(bf,HIGH);
         digitalWrite(br,HIGH);}
  } 
 delay(50);
 }
//////////////////////////////end//////////////////////////////////////

Its a good project for students to start with hope you like it.