Summary of Dual axis solar tracker with online energy monitor
This article details a dual-axis solar tracker project developed in Finland, featuring real-time sun alignment, energy monitoring, cloud data logging via ThingSpeak, and local LCD display. The system utilizes an Arduino ATMEGA 2560 microcontroller controlled by ESP8266 for Wi-Fi connectivity. It employs two 12V 150W solar panels, four LDRs for light direction detection, 12V linear actuators with H-bridge drivers, end stop switches, and an MPPT battery charger to ensure efficiency and safety.
Parts used in the Dual Axis Solar Tracker:
- Two 12V 150W solar panels
- Energy monitor with current sensors and voltage divider
- Four Light dependent resistors (LDRs)
- End stop switch
- Two 12V linear actuators
- H-bridge motor drivers
- ESP8266 Wi-Fi module
- LCD display
- Arduino ATMEGA 2560 microcontroller
- MPPT battery charger
This project was one of my final projects I did on my exchange studies in Finland.
For this project I worked together with Fatbardh.
This is a much larger and more advanced version of one of my first projects ever.
Also a solar tracker: http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Solar-Tracker/ .
The features of this solar tracker are:
- Solar tracking: making sure the solar panels are aligned to the sun as long as possible.
- Energy monitor: This measures the voltage and the current generated by the panels and calculates the generated Power and Energy.
- Data logging: this sends the data from the energy monitor into the cloud of ThingSpeak.
- Also there is an LCD to display the values of the energy monitor
In this instructable are technical drawings of the project included. And at step 10 there is a link to the complete project report and presentation.
Why:
To read more about the energy profit from this kind of system please read this chapter on wikipedia.
This is also my entry for the 3D printing contest:
I would love to have a 3D printer. It will help me a lot to do other projects. To make gears and enclosures. So if you found this Instructable interesting please vote for my Instructable in the 3D printing contest.
My excuses for my spelling mistakes, you may always let me know if you see some.
Step 1: Overview
Solar panels:
We used 2 solar panels of each 12V 150W which will bring the total to 300W.
Energy Monitor:
The energy monitor uses 2 current sensors, to measure the current.
And one voltage divider to get the voltage down to a voltage that the Arduino its analog-digital-converter or ADC can handle.
If you don’t want to make it your self you can buy one as well: ebay link
Light direction sensor:
Light direction is detected by four Light dependent resistors or LDRs. Each of the LDRs is placed in a voltage divider and the signal is fed to the Arduino its ADC.
ebay link
The end stop Switch
The end stop makes sure the mechanical construction doesn’t collide in its self.
The motors
The motors are 12V linear actuators from internet.
And are controlled with a very simple H-bridge.
ESP8266
The ESP8266 is a cheap WIFI module which we use to send the data to a ThingSpeak datastream
The LCD
The display is used to display the energy monitor values
The microcontroller
The microcontroller we used was an Arduino ATMEGA 2560
Arduino MEGA 2560 R3 ~10$ – Ebay
The charger
For the charger you should search for a MPPT (max power point tracking) chager. And for sure not buy the one in the picture because this one overcharged our batteries and is not MPPT.
For more detail: Dual axis solar tracker with online energy monitor
- How does the system track the sun?
The system uses four Light dependent resistors placed in voltage dividers to detect light direction and align the panels. - What components measure the generated power?
An energy monitor using two current sensors and a voltage divider measures voltage and current to calculate power. - Can the data be viewed online?
Yes, an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module sends energy monitor data to a ThingSpeak datastream. - What type of motors are used for movement?
The project uses 12V linear actuators controlled by a simple H-bridge. - Why is an end stop switch included?
The end stop switch ensures the mechanical construction does not collide with itself. - Which microcontroller controls the system?
An Arduino ATMEGA 2560 serves as the main microcontroller for the project. - What should be avoided when choosing a charger?
You should avoid non-MPPT chargers that may overcharge batteries; an MPPT charger is required. - How is the total power capacity determined?
The system uses two 12V 150W solar panels to reach a total capacity of 300W.
