Solar tracker prototype (NASA Parker Solar Probe Inspired)

[XERTYX]

I saw this a while back and have been thinking about it for a while. It likely wouldnt be viable for a mobile application but could definitely be applied to a tiny home or cabin.



The idea is mounting a solar panel directly in front of 4 small panels wired sirectly to small motors that pan and tilt the mount. When the panel is oriented directly facing the sun all 4 small panels would be shaded. Up and down would be wired UP +- DOWN -+ left and right would be wired LEFT +- RIGHT -+

There is no need to protect the motors from both +- and -+ inputs as the left panel is shaded when the right panel is lit and the same for the up down panels.

Also the smaller rear mounted panels have no need for batteries or charge controllers as they are only used as light sensors. 

In the morning the east facing rear mounted panel is lit and pans the unit east until shaded. If the up or down panels are needed due to a change in the suns position those will balance themselves out. It follows the sun constantly throughout the day until it sets in the west and all panels go dark. Then repeats.

It continually tracks the suns position as long as there is light available for maximum efficiency. I though this was super cool. Maybe it could be reproduced for semi permanent camps in a mobile application. Or maybe someone could use it in their tiny home. 

Anyway. There it is. Cheers.

 

[Gypsy Freedom]

adds a lot of mechanical complexity. and by the time you make it robust and solid enough to handle even moderate wind. the energy needed to turn it will likely be more than you could gain. you may be better off just pointing those extra panels at the sun and getting the solar production from them to go right into the battery bank.

sure would have been nice if the youtuber had done some real world tests to see how much was actually gained and how much stronger it needed to be to handle storm winds

it is cute though...

 

[XERTYX]

For a large array I agree with your reply. But a small one in a non tropical climate think this is a viable project. Also in a real world scenario I doubt you would use such small panel. But I would be extremely interested to see this applied to a real world small array in an environment where winds arent a daily problem.

This will likely never be viable for a mobile camper to put up a stake in their camp and get full sun on panels at all times but it's a fresh new idea. I have yet to see an autonomous solar tracking design. Granted I havent looked for one. But this is neat.

Maybe the thread dies and no one tries to recreate it. But I would love to see a mockup and real world tests of such.

If NASA thinks it's a good enough tech to put into a solar satellite I wanted to give it a bump.

No animosity. But tell me you didnt think it was cool.

 

[XERTYX]

In fact I just happened to think it could be used to track the sun for a parabolic mirror to be used in a solar oven design.

 

[Gypsy Freedom]

you may be onto something there. drop me a line when the roast is done, i volunteer to be an official taste tester

 

[XERTYX]

Haha. I am unfortunately sad to say I have never used a solar oven. However my middle school science class did build a solar oven using 1x2s, plexiglass, and chunks of asphalt found near the parking lot. We achieved I want to say 290+ degree temps with junk the teacher had laying around the house and the asphalt we scavenged. Nowadays they teach other things. Oh well. We could have baked cookies using the sun. They now teach how to use credit cards to buy songs on iTunes. Oh well.

 

[Gypsy Freedom]

lol, you only need like 180 for crock pot like slow roasting. go for it. i'll be the guinea pig taste tester for a nice slow cooked pork shoulder roast

 

[XERTYX]

This is true. Where I am currently located there are a few junk cars. I have thought of using them to cook food. I havent yet. Mainly because I no longer have a wireless thermometer. I havent used one since I built an incubator with an old scap peltier refrigerator, a light bulb, and a water heater thermostat. It was a success but I didnt build a brooder. Also the only successful hatchling had straddle leg. I fixed that but I underestimated the need for a regulated brooder.

I have built stuff that is both electrically, mechanically, and logistically dependent. But my condition tends to limit my ability to follow thru.

I research lots of things. But i rarely complete a project unless I can eat it. So yeah. I'll volunteer to be a taste tester on most everything except for organ meat, seafood, or mountain oysters.

I'm a triple threat unless I. . . . What were we talking about? Haha. I have the technology. But i can be distracted more easily than a hound dog. And so I'm here. Among ppl that know things and also have motivation as well as creativity. I have learned my place. To present good ideas. They may fizzle out but they may also be great ideas. If they make my brain synapses fire they are worth a look anyways.