Sun-Tracking Mechanism for 40W solar panel

Trackers generate more electricity than their stationary counterparts due to increased direct exposure to solar rays.

Jan 11, 2018

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15 respects

environmental sensing

energy efficiency

tracking

Components and supplies

panel mounted push-button

10A PWM solar charge controller

RobotGeek Light Sensor

Arduino UNO

Dual H-Bridge motor drivers L298

12V 7.2Ah AGM Battery

12V DC motor with gearbox (3rpm)

Mini Ball Bearing – 105zz 5x10x4

Solar Panel 40W

Electronic Enclosure

Tools and machines

Tap & Die Kit

Dremel Rotary Tool & drill bits

circle router

Apps and platforms

Arduino IDE

Autodesk TinkerCad Project Ignite

Project description

Code

Dual_Axis_Sun_Tracking_with_DC_Motors.ino

arduino

This might not be the most effective code, but it's giving me the result and flexibility that I need. Comments included in the code to guide wiring of the various components. Speed of motor can also be adjusted by varying the value of AnalogWrite.

1// define pin numbers:
2#define redbutton 12
3#define greenbutton   13
4#define IN1 6
5#define IN2 9
6#define IN3 10
7#define IN4 11
8#define   ldrEast 7
9#define ldrWest 8
10#define ldrUp 4
11#define ldrDown 5
12
13int   ldrEastState = 0; //variable for reading east LDR status
14int ldrWestState = 0;   //variable for reading west LDR status
15int ldrUpState = 0; //variable for reading   Up LDR status
16int ldrDownState = 0; //variable for reading Down LDR status
17
18void   setup() {
19  
20pinMode(IN1, OUTPUT);//make two output pins
21pinMode(IN2, OUTPUT);
22pinMode(IN3,   OUTPUT);//make two output pins
23pinMode(IN4, OUTPUT);
24pinMode(ldrEast, INPUT);   //make LDR input pin
25pinMode(ldrWest, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
26pinMode(ldrUp,   INPUT); //make LDR input pin
27pinMode(ldrDown, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
28pinMode(redbutton,   INPUT); //make red button input pin
29digitalWrite (redbutton, HIGH);
30pinMode(greenbutton,   INPUT); //make green button input pin
31digitalWrite (greenbutton, HIGH);
32
33}
34
35void   loop() {
36  //check east-west orientation first
37ldrEastState = digitalRead(ldrEast);   //read east ldr
38ldrWestState = digitalRead(ldrWest); //read west ldr
39digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);   //set signal to motor driver board to low
40digitalWrite(IN2,LOW); //set signal   to motor driver board to low
41digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal to motor driver   board to low
42digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low
43
44//manual   overwrite to orientate panel to west
45if (digitalRead (greenbutton) == LOW) {
46   analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor CCW to go towards west
47} else {
48  digitalWrite   (IN2,LOW);
49  }
50
51//manual overwrite to orientate panel to east
52if (digitalRead   (redbutton) == LOW) {
53  analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW to go towards   east
54} else {
55   digitalWrite (IN1, LOW);
56  }
57
58if (ldrWestState ==   HIGH) {
59  if (ldrEastState == LOW) {
60    analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor   CCW to go towards west
61  } else {
62    }
63} 
64
65if (ldrWestState == LOW)   {
66  if (ldrEastState == HIGH) {
67    analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW   to go towards east
68  } else {
69    }
70}
71delay (500); //wait 0.5 second
72
73
74//check   up-down orientation after eas-west orientation has been adjusted
75ldrUpState =   digitalRead(ldrUp); //read up ldr
76ldrDownState = digitalRead(ldrDown); //read   down ldr
77digitalWrite(IN1,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low
78digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);   //set signal to motor driver board to low
79digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal   to motor driver board to low
80digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver   board to low
81
82if (ldrUpState == HIGH) {
83  if (ldrDownState == LOW) {
84     analogWrite (IN3,150); //ON tilt motor to rotate up
85  } else {
86    }
87}   
88
89if (ldrUpState == LOW) {
90  if (ldrDownState == HIGH) {
91    analogWrite   (IN4, 150); //ON tilt motor to rotate down
92  } else {
93    }
94}
95delay   (500); //wait 0.5 second
96
97}

// define pin numbers:
#define redbutton 12
#define greenbutton   13
#define IN1 6
#define IN2 9
#define IN3 10
#define IN4 11
#define   ldrEast 7
#define ldrWest 8
#define ldrUp 4
#define ldrDown 5

int   ldrEastState = 0; //variable for reading east LDR status
int ldrWestState = 0;   //variable for reading west LDR status
int ldrUpState = 0; //variable for reading   Up LDR status
int ldrDownState = 0; //variable for reading Down LDR status

void   setup() {
  
pinMode(IN1, OUTPUT);//make two output pins
pinMode(IN2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN3,   OUTPUT);//make two output pins
pinMode(IN4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(ldrEast, INPUT);   //make LDR input pin
pinMode(ldrWest, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
pinMode(ldrUp,   INPUT); //make LDR input pin
pinMode(ldrDown, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
pinMode(redbutton,   INPUT); //make red button input pin
digitalWrite (redbutton, HIGH);
pinMode(greenbutton,   INPUT); //make green button input pin
digitalWrite (greenbutton, HIGH);

}

void   loop() {
  //check east-west orientation first
ldrEastState = digitalRead(ldrEast);   //read east ldr
ldrWestState = digitalRead(ldrWest); //read west ldr
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);   //set signal to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW); //set signal   to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal to motor driver   board to low
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low

//manual   overwrite to orientate panel to west
if (digitalRead (greenbutton) == LOW) {
   analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor CCW to go towards west
} else {
  digitalWrite   (IN2,LOW);
  }

//manual overwrite to orientate panel to east
if (digitalRead   (redbutton) == LOW) {
  analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW to go towards   east
} else {
   digitalWrite (IN1, LOW);
  }

if (ldrWestState ==   HIGH) {
  if (ldrEastState == LOW) {
    analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor   CCW to go towards west
  } else {
    }
} 

if (ldrWestState == LOW)   {
  if (ldrEastState == HIGH) {
    analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW   to go towards east
  } else {
    }
}
delay (500); //wait 0.5 second


//check   up-down orientation after eas-west orientation has been adjusted
ldrUpState =   digitalRead(ldrUp); //read up ldr
ldrDownState = digitalRead(ldrDown); //read   down ldr
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);   //set signal to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal   to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver   board to low

if (ldrUpState == HIGH) {
  if (ldrDownState == LOW) {
     analogWrite (IN3,150); //ON tilt motor to rotate up
  } else {
    }
}   

if (ldrUpState == LOW) {
  if (ldrDownState == HIGH) {
    analogWrite   (IN4, 150); //ON tilt motor to rotate down
  } else {
    }
}
delay   (500); //wait 0.5 second

}

Dual_Axis_Sun_Tracking_with_DC_Motors.ino

arduino

1// define pin numbers:
2#define redbutton 12
3#define greenbutton
4  13
5#define IN1 6
6#define IN2 9
7#define IN3 10
8#define IN4 11
9#define
10  ldrEast 7
11#define ldrWest 8
12#define ldrUp 4
13#define ldrDown 5
14
15int
16  ldrEastState = 0; //variable for reading east LDR status
17int ldrWestState = 0;
18  //variable for reading west LDR status
19int ldrUpState = 0; //variable for reading
20  Up LDR status
21int ldrDownState = 0; //variable for reading Down LDR status
22
23void
24  setup() {
25  
26pinMode(IN1, OUTPUT);//make two output pins
27pinMode(IN2, OUTPUT);
28pinMode(IN3,
29  OUTPUT);//make two output pins
30pinMode(IN4, OUTPUT);
31pinMode(ldrEast, INPUT);
32  //make LDR input pin
33pinMode(ldrWest, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
34pinMode(ldrUp,
35  INPUT); //make LDR input pin
36pinMode(ldrDown, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
37pinMode(redbutton,
38  INPUT); //make red button input pin
39digitalWrite (redbutton, HIGH);
40pinMode(greenbutton,
41  INPUT); //make green button input pin
42digitalWrite (greenbutton, HIGH);
43
44}
45
46void
47  loop() {
48  //check east-west orientation first
49ldrEastState = digitalRead(ldrEast);
50  //read east ldr
51ldrWestState = digitalRead(ldrWest); //read west ldr
52digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
53  //set signal to motor driver board to low
54digitalWrite(IN2,LOW); //set signal
55  to motor driver board to low
56digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal to motor driver
57  board to low
58digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low
59
60//manual
61  overwrite to orientate panel to west
62if (digitalRead (greenbutton) == LOW) {
63
64  analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor CCW to go towards west
65} else {
66  digitalWrite
67  (IN2,LOW);
68  }
69
70//manual overwrite to orientate panel to east
71if (digitalRead
72  (redbutton) == LOW) {
73  analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW to go towards
74  east
75} else {
76   digitalWrite (IN1, LOW);
77  }
78
79if (ldrWestState ==
80  HIGH) {
81  if (ldrEastState == LOW) {
82    analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor
83  CCW to go towards west
84  } else {
85    }
86} 
87
88if (ldrWestState == LOW)
89  {
90  if (ldrEastState == HIGH) {
91    analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW
92  to go towards east
93  } else {
94    }
95}
96delay (500); //wait 0.5 second
97
98
99//check
100  up-down orientation after eas-west orientation has been adjusted
101ldrUpState =
102  digitalRead(ldrUp); //read up ldr
103ldrDownState = digitalRead(ldrDown); //read
104  down ldr
105digitalWrite(IN1,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low
106digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
107  //set signal to motor driver board to low
108digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal
109  to motor driver board to low
110digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver
111  board to low
112
113if (ldrUpState == HIGH) {
114  if (ldrDownState == LOW) {
115
116    analogWrite (IN3,150); //ON tilt motor to rotate up
117  } else {
118    }
119}
120  
121
122if (ldrUpState == LOW) {
123  if (ldrDownState == HIGH) {
124    analogWrite
125  (IN4, 150); //ON tilt motor to rotate down
126  } else {
127    }
128}
129delay
130  (500); //wait 0.5 second
131
132}

// define pin numbers:
#define redbutton 12
#define greenbutton
  13
#define IN1 6
#define IN2 9
#define IN3 10
#define IN4 11
#define
  ldrEast 7
#define ldrWest 8
#define ldrUp 4
#define ldrDown 5

int
  ldrEastState = 0; //variable for reading east LDR status
int ldrWestState = 0;
  //variable for reading west LDR status
int ldrUpState = 0; //variable for reading
  Up LDR status
int ldrDownState = 0; //variable for reading Down LDR status

void
  setup() {
  
pinMode(IN1, OUTPUT);//make two output pins
pinMode(IN2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN3,
  OUTPUT);//make two output pins
pinMode(IN4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(ldrEast, INPUT);
  //make LDR input pin
pinMode(ldrWest, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
pinMode(ldrUp,
  INPUT); //make LDR input pin
pinMode(ldrDown, INPUT); //make LDR input pin
pinMode(redbutton,
  INPUT); //make red button input pin
digitalWrite (redbutton, HIGH);
pinMode(greenbutton,
  INPUT); //make green button input pin
digitalWrite (greenbutton, HIGH);

}

void
  loop() {
  //check east-west orientation first
ldrEastState = digitalRead(ldrEast);
  //read east ldr
ldrWestState = digitalRead(ldrWest); //read west ldr
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
  //set signal to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW); //set signal
  to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal to motor driver
  board to low
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low

//manual
  overwrite to orientate panel to west
if (digitalRead (greenbutton) == LOW) {

  analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor CCW to go towards west
} else {
  digitalWrite
  (IN2,LOW);
  }

//manual overwrite to orientate panel to east
if (digitalRead
  (redbutton) == LOW) {
  analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW to go towards
  east
} else {
   digitalWrite (IN1, LOW);
  }

if (ldrWestState ==
  HIGH) {
  if (ldrEastState == LOW) {
    analogWrite (IN2,150); //turn motor
  CCW to go towards west
  } else {
    }
} 

if (ldrWestState == LOW)
  {
  if (ldrEastState == HIGH) {
    analogWrite (IN1, 150); //turn motor CW
  to go towards east
  } else {
    }
}
delay (500); //wait 0.5 second


//check
  up-down orientation after eas-west orientation has been adjusted
ldrUpState =
  digitalRead(ldrUp); //read up ldr
ldrDownState = digitalRead(ldrDown); //read
  down ldr
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW); //set signal to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
  //set signal to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW); //set signal
  to motor driver board to low
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW); //set signal to motor driver
  board to low

if (ldrUpState == HIGH) {
  if (ldrDownState == LOW) {

    analogWrite (IN3,150); //ON tilt motor to rotate up
  } else {
    }
}
  

if (ldrUpState == LOW) {
  if (ldrDownState == HIGH) {
    analogWrite
  (IN4, 150); //ON tilt motor to rotate down
  } else {
    }
}
delay
  (500); //wait 0.5 second

}

Downloadable files

Wiring Schematic

Documentation

Schematic Design

rough concept

Schematic Design

rough concept

Schematic Design

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