PV Trackers [RE-wrenches]

[Windy Dankoff, Dankoff Solar]

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Wrenches,

Nobody has mentioned seasonal-load pattern as a criteria for the choice 
to use tracking. Passive trackers have always been popular for solar 
pumps for agricultural applications where the most energy is needed in 
clear summer weather. That's precisely when tracking gives the most 
gain and has (with passive) the least problem with performance. It also 
helps prevent pump stall at the early and late times of the day.

I would immediately advise against it for high-winter load and 
predominantly cloudy / hazy climates, or sites that have the solar arc 
restricted by shadows early or late in day.

Some swear by and some swear at passive trackers, but durability 
doesn't seem to be such an issue. We've soldZomeworks trackers since 
1981 and I've rarely seen failures (leaks) -- never any that are 
structural and endanger the array as far as I know. They can always use 
more refinement to work more consistently however. I have one at home. 
It wakes up and tracks very consistently, even in turbulent wind and 
cold, but never swings the full arc.

Windy

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