Wattsun trackers [RE-wrenches]

[sunwise at win.bright.net]

Greetings Todd,

I have mixed feeligs on Wattsun Trackers.  Having installed several, I
have had my share of problems, but generally have had better luck than
you are reporting.  One problem that I have had that has not been
mentioned is with Wattsun trackers on systems that have PWM charge
controllers, particularly those manufactured by Heliotrope.  Apparently
these charge controllers can put "noise" on the line when they are
charge controlling.  This causes the tracker to move in an unusual
fashion, much jerkier (motor even whinning at times) than normal and can
result in burnt out motors and controllers.  Ron and Michael over at
Array Tech. have been very supportive in solving the problem and have
apparently eliminated it in their new (came out late last fall) tracker
controller.  In all fairness, it should ben mentioned that Heliotrope
and others (such as Trace) need to do their part in keeping such
electronics adequetly filtered.   The other thing I have discussed with
my clients who own these trackers is to consider shutting them down
during the two or three coldest months of the year.  December and
January are hard on moving equipment in Northern Wisconsin and the
increased solar gain of a tracking array is marginial at best during
this time of the year when the sun remains low in the winter sky.  Some
of my clients have decided to leave their trackers running all year
while under warrentee, but plan to shut them down (facing South) for a
couple months following the winter solstice once the three year
warrentee has expired (install a switch, don't use the new non-tracking
dip switch inside the controller head). Finally, I would like to say
that I don't feel this is a problem confined to the good folks over at
Array Technollogies.  For years I have been doing "field research" for a
number of R.E. manufacturers at my expense.  When products are released
into the matket that aren't really ready for prime-time, everyone
looses.  On the flip side, new products can't sit in a test facility for
years in such a competitive industry.  What are we to do????

Kurt Nelson -- SOLutions, Cornucopia, WI

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