[RE-wrenches] Tracker manual needed

[larry at starlightsolar.com]

William, 

Thank you for the larger pictures.The mount is a DIY unit converted from a polar axis mount that was originally made for a C band satellite antenna. The elevation adjustment mounting hole can be clearly seen. A pole cap has been fabricated and welded to the axis bar making it non adjustable for elevation. You can tell this because there is no mounting hole for the elevation adjustment on the cap.

Your best performance gain would be to orient N-S and let the actuator track E-W during the day.  

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems


On 7/22/20 3:53 PM, William Miller wrote:
> Friends:
>  
> So far it looks like I have stumped all of you on identifying these trackers.  
>  
> These trackers are trying to work.  The electronics and motors are operable.  Unlike the diagram below, these trackers do not have an inclined axis to allow the tracking to sweep from east to west with the panels inclined to compensate for latitude and season.   
>  
> The trackers spun around their mounting poles and I simply want to know how to orient the axis so I can put them back to work:
>  
> A.    If I orient the axis N-S the tracker would track east to west with no tilt towards the south.  
> B.     If I orient the axis E-W the tracker would alter tilt angle as the day progressed, but never facing other than due south.
>  
> This all seems strange, but maybe I just don’t have my mind wrapped around the concept as applies to these units.  Maybe these mounts were modified in the ancient past when they were installed.  The original installer is no longer on this planet so he can’t be asked.
>  
> I created a web site to post all of the photos so anyone who is curious can look at full sized images.  The web site is here <https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/26-Mystery_tracker/Mystery_Tracker.html>.
>  
> Thanks everyone for trying to help.  This is a real head scratcher.
>  
> William
> 805-438-5600
>  
>  
> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] On Behalf Of larry at starlightsolar.com <mailto:larry at starlightsolar.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 9:53 AM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tracker manual needed
>  
> William,
>  
> This type of mount is a polar axis type and should be aligned with the pivot N-S. The actuator can then swing the array E-W. The attached photo is an example of how the mount was used in the C-band antenna days. (1980’s for the young folks)
>  
> It’s hard to tell but it looks like the elevation bolt is missing that connects the azimuth bar to the pole mount cap. Can you supply a better photo of the mount? 
>  
> Set the elevation angle to latitude for best all year performance. Elevation can also be seasonally adjusted for more gain. 
>  
> There are 3 types of sensors most commonly used in this style of linear actuator. Hall effect, reed switch or a 10 turn potentiometer. 
> 
> Larry Crutcher
> Starlight Solar Power Systems
>  
> <image001.png>
>  
>  
> On Jul 22, 2020, at 8:33 AM, William Miller <william at millersolar.com <mailto:william at millersolar.com>> wrote:
>  
> Dave:
>  
> The trackers appear to work. I am not clear on what  direction to orient them. Do you know?
> 
> William Miller
> www.millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/>
>  
>  
>  
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