SBE Solar Tech 24V Digital solar tracker control board MK3.1 - plus free plans

Description

I have been selling my analog tracker board here for about four years. They work very well, and are very reliable. The only problems people have with mine are installation issues, blown fuses from when the "friend" hooks it up backwards, not mounting to face the sun, etc.
The tracker here takes the best features of all of my other trackers and incorporates them into a tracker with advanced micro computer control.
Notable improvements over my analog trackers:
- extreme wide angle sensor for mounting not facing the ecliptic, or for north-south tracking
- adaptive algorithms for when hooked directly to the output of a way to fast motor
- user replaceable fuse for when the "friend" hooks it up backwards.
- thermal management for when the motor is just to much for the tracker, or for dead shorts across the output.
- standard fault indicators from my other trackers.
- night and low light shutdown to conserve power
This solar tracking controller will drive a motor to position anything you want to follow the sun on a single axis. For two axis tracking use two of them. It can be used to position solar cells, a reflector to heat water, or anything else. The controller is mounted on the object to be steered with the sensors positioned along the rotational axis. Using almost any slow D.C. gear motor or linear actuator up to a maximum of 24 VDC @ 2 amps, it can easily cause a solar collector, reflector or array to follow the sun through a single axis. I have tested this with a motors as fast as 4 rpm, but slower movement will get much more accurate results.
The controller uses a differential sensing approach and can drive the motor in either direction by reversing it's output. These have a user programmable adaptive "park" mode, but I leave this off by default so they can be used on trackers without limit switches, and for north/south tracking.
Youtube has a video  (contact for link) of one of the Digital Mark 3.1 trackers tracking throughout the day. Note the minimal hunting caused by tree shadows at dawn and dusk. Some is unavoidable, but I have been able minimize it through careful design.
Youtube has a video  (contact for link) of one of the Digital Mark 3.1 trackers tracking on a partly cloudy day. Note the minimal hunting.
I provide
plans and instructions
for making the mechanical tracker in the video at with the purchase of a tracker circuit board.
This controller will work with 24V motors, solar panels, and batteries. Actually, they will work with any voltage from about 10V to around 38V. You should not exceed 30V with these. You will need to mount this under glass or plastic to protect it from the weather. A glass or plastic jar upside down works pretty good.
I also sell a custom fit
enclosure
if you prefer.
Wiring instructions are included. You are not strictly required to use limit switches with these Digital trackers, however it is always a good idea to use limit switches in your design unless what you are controlling is free to move in a full circle, or they are built into your actuators. Here is a good link on how to wire limit switches: http://www.beam-wiki.org/wiki/Using_Limit_Switches
Note that this controller is tuned for sunlight, I use a 5mW red laser to test them.
Controller has indicator LED's to let your know when the sensors have tripped, fault, and heartbeat indicators.
These can easily be wired for manual tracking with a couple of switches. I will include instructions on how to do this with your purchase.
Please note that I also have these that run on 12V and 36V, see my eBay store below
Visit my ebay store for more solar and electronics items.
http://stores.ebay.com/Richardsfoundry
Please be advised that I combine shipping. However, in order for Ebay to calculate this correctly you have to use their "add to shopping cart" button instead of multiple "buy it now" buttons. If you accidentally hit the "buy it now" buttons I will refund the incorrect shipping, or you can request a corrected invoice.