Updated 2 axis solar tracker

[JeanDeaux]

I've updated my IC10 programming for the new IC update, adding a bit more functionality and QOL features. It now supports "any" type of 2 axis solar panel and requires no pin settings, it's plug an play. You can mix and match different types of solar panels (dual port, single port, standard, heavy duty) and it'll handle them all.

As I show in my other posts, you don't need to worry about sunrise direction; you only have to ensure the Power ports of your solar panel aligns with the data port of your ground mounted Daylight Sensor. Add a transformer (set to 1000w) and an APC with a large battery to power the IC housing during nighttime hours and you're set.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=302♥♥♥♥890

[Blueberry Muffins!]

I set the tracker IC to turn the output transformer and then itself off at sunset, only thing powered off the panel net is that transoformer a reader/writer pair that turn the IC back on as soon as the panels deliver enough power at sunrise. First thing the IC does at power up is turn on the output transformer feeding the batteries, they suck all the power off the net so the reader/writer pair only uses power for a few seconds at sunrise (or when the station batteries are full). Its one of the times separate power and data really struts its stuff.

It's ridiculous to go to all that trouble to save 25W average power draw, but I like it.

[JeanDeaux]

I think I get what you're saying, and I bet you still can achieve that with a shared data/power line if you set your read/write chips correctly.

[JeanDeaux]

Curiosity got the better of me and I toyed with your idea with my config. I was able to get it wired up with 1 reader and 1 writer, real easy. I used the reader to get the "Activate" value from the daylight sensor and then used that reading to push to the APC to control the On/Off state. I added some code to my IC logic and used the same variable to control the Transformer On/Off state. I was surprised at the results and can't say this is a good idea on an under powered solar array.

Power is routed first to a battery, which is why I have a transformer so that it routes the first 1kw to the APC and anything left over is sent to the battery. I'm on Minmas, so the solar panels are only getting about 90 Watts per panel, nowhere near the 500 Watts capability if closer to the sun. With the 4 panels I had installed, I was generating only 360 Watts of total power, I didn't have enough to to charge my APC battery much less station battery. I suppose you could add another transformer to direct power to the reader/writer chips first but that's another 10 Watts lost for the control circuit.

Without enough power to reach those chips, they never activate to perform control. The only way I see this working is if the station battery is already well charged and isn't drawing much power or you have these chips on their own APC, but there again lies a power draw. There's probably another option I haven't considered, but that would again add more power draw to the control circuit and like you said, hardly seems worth the trouble.

Interesting idea though, I did like it.

[Blueberry Muffins!]

But that's why you have *only* the reader/writer powered straight off the panels (well, the transformer, but it's a gate, not a sink). Only things connected directly to the solar-panel power are the reader/writer and the transformer. Transformer feeds the station batteries only, which power everything including the IC. Any APCs are downstream, the panel-control IC power is connected directly to the main-batteries supply net. That IC's *data* is hooked to the transformer, panels, and the wakeup logic.

When the IC powers up the first thing it does is turn the transformer on. If the batteries aren't full, the transformer will sink all the power on the net, leaving the reader/writer starved, there's nothing left on the panel power net so they're using none.

When the sun goes down, the IC *turns off the transformer* before turning itself off.

So when the sun comes up, there's no draw on the power net except the reader/writer pair, and the instant the panels deliver enough t run it, it turns the IC on, which immediately does its power-on dance, turning on the transformer and starving the discrete logic again.