Solar Tracker Based Solar Panel using Arduino

First Look!!

Hello, till date I have posted number of articles in my blog, but none on my core interest of Arduino microcontroller. This is because I’m still learning it and lots remain to be learnt. Nevertheless here is one of my very simple projects on Arduino microcontroller. I’m sure this post will be a boon for all those newbie on Arduino and equally stupid for the microcontroller experienced guys. For any questions or comments you can mail me at rishiraj.in@gmail.com or Facebook me! (Link at right side of this page)Oh, forgot to mention, this project won a small prize at a small project competition in my state

Solar Tracker Based Solar Panel using Arduino

In this post I present you a prototype of a solar tracker based solar panel. The solar panel changes its orientation according to the direction of the Sun. 

Final Prototype of the Solar Tracker based Solar Panel
Notice how the 3 sensors are kept at the Sensor Board

How it happens?

Basically there are sensors mounted. This sensor when illuminated by the sun rays gets activated and sends a signal to the Microcontroller. The microcontroller in return instructs the motor to move by the specified speed and direction.

There are three sensors fixed in such a way that each sensor gets activated at 3 instants of the entire day, i.e. Morning, Noon, and Afternoon. As the sun raises the first sensors gets activated due to ray of sun falling on it. As a result the Solar Panel orients itself to receive the early morning sunrays. Similarly the Solar panel orients itself when it is noon and afternoon to receive the sun rays efficiently and thereby increase the efficiency of the solar cell.

This dynamic Solar Panel has a greater efficiency since it can illuminate its solar cell even at the morning and afternoon time of the day.

Since it is just a prototype hence I have used torch light to depict sunlight. I made sure that the torch light illuminates only one sensor (LDR) at a time, i.e. one sensor for Morning, one for noon and one for afternoon.

Technical Aspect (Not really)

The Motor and the Sensor (LDR) is controlled by Arduino Microcontroller. The sensor has a predefined threshold value which is crossed when it is illuminated. Once the threshold value is crossed the Arduino sends an instruction to the motor to move.

To make sure that the current demand of the motor is met without affecting the microcontroller, the Motor is connected to a Motor driver (IC L293D) circuit which in turn is connected to the microcontroller.

To control the speed of the motor, PWM technique is used.

The Circuit

The image below shows the circuit, though it looks messy but trust me, it’s very simple.

Blue Wire: Connected from digital Pin 10 and 11 of Arduino to Pin 2 and Pin 6 of L293D Motor driver IC.

Green Wire: the 5V power supply from Arduino to Pin 1 and Pin 16 of IC L293D and also to all the LDRs as shown in figure.

Orange Wire: From Pin 3 and Pin 7 of IC to the DC Motor.

Red Wire: 9V external DC supply. This supply depends on the rating of the DC motor used. In my case I had a 9V DC motor hence 9V supply.

Black Wire: Common ground of the entire circuit. Pin 4, Pin 5, Pin 12, Pin 13, and Arduino ground Pin, 9V battery ground.

Resistor: I just used 100 Ohm resistor and this was chosen randomly. You can use any low resistance.

The Arduino Sketch (Code. . .)

Download It ! ! ! 
You may have to change some part of the Code depending on the intensity of the light where you keep the prototype and the intensity of the torch light used. I guess you'll do it easily, in case of any error or problem write to me.