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Renewable Energy: Wattsun tracker control

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2014
     
    Ok my fourth Wattsun tracker controller has popped its clogs so I think I have to come to terms with abandoning solar tracker technology as a big waste of time and money. Most of you knew that already i guess. The 40% estimated improvment in energy production is a valid claim but no advantage whatsoever if the kjt is going to pop everyfour or five years. With a replacment unit costing about £400 it has now become a big no-no.

    Unless anyone on the forum knows of a uk manufacturer of something similar that could track the sun and send power to sattelite jacks. Wattsun has also been taken over by a larger firm since I last replaced the controller and it seems that their customer support has taken a dive with the merger.
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2014
     
    Sorry about typos I'm accessing the site from a mobile.
    • CommentAuthorsnyggapa
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2014
     
    do you know what kind of signal goes to the satellite jacks? It shouldn't be beyond the wit of man to build something with an arduino, but that depends on understanding what signal is sent down the wires. It could be something simple like a low voltage applied to tell another unit to move the units , a higher voltage to actually move them, or a PWM signal to indicate a level of orientation (this is how servos can work) , or more advanced like a serial signal saying "move to 225 degrees" , or something else entirely.. it could be really advanced and have 2 way comms with what is at the other end

    does the controller have a manual move option on it (switches or buttons) and do they still work? If so they could possibly be hijacked to make it move without understanding what gets sent down the cable.

    -Steve
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2014
     
    The link to an Australian outfit on this page might help:

    http://www.echorenovate.com/solar-energy.php

    Though you won't be interested in the mechanical bits maybe his self-published book would also help. He's active on the Navitron forum.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2014
     
    Rasberry pi?

    If you chuck out the array can I have it please.
  6.  
    Hi Keith,
    The usual parts to fail on things like this are the high power or mechanical bits. So think relays, switches and large transistors bolted to heatsinks (or not) and Power supply bits. It may be worth a quick check with a meter. If you know an old TV/radio repair man (if they still exist). A local one here closed about 10 years ago ! I take it you can park the array in the best position until you decide what to do ?

    Richard
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2014 edited
     
    Google found this site...

    http://www.earthbilly.com/wattsun%20tracker%20fix%20P1.htm

    that appears to document issues the owner had with his Wattsun tracker and his attempts to fix them. The site appears to be down at time of writing so the following extracts are from the googles cache.

    ...This change did not work!! The very next lightning storm blew out both of my WATTSUN 125 single axis TRACKERS electronics!... snip... ....NOW WE HAVE A SOLUTION! Throw out all the Wattsun electronics! Even the sensor and replace with a kit from WINDY NATION. http://www.windynation.com/products/solar/solar-trackers/suntura-single-axis-solar-tracker-hd

    We installed this kit using the E-W controller connected to the Wattsun drive and added the kit's 24 inch actuator to our Wattsun tracker's Zenith to end up with a DUAL AXIS TRACKER! WORKS GREAT! And runs off of the 24 VDC power supply. We added a duplex outlet and standard plug into our power supply so we can pull the plug during severe lightning storms, and now we can manually move the array vertical for hail or snow, and horizontal for wind events. We added a waterproof toggle switch next to the new SUNTURA controller so we can manually move the array and turn off power to the controller to keep the array where we want it until the weather event has passed.
    • CommentAuthorMackers
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2014
     
    I second the vote for Raspberrypi! Should be easy and cheap with it. I'm sure someone has already done it so just use their code and change it to suit.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    Rather than use a tracker, why not just angle the panels to 15°. May get a little less total energy overall than a 2 axis tracker, but more reliable.
    Alternatively, how about new panels, no idea what wattage Keith's are, but they are a few years old. Mate of mine spend 300 quid on a posh charge controller for his two panel system, for that money he could have had a 4 panel system, or just bought a generator (he was off grid).

    Getting a RPi to control a tracker is easy enough, just the rest of the hardware is expensive. All you need to do is know the time/date and refer to a table. Proper trackers will point the panels skywards when it is cloudy, so a light meter is needed too. Then on an intermittent cloud day it can be using some of the energy to find the optimum point. :confused:
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    I like 65 degrees, why 15???
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    The panels get more hours of sun hitting them.
    PV works on the little and often principle. We try, with mucking about with angles and tracking, to always be ready to catch the full sun, but we have that so very rarely.
    Much better off getting less outright power, but over a longer period, especially if you are charging batteries. If your panels produce more than the batteries can take, and you have no use for the excess (say hot water is hot), then you are gaining nothing.

    If on the other hand, you really need (or can use) every drop that they can produce, then go down the tracker route. Not many people will be in that situation. I bet most off grid systems have to stop producing 30% of the time as they have no where for the power to go to. Another 30% of the time they do not produce enough, so may be worth changing that to a different ratio.
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    I can't remember if Keith is actually off-grid or just goes all out to reduce his imports. Whatever, and even with his turbines, I'd have thought his priority would be to maximize generation in the winter.

    I can see the temptation of a tracker a few years ago, when PV was expensive, but now the only reason I can see for one is if there are planning restrictions that prevent having a larger area (e.g., you can't get planning permission for more and have to rely on the English 9 m² permitted development rule).

    Even at £400 for just the controller that would pay for another 400 W of panels (I'm assuming about £0.70/W plus some mounting hardware so about £1/W). With 40% extra you have to have at least 1 kW on your tracker for that that to make sense, if you see what I mean. 9 m² with 15% efficient panels would be 1.35 kW. It's all marginal and a question of what's more hassle.

    Clicking on a random spot just east of Abergavenny (Location: 51°49'23" North, 2°58'18" West, Elevation: 161 m a.s.l., and checking it has not much horizon) PVGIS says the “optimum“ angle (ie., for maximum total generation) is 36° giving, for the default 1 kW, 14% loss panel, 937 kWh for the year with December, January, February (DJF) figures of 0.94, 1.08, 1.67 kWh/day respectively.

    Going to a single vertical axis tracker it says the slope should be 54°, 1180 kWh/year, DJF: 1.13, 1.28, 1.97 kWh/day. So about a 25% improvement for the year and 20% in the winter months (which is a tad more than I would have expected).

    2-axis tracking gives 1200 kWh/year, DJF: 1.17, 1.31, 1.98 kWh/day so 28% annually and 21% ish in the winter.

    Anyway, assuming the tracker's borked, do you believe Steamy saying 15° or tony saying 65°?

    15° fixed: 889 kWh/year, DJF: 0.68, 0.81, 1.38 kWh/day.
    65° fixed: 862 kWh/year, DJF: 1.09, 1.21, 1.76 kWh/day.

    Steamy's suggestion is worse annually and in the winter months than the optimum angle fixed. Tony's is worse annually (of course) but noticeably better in the winter.

    Not entirely coincidentally, my panels will be at 60°. Theoretically for optimum winter performance they should be a little steeper but that makes for an odd shaped building and, as Steamy correctly points out but, I think, puts too much emphasis on, having shallower panels does even out the generation across the days - you get a bit less on bright days but a bit more on cloudy days.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    Um, that is interesting, as when I looked at this some time back (because Beau has some panels at 15° and gets a good yield from them), PVGIS came out with better figures.
    Are we talking the same 15°/65°, where you measuring from, horizontal or vertical? I seem to remember that I did it from the horizontal i.e. one end lifted a little from the ground rather than a lot.
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    Yep, I'm pretty sure that's what PVGIS means by the angle.
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    An additional reason for steep angles (or even trackers - the second poster on this thread is the chap I linked to above):

    http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,24039.msg279195.html#msg279195
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeDec 28th 2014
     
    I just run a similar calculation to Ed, an arbitrary click in Wales (53.645N, -2.888W) set the slope at 0°, azimuth at 0°, everything else at default i.e. 1 kWp system, 14% losses and got 789 kWh/year
    At 65° slope 828 kWh/year, so 39 kWh a year more.
    Strange how PVGIS is giving different numbers. Think we have seen some oddness here before (was it somewhere in Scotland). May look at it more tomorrow.
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeJan 5th 2015
     
    Boy - lot to read here. I've also discovered that my panels are just about dead too. Waiting for a new meter so I can test each one individually.
    • CommentAuthorbxman
    • CommentTimeJan 26th 2015
     
    I trust this will not upset the Moderators here.?

    First time I looked today at this GBF, Vert Building Forum, its no good to me as it relates mostly to UK regs etc. In its renewable enregy section, Wattsun tracker control, there's a chap struggling with a Tracker circuit.

    "GBP-Keith Dec 27th 2014
    Ok my fourth Wattsun tracker controller has popped its clogs so I think I have to come to terms with abandoning solar tracker technology as a big waste of time and money. Most of you knew that already i guess. The 40% estimated improvment in energy production is a valid claim but no advantage whatsoever if the kjt is going to pop everyfour or five years. With a replacment unit costing about £400 it has now become a big no-no.

    Unless anyone on the forum knows of a uk manufacturer of something similar that could track the sun and send power to sattelite jacks. Wattsun has also been taken over by a larger firm since I last replaced the controller and it seems that their customer support has taken a dive with the merger."

    And I see 'Ed Davies' replied with a link to my tracker page ....

    "The link to an Australian outfit on this page might help
    http://www.echorenovate.com/solar-energy.php

    Though you won't be interested in the mechanical bits maybe his self-published book would also help. He's active on the Navitron forum."

    Anyways, After looking and testing other tracker circuits, I am now very happy with Dave from Australia tracker circuit after nearly 5 years of installation/operation and constant daily use. I have no commercial interest with Dave, but his product is robust and does what it says on the Tin, so to speak.'s

    I was going to join the GBF, but they want a fiver from me, and as you know I am tight, so I would appreciate if any of you Navitron members could post the below links to Daves circuits on that GBF, so for under £100 then the GBF guy can get some real circuitry.

    http://www.solelysun.com/

    And I see Dave is back on fleebay, ...... http://stores.ebay.co.uk/campatrackasolar?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

    And Dave's circuit will operate directly to satellite actuators and the SuperJack actuators.

    Thanks, I hate to see willing Tracker experimenter's suffer!
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeJan 26th 2015 edited
     
    Bxman's post above could be very confusing if you didn't realise it was a quote of this message:

    http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=24238.msg281448
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeMar 5th 2015
     
    OK i found a part inside the gubbins that had exploded. I tracked down a few replacement options and found one in the USA for about ten quid delivered. It is here now so i just need time to get and solder up all the connections then see what happens. It is one of the motor drivers that had been split open, I guess by the lightning. It still may not work after but I'm on a steep learning curve here.
      motor driver.jpg
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeMar 5th 2015
     
    Also thanks everyone for the feedback so far.
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeMar 5th 2015
     
    Also I've just added a small new array of 'grid voltage' BP panels and they are piggyback-ing on my Outback MX60 to my offgrid system without the need to add another controller. The MX 60 can handle arrays of mixed voltages - whizzo.

    I'll start a thread for posting the info on that array soon.
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeMar 5th 2015
     
    Also - also
    One of my BP solar panels on the tracker had blown up and BP have now agreed to compensate my but at a tiny fraction of what I originally paid but they don't make panels anymore. The have offered me about £110.00 for a 125w poly panel that is now dead as a doornail.
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeMar 5th 2015
     
    These people deal in second-hand panels: http://www.bimblesolar.com/ They don't seem to have BP at the moment but if you want to get a replacement panel to match it might be worth asking.

    Paul C, sometimes of this forum, has some second hand panels from them on his hen shed: https://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/scrumpied/
    • CommentAuthorGBP-Keith
    • CommentTimeMar 5th 2015
     
    Thanks Ed. I've sent them a message.

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