I don’t want to be a grammar nazi, but when you say “to rotate on a single access” the word you want is ‘axis’ not ‘access’.

Posted at 9:59 pm on Oct 25th, 2006 by Tank

I deserved it on that one. Thanks!

Posted at 10:06 pm on Oct 25th, 2006 by Will O'Brien

Ah here we go. good work

Posted at 11:12 pm on Oct 25th, 2006 by jim

Very nice. I’ve tried using LEDs as a photosensor before, but couldn’t get enough of a signal.

Posted at 7:55 am on Oct 26th, 2006 by nickjohnson

What’s a good book or primer to learn about circuit boards, eprom programming and stuff? Would hack-a-day consider a section to newbies like me who want to pop their heads out from being neck-deep in code all the time?

Posted at 9:19 am on Oct 26th, 2006 by joiseymike

Awesome! Excellent work. I’ve considered taking a stab at something like this myself, but not with SMT chips. Way to go!

Posted at 10:17 am on Oct 26th, 2006 by grendel

while using a pic is certainly adequate, isnt it a bit overkill? the linked page mentions BEAM style solar tracking, and i speak from personal experience when i say that such circuits utterly simple, far less expensive, and equally as effective.

search for BEAM with respect to an ivore or a photovore, sunhead, sun tracker, solar tracker, etc

Some good examples: http://costaricabeam.solarbotics.net/Circuits_Main.htm

-steve

Posted at 10:52 am on Oct 26th, 2006 by steve

bfr – reducing the duty cycle doesn’t mean increasing the frequency… just means that they are in an “high” state less often, therefor less voltage and less power

Posted at 9:09 pm on Oct 26th, 2006 by dave

Re to #5
nickjohnson, LEDs, function almost like a photodiode. Photodiodes, however, are optimized to detect light not emit it. You’re right though, you won’t see much a signal at all from a LED, your best be would be to use a phototransistor, as this amplifies the signal.

Posted at 8:55 pm on Oct 29th, 2006 by gorobotics.net

I actually participated in a solar energy course in university. The problem with solar tracking systems is the energy it requires. If you write down the energy gain vs. loss, it turns out that fixed angle is more efficient for most of the panels/motors out there. A solar panel works even it sees the sun at an angle (even more efficently in some cases, for example double glass heat capture types), and drop from the optimum in such a condition often does not compansate energy needed to rotate the system. A simple calculation yields 40′ N at 23′ panel slope in my country for optimum yield.

Posted at 3:05 am on Oct 30th, 2006 by obm

good to see the EV post trend. That project has been posted for YEARS [I used that very site to build mine about 4 years ago]. It works great!

Posted at 5:34 pm on Nov 8th, 2006 by MrGoodBytes

So… where is the hack? Or is this yet another commercial for a product in the box?

Posted at 7:25 pm on Aug 18th, 2009 by JC