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31
Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -
Azimuth drive:

Iteration one was bad, I knew it was going to be a problem,but I thought I could band aid it via PWM, but that ended in fire, of the PWM controller!

Hmm this guy from the junk pile looks like it'll do the job! it worked for an RV slide out after all! Now how do we cram it on the mount and make it go right round baby right round!

IMG_20220608_200712_2.jpg

An idea is forming!

IMG_20220608_200928_2.jpg

So, need to make it higher as well, so all rigged up

IMG_20220703_123901.jpg

So here is the idea together sure this will be no problem with 5 rpm! Non at all!

IMG_20220911_175513.jpg

Hmmmmm, I don't things are supposed to to twist like that during adjustments! lets see if we can band aid it, because that never is a problem!

IMG_20221017_155806.jpg

IMG_20221017_155758.jpg



32
Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -
Quote from: SparWeb – on
Hi,
I'm glad to see you posting. 
Does that ewe ever chew through your wires? 
Long ago we kept a pair of goats and I couldn't leave a wire on the ground.  The billygoat would soon be around to chew it apart.

The lambs like to chew on the zip ties and some random things. The goat there did goat things so every thing had to be armored!

Sheep just like to yell at me!
34
Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Bruce S -
I remember working with David, Glen Hurd and Rich before we went to The Philippines.
Back then 10 & 17 watt solar panels were ~34USD/ea.
I still have David's original email address , though I've not seen any posts of his on U-tube for a bunch of years.
I'll shoot him an email and see if it's still active.
Rich is active on FB, so I'll send him a message to see if he has any of David's notes/pics.


Cheers
Bruce S
35
Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by MaryB -
Quote from: SparWeb – on
Many years ago a FL member who went by "DavidHK" from Hong Kong came up with a design that would follow the sun by simply measuring the brightness of the sky left or right and turning to it.  It was really simple.

If my garbage memory serves me right it used 4 cadmium cells to detect brightness, mounted in a tube with a divider between them...
36
General Discussion / Re: Image uploads
Last post by eColumbus -
Hi Xeon,
The issues with posting images have been resolved.
Any other issues, please post them on the new Help FieldlinesForum board after you login.

Thanks,

Ed
37
Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by SparWeb -
Many years ago a FL member who went by "DavidHK" from Hong Kong came up with a design that would follow the sun by simply measuring the brightness of the sky left or right and turning to it.  It was really simple.
38
Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by SparWeb -
Hi,
I'm glad to see you posting. 
Does that ewe ever chew through your wires? 
Long ago we kept a pair of goats and I couldn't leave a wire on the ground.  The billygoat would soon be around to chew it apart.
39
Solar / Re: Fixing solar panels, I did something stupid
Last post by SparWeb -
For many years I've been using Permatex anti-sieze compound on parts (bearings, shafts) and it seems to work really well.  Even bare steel parts, out in the elements for years, come back in with no rust.  Mo more than they went out with, I should say.

One thing I've noticed is that this substance doesn't exactly wipe off, or go dry.  If you wipe it, you just make the coating a bit thinner by applying it to the other surface that wiped it.  Only when you apply solvents can you get it off.  This applies to metal parts, and your hands, clothes, face, etc.
40
Solar / Re: Fixing solar panels, I did something stupid
Last post by bigrockcandymountain -
I'm pretty sure it is ok the stuff i used.  It says "sensor safe" and smells rubbery, not like vinegar. 

Permatex ultra grey rtv gasket maker i think is what it was.  I know the orange stuff smells like vinegar, but this stuff did not.