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Forum Help & Suggestions / Re: Adding a dark mode
Last post by eColumbus -When I get some free time, I can download one and try it on another website that I use for testing.
Ed
When I get some free time, I can download one and try it on another website that I use for testing.
Ed
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Forum Help & Suggestions / Re: Adding a dark mode
Last post by SparWeb -63
Forum Help & Suggestions / Adding a dark mode
Last post by Xeonpony -64
Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -You have an interesting junk pile if you can concoct that out of it.
I thought I'd see a limit switch, or something similar to make it stop moving and pivot back at the end of the day.
It's there, parking is done via time, the controller has that logic programed in.
After 3 or so years the switch died, now they are sealed magnetic switches
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by MaryB -You have an interesting junk pile if you can concoct that out of it.
I thought I'd see a limit switch, or something similar to make it stop moving and pivot back at the end of the day.
Many sensed darkness and moved back...
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by SparWeb -I thought I'd see a limit switch, or something similar to make it stop moving and pivot back at the end of the day.
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Forum Help & Suggestions / Re: No for sale section?
Last post by eColumbus -There will be some changes and improvements to FieldlinesForum coming soon. A classified section will be one of them.
Mary, (and everyone else) I created a board specifically for members to post tips and ideas on how to improve FieldlinesForum. Let’s start posting there, I think it will work much better.
This new board is visible to all members after they login. So, if you are reading this and you are not a member, join the forum and give us your ideas.
Thanks for the tip Mary,
Ed
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Raising Animals / Bleat! goes the Sheep
Last post by Xeonpony -My 2026 spring lambs.
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Micro-hydro / My old BC Hydro build
Last post by Xeonpony -Capacitor regulated induction motor as the generator (Hot tub pump conversion)
Pretty, but lets improve it.
Prettier!
Shut off valve and shows the drinking water take off
783 Feet away!
33psig at 95 GPM Dynamic flow
It made apx 450 watts, I used a 500w base board heater as a ballast, it ran my battery charger, a transformer based 12v charger, a fluorescent light. Would been much more had I managed the full run in 4 inch pvc
Sadly I lost so many pictures of the over all system when a memory card got broken to much regret
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -They all so some times test the solar arrays mechanical resilience, New farm build they are def, getting mounted higher off the ground!
After having a power supply fail after so many years of operation I wanted an easier way to verify power was good with out standing there watching it, so added a power led.
This has worked excellent last couple years, even at -30c it just chugs along, gets a bit glitchy under that, but after doing some repairs in wiring for some reason starting working better at low temps, for once, some thing worked better!
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Forum Help & Suggestions / No for sale section?
Last post by MaryB -I have 7 linear actuators for example, 4 12(18"? Need to measure them again), and 3 18(24"?) I need to dig out and sell. All 1,000 pound thrust. Would be good panel positioners....
And a 24 volt charger I used once... turns out I have more than enough panels to keep up even in winter! Will get specs if anyone is interested.
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -Here is the gear math I used, sadly attachments don't seem to work:
Var:
( RPM / 60) * 360 RPM to degrees /p Second
1 rpm = 6 degrees
Sun = 0.25 Degrees /p Minute
Input 26 RPM
Comp:
For 30m adjust lock out sun will move 7.5 degrees azimuth (30m * 0.25 = 7.5) (East to west)
Desired rotational speed less than 15 degrees per minute (15deg / 60sec = 0.25 deg /p second)
-------gear box
26rpm / 40:1 = 0.65 RPM
26rpm / 60:1 = 0.43 RPM
26rpm / 80:1 = 0.32 RPM
Convert to degrees per second
--RPM----------------Degrees per second
( 0.65 / 60) * 360 = 3.9
( 0.43 / 60) * 360 = 2.58
( 0.32 / 60) * 360 = 1.92
Final stage 2:1 ratio
----------degrees per second
3.9 / 2 = 1.95
2.58 / 2 = 1.29
1.92 / 2 = 0.96
---------------------Seconds per adjustment
7.5 degrees / 1.95 = 3.85
7.5 degrees / 1.29 = 5.814
7.5 degrees / 0.96 = 7.813
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motor used in the end was 10 rpm output! Gear box used: 40:1
Stage 1 drive: 10 rpm / 40 = 00.25 rpm
Stage 2 Final Drive: 00.25 rpm / 2 = 0.1250 rpm
Convert RPM to Degrees per second: ( 0.1250 rpm / 60 ) * 360 = 0.75 Degrees p second
Much better, excellent tracking, don't stick fingers in to chain drive!
A nice fabrication shot, First time using plasma cuter on Aluminium
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -Ok need to do some McMath
Ok, lets visit the parts pile again!
I like it, but this is not too convenient lets see what we can do with this, Metal pile we go.
Aluminium, shiny!
Lets do some trimming and make purdy!
Now lets get this all assembled into a functional part!
(Lots of die grinder to make it smooth)
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -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!
An idea is forming!
So, need to make it higher as well, so all rigged up
So here is the idea together sure this will be no problem with 5 rpm! Non at all!
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!
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Xeonpony -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!
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Forum Help & Suggestions / Re: Image uploads
Last post by Xeonpony -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
Copy!
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by Bruce S -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
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Solar Trackers / Re: My tracking system
Last post by MaryB -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...
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Forum Help & Suggestions / Re: Image uploads
Last post by eColumbus -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
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