Do-It-Yourself Solar Tracking System

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The sunrise and sunset switches are controlled by two
The sunrise and sunset switches are controlled by two "arms" brazed to a hub and fastened to the pivot shaft.
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Check out our solar tracking system and maximize the amount of energy you can collect by solving solar orientation problems.
Check out our solar tracking system and maximize the amount of energy you can collect by solving solar orientation problems.
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The housing for the light-activated phototransistor is cut out of sheet metal or aluminum and bent to shape.
The housing for the light-activated phototransistor is cut out of sheet metal or aluminum and bent to shape.
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The control box does the
The control box does the "thinking."
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Phototransistor and its housing.
Phototransistor and its housing.
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An illustration of the component layout.
An illustration of the component layout.
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Window motor provides muscle.
Window motor provides muscle.
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For illustration purposes, the perfboard shown here is transparent and the components on it are separated more than they would normally be. You may arrange the components in a tighter pattern on your own perfboard. In addition, the terminal pegs are removed in this illustration to clearly show where the lead wires are connected. In practice, each lead wire will require a terminal peg to hold the components securely to the perfboard … as shown in the lower left corner of the perfboard in this illustration.
For illustration purposes, the perfboard shown here is transparent and the components on it are separated more than they would normally be. You may arrange the components in a tighter pattern on your own perfboard. In addition, the terminal pegs are removed in this illustration to clearly show where the lead wires are connected. In practice, each lead wire will require a terminal peg to hold the components securely to the perfboard … as shown in the lower left corner of the perfboard in this illustration.
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1979 prices.
1979 prices.
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Control box key:S1, S2 - subminiature SPST roller lever switch % amps @ 250 vacS3 - SPST toggle switchRFC1, RFC2 - axial-lead RF choke, .1mH, 2 ampsR1 - 1/2-watt, 5600-ohm resistorD1 - 3-amp 200 PIV epoxy rectifierRY1, RY2 - 10 amp DPDT relay, 12 VDCRY3 - miniature SPDT relay, 12 VDCQ1 - FPT-100 silicon phototransistorC1, C2 - tubular capacitor, .1 MFD @ 200VSCR - silicon-controlled rectifier, 400 V, 6 amp
Control box key:S1, S2 - subminiature SPST roller lever switch % amps @ 250 vacS3 - SPST toggle switchRFC1, RFC2 - axial-lead RF choke, .1mH, 2 ampsR1 - 1/2-watt, 5600-ohm resistorD1 - 3-amp 200 PIV epoxy rectifierRY1, RY2 - 10 amp DPDT relay, 12 VDCRY3 - miniature SPDT relay, 12 VDCQ1 - FPT-100 silicon phototransistorC1, C2 - tubular capacitor, .1 MFD @ 200VSCR - silicon-controlled rectifier, 400 V, 6 amp

A few issues ago, we featured an ingenious low-cost solar furnace built by a fellow named Charles Curnutt out in Twenty-nine Palms, California. Not only was Mr. Curnutt’s rig inexpensive (about $250) and (fairly) easy to build, but it offered just about unlimited possibilities. In fact, the furnace seemed capable of doing everything from heating water to powering a steam engine, and those applications didn’t begin to tap its full potential!

Even better yet, Charles — the unselfish guy that he is — agreed to let MOTHER’s research team use his design to build our own version of the solar tracking steam generator, and to improve upon it if we could.

Well, folks, as many of you probably know, it’s been a few months since that original article appeared in MOTHER EARTH NEWS. We’ve finally got our “interpretation” of Mr. Curnutt’s design nearly completed. Even though we still haven’t found a steam engine that suits our needs exactly (this was one of the reasons for the delay in releasing our story) we can say the furnace itself is working well — well enough, in fact, to have powered a crude steam engine for an indefinite period of time.

Solar Tracker Follows the Sun!

The secret, of course, to a really efficient solar collector is that it must track the sun … that is, keep a dead aim right at ol’ Sol as he moves across the sky. When this can be done, every bit of direct sunlight available is used to the fullest extent at any given time of day.

  • Published on Jan 1, 1979
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