Building my frame for solar tracker

Hey guys, first post here.
Ive got a home solar project that I am learning with, its a single panel, with battery, inverter that I use to power my home pc and some other small gadgets. Its been running for about two years and its doing well.
Ive bought a Ebay solar tracker motor and solar sensor, and Ive built a large frame out of aluminum to just have this sitting on the ground and not cemented. The issue I have, is how do I allow the solar panel to pivot? I mean, I have the lower frame built, and I can figure out how to wire in the solar tracker, but Im not sure what to use for the solar panel pivot mechanism.
What are you guys using? Anyone have any useful input? Maybe when I get home I can attach some photos.
Comments
These specific hinges are probably overkill for your single panel application, however, I have 4ea 250 watt solar panels on my rack and since they are well balanced they move with just a finger. I then installed a linear actuator with a tracker I got off Amazon to make them follow the sun. My system is a prototype right now, because I'm not sure how it will react to the wind, but if it works we have about 30 more panels we can rack up to make us some power, we just dont want the wind to pick the whole thing up and throw it across the hill....
They can be rotated either left to right to track the daily sun, and tilled up and down for seasonal tracking. It's not motorized though. I refer to it as hillbilly tracking.
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I can also add the Missouri Wind and Solar markets a 4" steel pipe frame designed to hold eight 250W panels, so it appears that my design may be too conservative.
Let's see some pics of your wonderfully overbuild tracker?
I am now in the design phase of my second generation tracking frame. It will be using sections of 4" pipe as slip bearings on a 3.5" pipe rather than using hinges. I think this will be a more robust design that will handle four 250W grid-tie panels instead of the original three 300W. Just the round steel for that cost 230$, and I haven't picked up any inexpensive unistruts yet, but the total price for the next array is likely to be ~300$
I think you have a very nice design for 3 panels! I would prefer a 2 different direction arrays but looks like these should hold up well. It also looks like you have some trees and ground clutter that will help with any straight line winds from behind.
Conservative can be a good thing. There was an early-ish storm at my cabin this fall, in which a lot of freezing rain and wet snow was followed by much colder temps and high winds. The wind blew the ice-weighted tops off lots of trees large and small, and a few down entirely. Fortunately none hit arrays, and the racking itself held up fine. Not something that happens every year, but often enough to be conservative.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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An example exception is how I plan to wire some kitchen duplex outlets. Code calls for a split circuit with top outlets on a different circuit than bottom ones to avoid overload with two high watt loads plugged into the same duplex. Of course, it can still overload the circuit with two loads on the top outlet of adjacent duplexes. Maybe the idea is the breaker protects wire, but doesn't properly protect a double loaded single duplex? I plan to use GFCI duplex near wet areas (which I believe is code is other areas, but incompatible with split circuit wiring).
The thing about code for structure is it doesn't address ongoing maintenance required. The local (public owned) electric utility has been lax in repainting steel streetlighting standards. Aside from bad cosmetics, the poles are corroding at the bases - some now with >1" rust perforations. If not replaced soon, I suspect they'll start coming down in windstorms. Someone probably got a nice bonus for saving $10 on paint though.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
Regarding wiring two circuits to one duplex receptacle (in the US, you can separate the upper and lower receptacle by breaking off the bus tabs), I guess that they support using the waffle iron and toaster oven at the some time next too each other.
Regarding falling lamp poles, the URL describes it all (year 2015):
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/City-lamp-post-falls-and-urine-was-a-factor-6424634.php
-Bill
Isn't the maximum number of a given size of conductors in a box also a code item?
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]