Schematics prove
the complexity of
designing the Light
Followers Panel
Track System
circuitry.
Red Deer College
PROJECT NAME
Light Followers Solar
Panel Track System
PROJECT SUMMARY
There are many fixed solar panel configurations for residential homes in Red Deer and throughout central Alberta.
Through our research we discovered a problem, which is that
fixed arrays do not maximize a panel's power generation potential. We figured that a solar-tracking system would be a
great improvement for the effectiveness of residential solar
panels.
The goal of our project, then, was to create a solar panelmounting mechanism that would rotate and track the sun,
increasing the electricity generated by the cells. The attachment had to be designed to fit a solar panel made available
for our use, while being adjustable for panels of different
sizes. We had to take into account our tool's adaptability,
how it would track the sun in an east-west progression, the
required electronics, and the system's ability to withstand
extreme elements.
Key factors and needs included:
* The ability to adapt our system to existing residential
solar panels, as well as to multi-panel installations
* The ability to install our product on tracks or preexisting mounting brackets
* The ability both to rotate the solar panels and to
pivot their frame
* Durability in Alberta's extreme weather conditions
* Maximize the energy output of the solar panel
* Design a tracking system to efficiently track the sun
* Find a balance between solar production and the
power consumption required to move the frame
* A realistic cost structure in terms of materials and
installation
Here's what our final design looked like:
A visual indicator of the components required to make the solar tracking system work properly.
16 | SUMMER 2016 | TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2016