DUAL AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

Abstract

This paper presents the design and construction of a dual axis solar tracker based on the PIC18F2620 microcontroller. The tracker makes use of four LDRs separated by an opaque object to read the intensity of the sun. Depending on the values of the LDRs, the microcontroller controls two geared DC motors to provide rotational movement. One of the motors moves the PV panel from east to west while the other moves along the north- south plane. When the intensity of the sun is higher on one LDR when compared to the rest, it moves towards the direction. Also, when the light intensity is very low in all the LDRs, it would move back to the east. The output power of the tracker was measured and compared with that of a fixed system. Its result showed that there was a significant increase in the efficiency when the solar tracker was used.