Clock based dripper tracker demo.

Use a clock as an accurate solar tracker. Get 20% more! energy from your solar panels or solar cookers with this cheap tracking method! Also useful for solar cookers

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• diy
• environment
• gadget
• mechanics
• solar
• cooking
• panel
• renewable
• energy

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

What do you do if it rains...lol

[gaiatechnician]

Fair point! The buckets can be covered. It was just a demo. I do not remember what I put in the video. However, the best and most reliable way is to have 2 containers, not one and have the liquid from one emptying into the other. One raises a float and the other lowers a float. It certainly needs to be develloped further. I just made a start. Brian

[trailkeeper]

thanks for presenting this "water timing and motor" system, I think it is possible to use a solenoid valve to control the flow of water with the aid of some light sensors to track the sun and control the activation of the solenoid valve(s), still, a water motor much like you have designed would still be used.

[gaiatechnician]

My point was that you do not need the light sensors if you use the clock and equatorial mount. Why make it more complicated than it needs to be?

All you need is manuay or a little pump to send the water back to the upper bucket every night and you either need to rewind the clock automatically or wind the string around the wheel twice every night. If you must use light sensors, then the water motor is still worth having because it forms a buffer between the wind and your deicate equipment.

[gaiatechnician]

My first reply was too snippy and I was probably wrong. Sorry about that. I think your idea can work well.

How many buckets with floats will you need to move the dish on 2 axises? 3? or 4? The great thing about the floats in water is that a big gust of wind will not damage your power source or gears. They also have a powerful damping effect on the wind's forces.

[squirrelbong]

great ideas..i really like the drip system...

I just had a great idea for the clock method..how about just use the gear or hour hand on the clock to wind the string to directly move the panels...

it would have to be well balanced for the clock to be able to move it, maybe create a gear ratio system to turn the panels instead of tying the string directly to them?

[gaiatechnician]

You would never have enough power. Also, any wind gust would destroy or damage your gears. The clock (or stepper motor) just lowers a little light plastic pipe that lowers one and raises another water level, and the floats turn the tracker. (The floats just bob for a few seconds with the wind, and are not damaged in any way) You can have a bilge pump to pump the water back and reset the system every evening or do it manually.

[trailkeeper]

@gaiatechnician For a solar panel, basically a "one-axis" tracker is only needed, basically following the sun horizontally (left to right I guess). Solar cookers would need atleast two (unless it is a trough type reflector I beleive, in some situations) - one for horizontal (left and right) and one for vertical (up and down).