Nice little setup for 9 years ago, I like your washers tie downs and sun pointer trick with the pensil, first time someone shows how to aim the panels so far, tkx

You’re a true inventor. Love this video. Looking forward to the next one with sun tracking.

I'm happy to get started trying your innovative idea! I am just throwing some kindness back because my wife and myself want to use solar and don't have money to use for a solar tracker so we will give your idea a try. I have a drill that is just sitting around and if that works for an efficient motor I will feel blessed for sure! Keep up the help! much appreciated!

I will bet you had lots of fun figuring all this out. And everything is sooo neatly done. Very impressive

Great video, Ace. I like the springs to keep it from rattling. That was one of my concerns. I'm in AZ. Lots of sun, but during monsoon, heavy winds are common. I'm inspired!

One of the best solution for old screwdriver utilization! Some models with gear isaide.

Thanks for posting this as it’s very simple and you narrated it well,so it’s easy to understand. Obviously you are used to teaching . This is my next project.

Since the 80's I've wanted to build a dual axis tracker but using bi-metal springs beneath magnifying lenses, allowing the Sun's heat on any spring to pull the tracker back inline keeping it centered on the Sun without electricity, motors, etc.

Aceman, you have tipped the scales at inventive engineering! I am anxiously awaiting your control circuits. I was contemplating last night, the tracking motor of a night telescope to attach to my panels. You provided me with a better idea. Thank you!

@Aceman307

9 жыл бұрын

Jerry Murray I have two videos that show how I setup the controlling of the tracker kzread.info/dash/bejne/eaeCpdxyZ9PRndo.html and kzread.info/dash/bejne/fnigvM-ehqjgpso.html I hope this helps if you have any questions I will help if I can. Thanks for the comment.

@jerrymurray2375

9 жыл бұрын

Aceman307 I think I may have to review an arduino controller for mine. I do like your design of the motor assy, though for variable voltage, there might just be a better way without using a stepper motor, and using your drill motor design. Very good idea you have there.

Didn't realize how heavy these solar panels were. Right now (May 2021), steel is not only super expensive, but scarce. I can't even find a steel retailer in my area right now. Thanks for sharing your work.

@Aceman307

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe try a recycle place and pick up some pieces.

Thanks for your tracker video. I just threw away 3 old drills but that's how it goes. Very inventive. I had the electronics figured out but not the hardware.

@Aceman307

8 жыл бұрын

+William Hanchett Thanks for watching . The good news is its easy and cheap to pick up old drills at flea markets.

Absolutely great work. Very nice to see that you removed the audio from the camera mic and added a more professional sounding audio track. Well done, and great ingenuity!

Man, that is outstanding. I built a PICAXE08M MTM Scientific printed circuit board single axis controller from scratch but the mechanics get me stumped on how to "improvise". Sure I could buy everything, but for me... that's not the point, because i could also spend that (large) amount of money on "more watts" -- but this -- is GREAT. I have several old cordless drills. Thanks so much.

I love your home made actuator using an old electric drill, good work.

You sir are a complete nut job, but a genius. Thank you for posting. Alot of work but worth it.

Appreciate the knowledge, building a cabin in AZ. I managed to find 4 acres of mountain grass lands. It's hard not to brag a little but I guess the truth is just that. The views are stunning,,, mountains surrounding the area,, it must be like Tucson AZ. A hundred years ago before all the homes and offices were built and parts of town buildings don't allow you to see mountains. Of course all power will come from solar,, things have changed since solar was introduced to America and took off like wildfire and you could sell your excess power to the electric company at least in my area. BUT I've got my well in and it's bringing me all the cold clean clear pure drinking water a body could ask for. I'm really proud of that well, it's been a dream for me along with the property. No more water bill,, regardless of water companies going broke,, or if some disaster caused them to not produce water coming out of the tap. I can't tell you how much I worried about having water, clean water that doesn't need to be cleaned and boiled before you can drink it. Farm animals as well need clean water. And actually a barn was on my list of wanted,, bingo we got it. Everything is going to be soon, all powered by the free solar sun. This tracker will be a great addition. Solar is new to me, but I will continue to learn. The one of my problems I'm trying to figure out is,, should I power each place, separately,, that's what I think I'll do, but still haven't decided. Regardless the tracker will be built on all or separate. Thanks for the advice of building one. 👍

@Aceman307

6 жыл бұрын

I am glad the video helped. Good luck with your projects. Sounds great.

Nicely made linear actuator. The only problem I can see is that when it fails you will need to make another one instead of buying one off the shelf. You do save a bunch of money.

That is very good DIY engineering! I always love seeing people come up with solar solutions. BTW, If you ever want a quick welding lesson give me a shout! ;)

One of the best tracker designs I have seen

Wow, this is pretty cool and very simple to explain. Thank you so much for this information!

@Aceman307

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching.

Dude. I'd really appreciate it if you made lots more of these and sold them. I'd totally buy a few !!

I fear that SOMEDAY that epoxy would fail and the allthread would loosen in the chuck. You are a crafty individual, my friend!!

+Haakon Ulstrup Yes allot of work but not allot of money. It depends on what you have more of money or time:) Thanks for the comment.

@christinachapman3970

7 жыл бұрын

Aceman307 Awesome!!!!!!!

@Aceman307

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@SHAKOOMALIK

7 жыл бұрын

Aceman307. dear can u plz share the arduino code plz

Aceman you are ingenious and a gentleman for sharing. Thank you!

@Aceman307

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching.

I like your point about R&D and not all the video steps in order (5:19). Totally relate to that, thought I was the only one. Quite often I get carried away and forget the film all the steps.

I had the drill with a bad battery already laying around. To order somthing here in Costa Rica is difficult. That 35 dollar actuator would be more like 120 with taxes and delivery cost. I know in the states you can get old cordless drills at garage sales and the like for almost nothing. In a future video I will show how it all gets hooked up.Thanks for commenting.

Great build -- thanks for sharing. Cheers, Patrick

Thanks for sharing this. Your actuator build is brilliant.

I like the fender washer attachment brackets. Good call!

wow what a fantastic job looking forward to the rest.

Thats a good question. I am going to do some experimenting tomorrow and let you know what I find out. I know there is a difference I just dont know how much.

very impressive design and work!!! nicely done.

Aceman this is a great video and A AMAZING BUILD!!! The sun calculator was great help to me... Thank You...

@Aceman307

9 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped. I have had it on my roof for about a year and a half and it still works perfect. I change the angle twice a year.

Quite ingenious!

Nice work! Thinking outside the box....got to love it!

@Aceman307

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

Thank you. Sometimes its the simplist things that work best.

nice bit of kit you have there I will have to give that a shot when I build my tracker.

This is brilliant. Some really clever low dollar engineering. Top notch my friend. I can see how a single axis system would work well but a dual axis version by you would really rock. Many thanks for taking the time to film and upload this. Two thumbs way up, bud. Thank you!

Other than my fear with the epoxy, I can't tell you how impressed I am with your homemade actuator!! I'm probably a weirdo, but I love playing with actuators. I used damper actuators to automate my chicken coop. I also used a linear actuator to move my solar array. I tried to turn the array with stacked damper actuators but it was too much for the spring-returns to handle. Great vid bro!!!

@Aceman307

3 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for the comment. I have used this for five years with no failure. You have to remember that the longest this thing runs is about 25 seconds for a whole day. It does not have time to heat up and with the springs there is not allot of pressure on the actuator.

Nice and simple. Thanks a lot for this up load this will help me a lot.

best homemade linear actuator i have seen. top job...

@Aceman307

9 жыл бұрын

barman7777 Thanks, Its still working flawlessly.

@yannickbrochu7932

6 жыл бұрын

he is a small genius !

@lonniedinglasan4860

2 жыл бұрын

@@yannickbrochu7932 pm

@lonniedinglasan4860

2 жыл бұрын

@@Aceman307poll pp l ln

@lonniedinglasan4860

2 жыл бұрын

@@Aceman307 JL

some great back yard know how here , superior solutions for minimal cost

Pretty crafty. You are a real MacGyver. I had the same Idea for moving my panels north and south with the drill manually. But that was real inventive. Kudos to you for diy actuator. They sell those cheap China actuators on ebay for 35 bucks just saying. A drill will run off of a solar panel too. But a battery makes a great buffer. The roof idea is nice to look at but the roof can get pretty hot. Solar panels dont work well in hot places. So I like to put mine in the grassy yard on a post.

Love it! Great job!

Good job, but this is only a 1-axis track, so I assume it's for dawn-to-dusk tracking, not for seasonal tracking. I'm looking to mount mine on a long aluminum tube (that was used to roll up a pool cover), and hook an antenna rotor to one end of the tube for dawn-to-dusk tracking. (Moves like a playground see-saw). These are high torque and heavily geared motors and should have no problem holding it's position in windy areas. Each end of the tube will be in a suitable mount, and to change the seasonal angle, I manually raise or lower one end of the tube. (In summer the tube will be parallel to the ground.)

Wow.... A++ Uu are awesome That was one grate video and project nice thinking

@Aceman307

9 жыл бұрын

QuvannyF Gomes Thanks, glad you liked it.

nice work, just that i was looking for my solar panel

I couldn't applaud more. Well-done!

@Aceman307

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Great work bro....i am very inspired by your work........

excellent work can you please tell me what are the specifications of electrical motor that you used?

Very good- like you got so much swing - Thanks

Awesome. I know this is 9 years old but great work.

sir your design is so nice .... did you make a video of the sun tracker device ?

HI ACEMAN307: Thank You for the video and real good information! You were very kind to share with all of us. All I can say is very, very good. Again, Thank You

@Aceman307

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching.

Great to see this was back in 2013. I am wondering about today - is it worth making your own linear actuator, or just buy one? They seem to have gotten a lot cheaper

Muy buen trabajo, felicitaciones...!

Outstanding. May I ask...was that a #2 pencil? Seriously, you're the man! Thank you.

love this. im trying to figure out how I could modify the project to make something on wheels I can put plants on that I want to get the most possible sunlight

Fantastic and simple ... my nephew is doing this for his Engineering project ...can you help .. especially with the other videos ...you know how to set up the tracking and stuff...

Awesome video and ideas. Thanks!

Excellent build, may I ask, what circuit board or set of electronics do you recommend using with your drill motors. If you have a circuity diagram, that would be great!

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

Pretty smart man!! much respect to ya!

Great info video great work.

@Aceman307

8 жыл бұрын

+Stephen T Thanks

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Very good insight for a freshman like me

Awesome, congratulation!

Next time you have to cut a piece of pipe, you might wanna use the table saw fence that's right there to hold it against - makes cutting a whole lot easier ;)

Well done man, and thanks 👍

Very Nicely done sir!

This ideal is excellent, I am trying to find this kind of Video for long time. Could you tell me how can you control this panel tracking on the movement of the sun. Thank you!

this is very nice, looking forward to the next vid

Really impressive, nice job!!

@Aceman307

9 жыл бұрын

+Znobyrd Thanks

Thank you for the video.

using two actuators on each side, linked in sense of rotation opposite each other but would be very precise and unstable

Great project! Thanks for taking the time to video it and share it. Is it still running well? (as of August 2018)

@Aceman307

5 жыл бұрын

Yes still working

Very good setup

A solar tracker, an electronic one, takes only 4 electronic components, very cheap ones. Aside the actuators, that is. And that tracker always follow the sun, without any programing. That thing also tracks the moon, which is a light source, or a nearby ligth pole, if you're in the city. And the tracking panels get mounted on a pole, not on a fix base, and tracks both axes. Very cheap, you can do it yourself. The only programing is the wind protection, for that you need a wind sensor, and the ability to flaten your panels position whenever the widn exceds certain velocity, somewhere around 35-40 mph. Until that point it's safe.

Great Job, :)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته تبارك الله عليك شكرا جزيلا مرحبا ألف تحية وشكر خاص 🤝🇲🇦💚🇲🇦🌷💚💚👍👍👍

ganyan pala gawin yan thanks for sharing

interested to see how this has held up over time.

thanks, I will be using this for building my set up.

@Aceman307

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

Brilliant, thanks.

It a great project. Can you share your calculations?

Awesome job.

Awesome video thanks for sharing.

@Aceman307

9 жыл бұрын

unkororo74 Thanks for watching

Amazing, nice work

Outstanding!

thanks for sharing

That is a nice setup. With the tracking, what kind of increase in output will you be getting?

@Mike-kr5dn

3 жыл бұрын

Probably like 15 % increase.

I would love to know how it is all working 7 years later. Did the epoxy hold?

I m very surprised that such technologies are not offered when you buy a roof solar panel (by default)

@1foxtrot70

8 жыл бұрын

My experience with a contracted project is that if it is not standard in the package that the contractor purchases, the contractor frankly plays stupid or tels you it can not be done. For me the definition of "Impossible" is impossible does not exist it just takes longer.

@kylesvids

5 жыл бұрын

It is more that, for anything non standard you would need extensive testing wind load evaluations etc to put it on a roof legally. Having said that you can buy them it just costs twice as much for a 40% increase in output so if space isn't an issue just go for a bigger array.

Nice:-D Thanks for sharing

Nice job

Thx, great video

Great job

wow excelente trabajo😁👌

Muy buen trabajo y muy ilustratibo gracias

@Aceman307

9 жыл бұрын

Roberto Leon Glad you liked it.

simple and good idea..vvvv good,