Thank you for your comment. I'm starting my install today and it's really good info. They could also mount the controller horizontally so you can easily read it.
Do you have to change the way the brackets are mounted if you flip the actuators and/or does it matter if the actuator motor is facing inward (towards the main pole) or outwards? Just wondering if the motor could hit the bracket if it's not turned the right way.
Nice upgrade, it's as if they made a "homeowner" version now. I worked for a manufacturer as an installer for several years early in my career. I often debugged in the field and there were usually two or three iterations before leaving "good enough alone". I just realised that my first experience with. solar system was three decades ago in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I had to adjust the panels manually every quarter as we were just off the equator!
@@davidohara7669 because thats how it mounts, pole is too narrow to mount holes down unless you make a mounting plate which I likely will but to also add a weatherproof box for that to sit in. I may make some rain boots for the actuators even though they are upside down until then.
Tony I commented before about setting up the same systems. It took a couple channels to fill in what Eco Worthy really didn’t tell their customers about power to the controller and actuators, but mine are up and running now. Waiting for our electrician to tie them into our work shop. But thanks again for all the great info and demos, recommendations from your channel. I might post a video about the control box I assembled. It contains the controller, battery, input from the battery charger solar. I have a thermostat controlled fan I’m waiting to add after some evaluation of how the controls and battery stand up to the heat. Thanks brother!
Thank you Tony, this is the best I've seen on this system by far. I'm not a newbie in electrical, but solar yes, and I'm going to do tracking for sure.
designed and built my own tracker as solar trackers really are not the way to go. I used a simple antenna rotor that was modified to use a stepper motor. I used an ESP32 to control everything. In the morning the panels are in the east direction and angled (N/S) according to sun charts for my area. Knowing that the sun rises in the east, the panels are in the east position every morning. At sunrise (again times are screen scrapped from NOAA websites) the panels begin the cycle or rotating 15 degrees/hour so there is no need to track the sun. even if it is overcast in the morning and clear in the afternoon, the panels will always be in the correct position. after sunset (again by known values) the panels rotate to the eastern position, in preparation for the morning sun :)
Hi there, your ESP setup sounds cool. I just bought an Eco solar tracker. I also LOVE esp-32, and would love to see how you setup your project. Any chance you would privately share your hardware/software with an old need? Steve
I did some testing with having the long actuator on the east side (then have to switch the 2 wires for the actuator so east/west goes the correct direction when commanding on the controller) this gives you more tilting angle to the west 53° then to the east 35° (i have woods to the east so it works better for me to get more angle in west sky). With it on the west side, it is almost even angle, west 45°\ east 50°. I have also replaced the short actuator with another the same length as the long actuator, moved the bracket back 1 hole on the north/south mount, drilled new hole and installed rivet thread sert, retracted actuator, tilted all the way south and drilled 2 new holes with rivet thread sert. Now it can tilt all the way south and a good angle to the north. I have also seen people putting the north/ south cross strut on the top of the east/west strut instead of under it.
Tony, I really enjoy your videos! Your channel is one of my favorites. I do wish I lived closer to you so I could come by and neaten up those wires for you. 😉 Oh, BTW, I paused the video and scanned the QR code on the controller and it took me to their website and video on instillation.
Good job! Thank you. Your video is 1 of the only videos that goes through the controller setup. Plus, you did it in ENGLISH and in "normal person speech." 😂. Thanks again!
I wish that the wind speed meter was a weather vane that knew which way wind was coming from, then it could angle the panels into the wind to make the wind fly over it better. Seems flat still runs the chance of wind hitting the underside of the panels and creating a lift that strains the system.
Excellent videos and tips. I watched your series a couple of times while waiting for the tracker to arrive, and it definitely saved me time and effort. Not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but I found the solar panel fasteners had become loose after a couple days, so I retightened. Not sure why this happened, but perhaps I was a bit too careful not to over tighten initially...
My East and West were backwards.. So it's nice to see they're improving. My actuator wires came with the boot to keep dry.. so they're making good changes. I'm gonna replace my bad panel on my tracker and setup the 6 290w panels when I get home. They're not doing any good when I have them disconnected. Might get another tracker and put some new 200w on it. Tony's Solar farm now huh.. find some 30' towers and get them wind generators going. Missouri wind and solar has everything you need to get them working.
@@TonysTractorAdventure Nice.. looking forward to watching it spin.. MY problem is.. I don't own the land I'm on.. Rent is cheap and unlimited electricity included. So I can't get too involved in building much. I'm saving my $ to buy some land and go off grid. Then I'll build my wind and solar farm.. Until then, I learn.
@@TonysTractorAdventure Well.. I will have Six brand new 200w bi-facial panels when I get home to install on my tracker. The one 400w panels get's a consistent 1kw+ a day compared to 870kw for the other two.
Thanks for the kind and patient video ! Yet, what is the QR Barcode used for ? On the front of the control panel I see a QR code like thing-ey. Is this for a cell phone app? I hope you can remote into the settings. I do NOT like to monkey around outside in bad weather with tiny screens. To further make this an enduring solution, I hope you can see a lot of areas that require some corrosion protection.
Tony. . . great video. . . helps a lot. . .setting up a set of trackers like yours, curious about how you set up your solar panel cable connections. . .. I'm using 8 ga wiring going to an 6000xp . . . are you combing wiring or running both wiring separate lines to your setup in the building /
I built my original tracking system 6 years ago using the same light weight actuators. You should wait to program the controller until the panels are installed because the weight will increase the time to move the system. After repeated failure of the actuators because of water getting into the motor and limit switches, I upgraded to much better ones.
I found the same issue for water intrusion and flipped the actuator upside down and extended the wiring with a loop. 1 year later still good. Was every 4 months on replacing actuators.
Thanks, finally clear and simple system and easy to understand video thankyou very much for you time and effort. One thing does it know the difference between the Northern and southern hemisphere??
I installed this very system about 7 months ago but out of the box I did not like the top frame so I ended up using square tubing, the other major issue I think needs to be addressed is the post height I welded additional 36 inch at the bottom to resolve that issue, the design is not bad but the material they use minus the controller is a garbage specially for areas with high wind like FL. it did make through category 1 hurricane but with 2 straps, meanwhile the larger system I personally built didn't need any strap as it was made of 11 gage steel.
I do like your Satalite build. Wish you would have done this a while back. Would you know where I can find the stuff to build a battery bank for my system.
How do you permanently power the tracker's computer and actuator? I bought the EcoWorthy 3000 All-in-One which was somewhat assumed/advised as part of a kit on their website with a 26.5 V battery. On the All-in-one, it doesn't have a defined 'load' to connect it. EW advised some differing advice (in one msg they said link it to the AC; another DC). You were hooked up to your li'l 12V and I've done the same temporarily to test it and all. Thank you for this video! It clarified a lot in our setup and I'm loving it as a booster panel system. I've even been using it to charge our EV during the day at a low-rate of an 8amps (I don't drive a lot in the summer and bike as much as possible, so it's just about perfect) Thanks again! These are really impressive systems!
love your informative videos! question for you v3 how did you set it for sun strength ? mine was shipped two wks ago, I bought 2 because of you and your info. these now have everything as plug n play on controller. all actuators, light sensor and wind sensor plugs in, no need to open up controller box now. thank you bro, seymour Tn is perfect for solar, I'm excited and appreciate all you do. they were on sale presidents weekend sale for $348 + additional $69 discount. total $279 ebay eco-worthy
Did the pole come with the package? Or is this something you have to buy separately I can’t seem to find a clear answer anywhere thx great video very informative!
Thanks for sharing, as I'm looking to purchase my first unit and this helps me understand so much better for setup. My question for you or anyone who may know. Will this unit be able to withstand snow loads when the Pannels are in the nite/safe mode. I'm not concerned for light snow, but more so on the storms that dump a foot or more overnight.
Hi, what specific type/size of pipe and steel plate did you use for the base? Any idea what it would cost to have one made? I am a very handy 70 year old woman and i think i could install the tracker but the base is beyond my skill and strength
According to EcoWorthy site, the spread of the tracker is 114 x 114 inches. I have four panels coming that are ~40 x 66 inches. There is no arrangement that would fit the rails on this tracker. Can the mounting rails be replaced with longer rails? Is there a documented weight limit for panels? Or are my panels just too big for this system, and I need to look elsewhere? :)
Hello Tony, l'd really enjoyed your video, from your experience can be modified little this top rails to fit bigger panels, how much wait can it hold ? Thank you
How far apart did you space your initial 2 trackers, are they on a north-south line in relation to each other? Have shadows from one onto the other been any issue in the winter?
You do not have to ground the unit if you use a metal Post in the ground. The metal post is your ground. If you mount this on concrete then I would use the ground.
Learned so much of your Solar vids and hope the buy same system; since you got your third one has the manual improved? Where are thr wiring diagrams you mentioned in first vid?
Is it possible/practical to maybe add a plate or something to the control box so that it can be rotated level and easier used? I know that might be nit-picking if its difficult but just curious.
I live in Ireland with a 240' wind. We are one of the blowiest countries in Europe and I really worry about the strength of their mount. Any suggestions on how safe it may be or how to strengthen it against strong winds. Thanks for the videos.
The wind sensor now has a plug-in connector like the actuators so there is no reason to open the console. Also, the power leads are now red for positive and black for negative.
Thanks Tony. Do you have plans to trim off the excess Uni-Strut ? I'd hate to be the one walking around the Array and catch an end on the noggin. Me being a Dreamer/fabricator Hmmm. I wonder if I could use My Vehicle mounted 35' Pneumatic Mast structure to hold a 4 Panel Array ?? I do not have the Mast any more, but the super structure is still on the Truck... Mike M.
Would it not be better to first install all the solar panels before doing the time measurements? I mean, more weight to move could take longer time? Or does it make no difference?
It looks good. Here in the Northern Prairies we get 90 Knot Derecho's with F1 and F2 winds for a half a day. With a setup like that tracker set Flat the panels would fly away like sheets of paper.
That is about the most crazy example I have ever heard. If a F1-F2 goes by, houses are coming down. My panels have been through 80mph winds without fail. My system has already proved you wrong in the real world. Still, if a F1 tornado goes by, I expect my solar panels to go down, by barn, trees, the neighbors house, ect. Flat panels will not hold up to that. Crazy.
I appreciate your answer and concerns. You guys have a great channel and this rack system you are making is ideal for where you are in TN. (I lived on a boundary in Macon County, TN in the outlying area 20 yr ago over the hill and down in under) Your vid with the wood crib & license plates & flowers is one of my favorites. I'm not talking here about an F1 or 2 twister wind that comes roaring past and blows down & away all the stuff. THIS is a full on Blow that goes on for nearly an ENTIRE day with that wind at 80 MPH constant like a stalled hurricane. Here's a link to the video from the last time it came here made up of little clips from 18 hrs of vid sessions cut down to under 6 minutes. Remember that the camera is wrapped in a sweater and winter coat and you still hear the wind popping the mic. I've included the description here also... U get excited & start preaching in this.. IT has Not Let up FOR ONE SECOND IN FIVE HOURS at the 11PM marker and it went on till almost sundown the next day when it finally slowed up to under 30 MPH and the utility was THEN able to go up and restore power to a hundred square mile area. ruclips.net/video/0z8xoBZqwbY/видео.htmlsi=Txebqb4tZO5LTdBZ WATCH THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH and TURN UP YOUR Computer SOUND SYSTEM !. Here's only short clips of the scene with the Unstoppable 60-80 MPH Roaring Winds that never let up for one second in 14 hours. You have to watch Past where it shows the 11 PM on the clock time for when it's roaring solid 5 Hours After it Started. Trees are bowing down. Watch the comments. The Camera and Microphone is Sealed in cloth and wrapped over and over in a shirt and then inside a winter coat and still the wind is making popping sounds and it was tucked under a porch out of the wind looking up from the side of a 130 Yr old Farm house. This is the flat as a pancake prairies in a High Wind Stripe Zone which is the spawning ground for these Derecho wind animals that move over and out across the continent. ========================================================== There's also 100 giant wind turbines just put into this area in 2019 and nearly all of them had bearings and internal blade failures just sitting in this big blow. They're Now still dropping 800 foot blade spans & tearing em open on by one with 500 foot cranes and trying to get dozens of the duds to work again nearly 2 yrs later. ========================================================= These 140 yr old 10 meter square farm houses were build by immigrants like we've never seen !! There's 5 layers of wood on the outer walls a right angles to each other at 90 and 45 degree angles with the final 2 layers of tongue and groove mounted on top of that. AND the floors are made that way also. Wind like this video has come here who knows how many times in 140 yrs and the walls are still in bubble with a level on em.
So a couple corrections. You say precision is in regards to wind speed sensor. Really it’s how precise it is when comparing the difference in sun direction from the E/W N/S sensors. Also when I just set my system up, the wind speed sensor says right on it “wind speed = output voltage * 25 m/s” so you have you wind speed set to go off at 2,796 mph by setting it at 50 volts
@@TonysTractorAdventure I have this exact same system. I’m quoting exactly what the wind speed sensor that this kit comes with says for math on wind speed. I’m making these comments for people who are just getting this unit, if they follow your settings for wind speed (possibly your sensor is different) they could have issues.
@@TonysTractorAdventure okay so yeah, your wording is where the confusing is. You are saying “50 volts” but you mean “half a volt” or “34 volts” you mean “point three four volts”.
Regarding the battery that powers the tracker...how does that fare in colder climates if kept outside in a battery box? Anyone have experience with this condition? Or is it better to keep the battery indoors and just run wires through the conduit? Also, the amperage required for running the tracker - how much does it draw when it moves?
On my trackers I run a SCiB LTO battery that is stable to -22f. We see a lot of negative Temps and the LTO seems to hold up much better than other options.
Great video covering this solar tracker. You said you will be using an external solar panel charger for the 12v battery? Doesn't the solar controller have a built-in 12v battery charger already?
@@TonysTractorAdventure Sorry, meant solar tracking controller. On their website FAQ it does say use a 12V 10AH battery, the controller will charge the battery and use it to power the system tracking. Sounds like they are wrong. Thanks.
Thanks for all the great videos, I have learned quite a lot from watching your various videos. I have a couple of questions for ya. 1st how did you go about researching your solar components? What were your main requirements in choosing the different components? This is off subject but, what type of equipment do you use to make your videos? Thanks, God Bless
My tracker does not return to level after sunset and starts tacking again about 9:30 am next day. What settings do I need to get tracker to return to level after sunset?
Ray, I found that T4 and T10 are the settings that ensure it goes from full east to flat properly. Follow Tony's instructions in the video on timing the movements (west to east, east to flat especially for this). Enter your timing into the T4 and T10 settings and set your wind speed V2 to .05 for testing. Once you enter the settings and press Quit to save, manually move the mount to full east and spin the wind speed sensor by hand really fast until the mount moves west to the flat position. If it doesn't go far enough to be flat add a few seconds to T4 and T10 and try again. If it goes too far, shave a few seconds off T4 and T10...rinse and repeat until it settles where you want it. The full west to full east settings will affect this if they are too long or too short, but at the end of the day if T4 and T10 are not right, it won't work. Don't forget to set the V2 wind setting back to .35! If it works for the wind sensor, it should also work for the cloudy/night time set to horizontal too. Best of luck!
Your video was a great help! My book shows the actuator that’s mounted on the part that is labeled evo worthy on the opposite side and I check other videos out and some look like mine and some like yours. I haven’t completed it yet so I don’t know if mine will work correctly. Thanks for your reply.
A 5:00 on voit déjà que l'angle avec l'horizontale est entre 0 et 35 degrees, pas assez pour suivre "deux axes" comme il est vendu 😞 Il faut couper l'ouverture du mat, ou échanger le mat avec un model bricolé et adapté et ne perder pas la garantie, pour lui rendre plus d'espace mais ça veut dire le verin n'est pas assez longue. Aussi le rouillements qu'arrive rapidement sont un signe qu'il n'est pas le meilleur qualité pour son prix. Ces ne sont pas mes expériences perso, voyez AMAZON. D'ailleurs, l'augmentation maximale pour un trackeur sur deux axes est 40% seulement si on peut vraiement boucher les panneaux normalement entre 20-65 degrees, pas 35... Ca veut dire le temps pour toucher l'investissement est augmenté aussi par qqs annees. On se trompe facilement et n'oubliez pas qu'on ajoute un grand risque avec les trackeurs où on aura aucun sans. Il y a aussi les frais de pose (béton) et en cas pour plusieurs trackeurs l'ombre entre eux vous forcez de prendre un grand distance pour rester efficas. Super pour l'hobby, dommage pour le pert de profit de la production solaire.
What did you do for the base just a tube? I'm planning a 3x4 8" pad 3ft underground that a 16" tube connects to. my panels are 300 watt but think I'm planning to much concrete? any issues or insights after your time with them?
Hi Tony, I'm Remy from France. I have to give this to you, the doggy and to your wife👍👍👍for the video. Explanations and details are great. Just a remark : It's like this tracker is not going vertical enough to catch the early morning sun. Am I wrong with that ? What do u think ?
Most new panels are hail resistant. I have watched golf ball size hail bounce on mine. If it is baseball size hail or larger, it doesn't matter. Tornadoes, earthquakes, war, sabotage, theft, etc. are all things you can worry about too.😁😁😁😁😁
Hello Tony, i'm thinking of buying this tracker, i have a few questions for you. I will buy 4 panels which total 3,52x2.26m = 85 square feet. with a weight of 194pound. Will the tracker be capable of holding the amount of panels? Also i have a remark about the noise both actuators make, because i have neigbours quite nearby, would the noiselevel be to high? Maybe i could swap the actuators by low noise types. Many thanks for the video, you did a good job making it.
I just got confirmation from Eco Worthy that their user manual and assembly video shows the long actuator on the east side and that is WRONG. I installed mine according to the wrong information in the manual and that's why it's miswired, the manual is wrong and they haven't corrected it yet.
very good update. One question, I live at black forest ( fucked off rainbow green germany ). I need in summer times a angle ( horizon ) of 30 degrees. At winter times, 70 degrees. It look s like, that the motor only can manage 45 degrees . cheers and thanXXX
Hi, i have a problem with my command module. All the "wind protection" settings ( V2 0,03 V T3 T4 T5 T6 in flat position & T7) are correct but it will not go into wind safe mode. Is there a possibility to do a software reset or a "factory reset" ?
Most likely something the unit is not hooked up correctly. Review your install. It would seem that your wind vane is not providing the voltage required to send it back to safe mode
Thanks Tony for your quick answer. The vane is providing enough voltage (measured with voltmeter G-In). If i turn the vane manually to exceed V2 the module sounds only 1 short beep and displays T8 waiting for the sun. Normally it should display T7 and sounds several beeps as long it is in "wind safe" mode. All other settings are simular to yours. I'll try again tomorrow because it's dark now and raining. Merry Xmas and i love your video's !
Ok, found the problem... 12 V DC power supply was too light. 12V dropted when the 2 actuators were activated at the same time.. Have installed a heavier power supply and now all is working fine.
Has anyone figured out how to put the solar panel brackets on? I'm having the hardest tome getting them tight. They thread in easily by hand at first, but then get extremely tight (bolt and channel nut) LONG before the clamp is anywhere close to actually tightening against the panel itself. I've had to use an adjustable wrench to hold the bracket still while driving the bolt in just to get close, but I feel like Im doing it wrong.
Hi Tony, your vedio is great. This is Katherine from Ocell, we specialized in LiFePO4 battery since 2008. Any demand or interests in LFP battery for solar tracker ？ We support OEM
My luck I'd order the tracker and they would send me the old one. I don't know why they didn't call this version 2 or something and reduce the price on the previous one.
How do you get in contact with eco-worthy? I've emailed them several times with questions and never heard back.. Makes me hesitant to purchase anything from them
@@GhostProto Sun be north in the SH where I live, still east to west and it's an early set today here at 5:15pm. When I was near the equator we had to flip the panels quarterly, by hand and all thread- okay that was 3decades back- the internet wasn't a thing ;-) Imagine no difference in length of day, only angle and wet/dry season in Sierra Leone.
@@craigsymington5401 Yeah ,I live in South Africa on a farm with a large amount of open space …was thinking of installing a few dual axis panels ,issue is that dual axis solar isn’t very popular here yet ,so finding out any info on it is difficult …and any info you do find out is generally only specific to the northern hemisphere
@@GhostProto I did loads of work with Clearline in Midrand, they developed a decent sized solar tracking system, had one installed next to their factory. I am from Gauteng. There must be some systems made in SA, unless everyone has given up and left, like me? Also use Clearline for lightning and surge protection, excellent product and service. I had near 2 decades a happy customer. I had a AV, DSTV and antenna installation company for 20 years. Did commercial and amateur towers and antennas, data cabling and CcTV too, huge projects. BEE did me in eventually.
WHY didn't they change the controller to be mounted horizontally when they changed it??? I see that you mounted the long actuator on the opposite side of what Eco Worthy shows in their video. Is that due to the miswiring of the motor? I think the motor wires needed to be reversed, not changing the mount. I've started installing mine today. UPDATE: I just recieved word from Eco-Worthy that the way you have the D bracket connected on the west side is correct and that the last video and the user manuals show it on the east side and is WRONG!!! The manual is wrong. Therefor, mine was not miswired, the manual and their video told me to assemble it incorrectly!!!
No, it's on the east side. I've now seen two manuals with different configurations, neither one shows it like yours. I only started in solar a couple months ago and I'm guessing there must have been other configurations in the past. I just got a confirmation from DC House that what you are showing is correct and the video and manuals are wrong. He sent me a pic of you standing next to your tracker with what he says is the correct configuration. I'm sure glad I didn't take it apart again, only to be told it's wrong. Thank you for the video. Also, the wind/voltage scale is .01v = 0.559mph. The default setting of .35v is 19.6mph.
Even if it increases your output of your solar array by 40%, if you can get 40% more panels for the same price then its not really worth the possible failure points. I mean I still want one, but need to remind myself of that simple fact. Solar trackers only make sense if you have no more room for more panels or if they only cost
I agree, Except on those common days where midday is covered by clouds, or its cloudy in the morning through mid afternoon or gets cloudy mid day and through the evening. Then its going to maximize the clear hours. And I have already seen this first year how the low sun level require a complete change of the angle because I had lost half my peak power at peak sun from its summer angle. This will cover for most of that as well, Everything I am seeing says the gains are going to be more than 40%.
Wrong. It's gets better output during each hour of the day. Your output at the end the day is 30-40% more. It doesn't add watts to the array. Having optimal angle is what it is doing/about.
Flip the actuators upside down and leave a loop in the wiring to prevent water intrusion. I was replacing actuator every 4 months till i did this.
Very Correct..... I was in the C-Band satellite Business for 20 years
We also used accordion type boots that completely sealed the tube if installed correctly.
That was my first thought when I saw this 90° mount. Or put small plastic bag over it 🤷
Thank you for your comment. I'm starting my install today and it's really good info. They could also mount the controller horizontally so you can easily read it.
Do you have to change the way the brackets are mounted if you flip the actuators and/or does it matter if the actuator motor is facing inward (towards the main pole) or outwards? Just wondering if the motor could hit the bracket if it's not turned the right way.
Nice upgrade, it's as if they made a "homeowner" version now. I worked for a manufacturer as an installer for several years early in my career. I often debugged in the field and there were usually two or three iterations before leaving "good enough alone".
I just realised that my first experience with. solar system was three decades ago in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I had to adjust the panels manually every quarter as we were just off the equator!
Very cool! I am proud to see that they are listening to their customers.
The connectors should be on the bottom so rain drips down and not into the side. Great video again
I was going to ask why mount it on its side.
@@davidohara7669 because thats how it mounts, pole is too narrow to mount holes down unless you make a mounting plate which I likely will but to also add a weatherproof box for that to sit in. I may make some rain boots for the actuators even though they are upside down until then.
Excellent video! Bought my tracker on sale in winter and won't be installing until spring. Your video will help a lot. Thanks!
Tony I commented before about setting up the same systems. It took a couple channels to fill in what Eco Worthy really didn’t tell their customers about power to the controller and actuators, but mine are up and running now. Waiting for our electrician to tie them into our work shop. But thanks again for all the great info and demos, recommendations from your channel. I might post a video about the control box I assembled. It contains the controller, battery, input from the battery charger solar. I have a thermostat controlled fan I’m waiting to add after some evaluation of how the controls and battery stand up to the heat. Thanks brother!
Thank you Tony, this is the best I've seen on this system by far. I'm not a newbie in electrical, but solar yes, and I'm going to do tracking for sure.
Thanks Tony, this is going to be very helpful when I start the installation and need to make any setting changes .
Thanks Tony, love this tech stuff.
Glad you did the settings procedures I had to re wire the E/W actuator and have it going flat at night. Now I can do the concrete work
You are driving my spring spaniel crazy with your chicken, she is running all over the house trying to find it. Great video, thanks.
I will be walking through the woods and hear a chicken. Here comes Gizmo walking with his toy.
designed and built my own tracker as solar trackers really are not the way to go. I used a simple antenna rotor that was modified to use a stepper motor. I used an ESP32 to control everything. In the morning the panels are in the east direction and angled (N/S) according to sun charts for my area. Knowing that the sun rises in the east, the panels are in the east position every morning. At sunrise (again times are screen scrapped from NOAA websites) the panels begin the cycle or rotating 15 degrees/hour so there is no need to track the sun. even if it is overcast in the morning and clear in the afternoon, the panels will always be in the correct position. after sunset (again by known values) the panels rotate to the eastern position, in preparation for the morning sun :)
Hi there, your ESP setup sounds cool. I just bought an Eco solar tracker. I also LOVE esp-32, and would love to see how you setup your project.
Any chance you would privately share your hardware/software with an old need?
Steve
Meant "old nerd"😅
I did some testing with having the long actuator on the east side (then have to switch the 2 wires for the actuator so east/west goes the correct direction when commanding on the controller) this gives you more tilting angle to the west 53° then to the east 35° (i have woods to the east so it works better for me to get more angle in west sky). With it on the west side, it is almost even angle, west 45°\ east 50°. I have also replaced the short actuator with another the same length as the long actuator, moved the bracket back 1 hole on the north/south mount, drilled new hole and installed rivet thread sert, retracted actuator, tilted all the way south and drilled 2 new holes with rivet thread sert. Now it can tilt all the way south and a good angle to the north. I have also seen people putting the north/ south cross strut on the top of the east/west strut instead of under it.
Very good video, well explained. Thank you and greetings from Paderborn Germany.
My wife is from Germany. I enjoy going and visiting every few years.
@@TonysTractorAdventure This shows how small the world is. Send your wife a nice greeting from home. Where in Germany is she from?
Peter
Thank you for the well thought out and thorough explanation. Very well done 👏
Thanks Tony, great video!
Tony, I really enjoy your videos! Your channel is one of my favorites. I do wish I lived closer to you so I could come by and neaten up those wires for you. 😉 Oh, BTW, I paused the video and scanned the QR code on the controller and it took me to their website and video on instillation.
Same thought! Knipex to trim the ties😏
Good job! Thank you. Your video is 1 of the only videos that goes through the controller setup. Plus, you did it in ENGLISH and in "normal person speech." 😂. Thanks again!
I speak good southern. 😁
Great video thanks Tony and Tanya
Glad you enjoyed it
I wish that the wind speed meter was a weather vane that knew which way wind was coming from, then it could angle the panels into the wind to make the wind fly over it better. Seems flat still runs the chance of wind hitting the underside of the panels and creating a lift that strains the system.
Excellent videos and tips. I watched your series a couple of times while waiting for the tracker to arrive, and it definitely saved me time and effort. Not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but I found the solar panel fasteners had become loose after a couple days, so I retightened. Not sure why this happened, but perhaps I was a bit too careful not to over tighten initially...
very helpful explaining how to program tracker 😃
Thank you.
My East and West were backwards.. So it's nice to see they're improving. My actuator wires came with the boot to keep dry.. so they're making good changes. I'm gonna replace my bad panel on my tracker and setup the 6 290w panels when I get home. They're not doing any good when I have them disconnected. Might get another tracker and put some new 200w on it. Tony's Solar farm now huh.. find some 30' towers and get them wind generators going. Missouri wind and solar has everything you need to get them working.
I have a nice wind generator I am working on.
@@TonysTractorAdventure Nice.. looking forward to watching it spin.. MY problem is.. I don't own the land I'm on.. Rent is cheap and unlimited electricity included. So I can't get too involved in building much. I'm saving my $ to buy some land and go off grid. Then I'll build my wind and solar farm.. Until then, I learn.
@@TonysTractorAdventure Well.. I will have Six brand new 200w bi-facial panels when I get home to install on my tracker. The one 400w panels get's a consistent 1kw+ a day compared to 870kw for the other two.
I used info from your video to make my NEW VIDEO thanks!
I checked out your video. Very good job and entertaining.
Excellent instruction. GREAT job!!
Thank you.
Thanks for the kind and patient video ! Yet, what is the QR Barcode used for ? On the front of the control panel I see a QR code like thing-ey. Is this for a cell phone app? I hope you can remote into the settings. I do NOT like to monkey around outside in bad weather with tiny screens. To further make this an enduring solution, I hope you can see a lot of areas that require some corrosion protection.
Thanx, that was useful hint! I've almost started thinking about kind of self-leveling gyro-system before I've seen this video:)
Solar is very helpful to a single homestead…. Good video…… team Gizmo!
Made a shirt.
@@TonysTractorAdventure cool…..I’m getting one…
I will wear it on my channel! youtube.com/@dirtyhandsoftherepublic7740
Doesn’t have anything to do with farming….but I’ll wear it!
Reach out to me through my webpage contact page. I have some insight on your growing your channel.
Thank you Sir ! Very cool.
You are very welcome
Very helpful and thorough demonstration of the equipment. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Tony. . . great video. . . helps a lot. . .setting up a set of trackers like yours, curious about how you set up your solar panel cable connections. . .. I'm using 8 ga wiring going to an 6000xp . . . are you combing wiring or running both wiring separate lines to your setup in the building /
I did two other videos installing the first two trackers. They go more indepth.
I built my original tracking system 6 years ago using the same light weight actuators. You should wait to program the controller until the panels are installed because the weight will increase the time to move the system. After repeated failure of the actuators because of water getting into the motor and limit switches, I upgraded to much better ones.
I found the same issue for water intrusion and flipped the actuator upside down and extended the wiring with a loop. 1 year later still good. Was every 4 months on replacing actuators.
@@KevinGastonSR. I installed mine upside-down also. Drilled a small drain hole on the lowest part of the motor. No more problems.
Panels have become much less heavy. My other two use the same settings.
@@gener.1253 I've learned that trick years ago: when you can't stop ingress, it is easy to make a small drain hole...
I built my own tracker too (east-west only) and used Superjack actuators. They’ve been pretty reliable and seem to stand up to the weather.
Awesome stuff, as always. Love it
Glad you enjoy it! I appreciate the support.
You take the time to make these awesome videos atlest I can do is hit like button and comment. Love the content you guy's are great at what u guys do
missed this wondered why u skipped the building. guess u didnt. good to see theyve been updating their stuff.
I made so many videos on the solar stuff. I am getting ready to do some more.
great video! thanks for posting
I've got the main pole set and plan to start the rest in the next few days. What do you think about putting grease on the bushings?
Thanks, finally clear and simple system and easy to understand video thankyou very much for you time and effort. One thing does it know the difference between the Northern and southern hemisphere??
Glad it helped
I installed this very system about 7 months ago but out of the box I did not like the top frame so I ended up using square tubing, the other major issue I think needs to be addressed is the post height I welded additional 36 inch at the bottom to resolve that issue, the design is not bad but the material they use minus the controller is a garbage specially for areas with high wind like FL. it did make through category 1 hurricane but with 2 straps, meanwhile the larger system I personally built didn't need any strap as it was made of 11 gage steel.
I do like your Satalite build. Wish you would have done this a while back. Would you know where I can find the stuff to build a battery bank for my system.
There are hundreds of systems on the market now. I am still in the learning phase now, so I am building premade systems. www.eco-worthy.com/?ref=Tony5
How do you permanently power the tracker's computer and actuator?
I bought the EcoWorthy 3000 All-in-One which was somewhat assumed/advised as part of a kit on their website with a 26.5 V battery. On the All-in-one, it doesn't have a defined 'load' to connect it. EW advised some differing advice (in one msg they said link it to the AC; another DC). You were hooked up to your li'l 12V and I've done the same temporarily to test it and all.
Thank you for this video! It clarified a lot in our setup and I'm loving it as a booster panel system. I've even been using it to charge our EV during the day at a low-rate of an 8amps (I don't drive a lot in the summer and bike as much as possible, so it's just about perfect) Thanks again! These are really impressive systems!
love your informative videos!
question for you v3 how did you set it for sun strength ?
mine was shipped two wks ago, I bought 2 because of you and your info.
these now have everything as plug n play on controller.
all actuators, light sensor and wind sensor plugs in, no need to open up controller box now.
thank you bro,
seymour Tn is perfect for solar, I'm excited and appreciate all you do.
they were on sale presidents weekend sale for $348 + additional $69 discount. total $279 ebay eco-worthy
I have slept since then, but as I remember, all the settings are on the front of the controller.
Did the pole come with the package? Or is this something you have to buy separately I can’t seem to find a clear answer anywhere thx great video very informative!
Watch my other video on the solar tracker. It shows me taking it out of the box.
Thanks for sharing, as I'm looking to purchase my first unit and this helps me understand so much better for setup. My question for you or anyone who may know. Will this unit be able to withstand snow loads when the Pannels are in the nite/safe mode. I'm not concerned for light snow, but more so on the storms that dump a foot or more overnight.
You can set the night safe mold to any angle.
I would add 1 more step on assembly and grease the hinge pins to reduce wear. Thanks for the detailed review!
I use a dry lubricant spray. It is water proof.
May I ask which distance you chose from axis to axis between the trackers to avoid shading?
I wonder if this held up over the last 9 months.... Please advise if this tracker is still working well for you!
It is still working well!
Thank you! Hopefully helping someone install one this spring! I already shared your videos with them!! Thanks again!
I'm new to all this but this looks really nice. Possible to do a short vid on how you ultimately attached/set up your batter to run it?
I will soon.
Hi, what specific type/size of pipe and steel plate did you use for the base? Any idea what it would cost to have one made? I am a very handy 70 year old woman and i think i could install the tracker but the base is beyond my skill and strength
hell of a good video.........tks
Glad you liked it!
Really cool
According to EcoWorthy site, the spread of the tracker is 114 x 114 inches. I have four panels coming that are ~40 x 66 inches. There is no arrangement that would fit the rails on this tracker.
Can the mounting rails be replaced with longer rails? Is there a documented weight limit for panels? Or are my panels just too big for this system, and I need to look elsewhere? :)
All good questions, but you would need to ask the manufacturer.
Hello Tony, l'd really enjoyed your video, from your experience can be modified little this top rails to fit bigger panels, how much wait can it hold ?
Thank you
I wouldn't want to lead you wrong. I have had no issues running 100w panels. I plan on upgrading soon.
How far apart did you space your initial 2 trackers, are they on a north-south line in relation to each other? Have shadows from one onto the other been any issue in the winter?
They are easy west. Shadows have not been an issue in my situation. I have trees on both sides. I get as much as I can.
@@TonysTractorAdventure So how many feet apart are they spaced from pilar to pilar
the controller should have the option to mount horizontally, makes way easyer to setup thing and makes it more waterproof if cabling comes from under
Doesn't really bother me. It's one of those things you set up one time with very little maintenance.
Hi Tony, do the tracker structure and the solar panels have to be grounded to the ground?
Thanks
You do not have to ground the unit if you use a metal Post in the ground. The metal post is your ground. If you mount this on concrete then I would use the ground.
@@TonysTractorAdventure Thank you
Tony I live in east tx can you. Use the foam that you use when plant post in sandy soil. Where can I find it. Thank you
Yes, many of the utility post around you are held up with FAST2K. Just go deeper in sand. It is on Amazon amzn.to/3qWD1vX, Lowe's and Menards
Thanks a bunch. I would love to chat with you on phone. I’m not to good with chatting on computer
@@tommyrichmond1293 Tech calls are the same as consultation calls. $50 for the first 30 minutes.. then they start increasing.
Learned so much of your Solar vids and hope the buy same system; since you got your third one has the manual improved? Where are thr wiring diagrams you mentioned in first vid?
All the wiring diagrams are in the manual.
Just joined. My tracker does not track sun very well. My settings are as shown in manual with only slight changes. Can you advise.
I don't have enough information to help you. There's so many things that could be wrong.
Great explanation Sir...what is the stroke length of this two actuator?
I never measured it. It just works.
Okey...thank you..
@@arneldiocena3357Google eco-worthy linear actuator. They have various stroke lengths.
Is it possible/practical to maybe add a plate or something to the control box so that it can be rotated level and easier used? I know that might be nit-picking if its difficult but just curious.
It could be done, but I didn't find it to be necessary. It is a set up and done kind of thing.
Great job! If you know, what is the weight limit of the tracker? Cant find anywhere. No reply from EcoWorthy... Thanks!
I live in Ireland with a 240' wind. We are one of the blowiest countries in Europe and I really worry about the strength of their mount. Any suggestions on how safe it may be or how to strengthen it against strong winds. Thanks for the videos.
The wind sensor now has a plug-in connector like the actuators so there is no reason to open the console. Also, the power leads are now red for positive and black for negative.
Thanks Tony.
Do you have plans to trim off the excess Uni-Strut ? I'd hate to be the one walking around the Array and catch an end on the noggin.
Me being a Dreamer/fabricator Hmmm.
I wonder if I could use My Vehicle mounted 35' Pneumatic Mast structure to hold a 4 Panel Array ??
I do not have the Mast any more, but the super structure is still on the Truck...
Mike M.
I plan on upgrading the panels in the future. It will be a noggin risk even with the panels installed. 😁
I thought about building a souped-up version using gate openers.
Would it not be better to first install all the solar panels before doing the time measurements? I mean, more weight to move could take longer time? Or does it make no difference?
It has worked perfect for the last year.
It looks good. Here in the Northern Prairies we get 90 Knot Derecho's with F1 and F2 winds for a half a day.
With a setup like that tracker set Flat the panels would fly away like sheets of paper.
That is about the most crazy example I have ever heard. If a F1-F2 goes by, houses are coming down. My panels have been through 80mph winds without fail. My system has already proved you wrong in the real world. Still, if a F1 tornado goes by, I expect my solar panels to go down, by barn, trees, the neighbors house, ect. Flat panels will not hold up to that. Crazy.
I appreciate your answer and concerns. You guys have a great channel and this rack system you are making is ideal for where you are in TN. (I lived on a boundary in Macon County, TN in the outlying area 20 yr ago over the hill and down in under) Your vid with the wood crib & license plates & flowers is one of my favorites.
I'm not talking here about an F1 or 2 twister wind that comes roaring past and blows down & away all the stuff. THIS is a full on Blow that goes on for nearly an ENTIRE day with that wind at 80 MPH constant like a stalled hurricane. Here's a link to the video from the last time it came here made up of little clips from 18 hrs of vid sessions cut down to under 6 minutes. Remember that the camera is wrapped in a sweater and winter coat and you still hear the wind popping the mic. I've included the description here also... U get excited & start preaching in this.. IT has Not Let up FOR ONE SECOND IN FIVE HOURS at the 11PM marker and it went on till almost sundown the next day when it finally slowed up to under 30 MPH and the utility was THEN able to go up and restore power to a hundred square mile area.
ruclips.net/video/0z8xoBZqwbY/видео.htmlsi=Txebqb4tZO5LTdBZ
WATCH THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH and TURN UP YOUR Computer SOUND SYSTEM !.
Here's only short clips of the scene with the Unstoppable 60-80 MPH Roaring Winds that never let up for one second in 14 hours. You have to watch Past where it shows the 11 PM on the clock time for when it's roaring solid 5 Hours After it Started.
Trees are bowing down. Watch the comments. The Camera and Microphone is Sealed in cloth and wrapped over and over in a shirt and then inside a winter coat and still the wind is making popping sounds and it was tucked under a porch out of the wind looking up from the side of a 130 Yr old Farm house.
This is the flat as a pancake prairies in a High Wind Stripe Zone which is the spawning ground for these Derecho wind animals that move over and out across the continent.
==========================================================
There's also 100 giant wind turbines just put into this area in 2019 and nearly all of them had bearings and internal blade failures just sitting in this big blow. They're Now still dropping 800 foot blade spans & tearing em open on by one with 500 foot cranes and trying to get dozens of the duds to work again nearly 2 yrs later.
=========================================================
These 140 yr old 10 meter square farm houses were build by immigrants like we've never seen !!
There's 5 layers of wood on the outer walls a right angles to each other at 90 and 45 degree angles with the final 2 layers of tongue and groove mounted on top of that. AND the floors are made that way also.
Wind like this video has come here who knows how many times in 140 yrs and the walls are still in bubble with a level on em.
How much clearance do you need from a structure... say a Fence or Shed? Thx
So a couple corrections. You say precision is in regards to wind speed sensor. Really it’s how precise it is when comparing the difference in sun direction from the E/W N/S sensors. Also when I just set my system up, the wind speed sensor says right on it “wind speed = output voltage * 25 m/s” so you have you wind speed set to go off at 2,796 mph by setting it at 50 volts
You're completely wrong on the wind. My system works flawlessly with the settings that I put in. I have three units.
@@TonysTractorAdventure I have this exact same system. I’m quoting exactly what the wind speed sensor that this kit comes with says for math on wind speed. I’m making these comments for people who are just getting this unit, if they follow your settings for wind speed (possibly your sensor is different) they could have issues.
@@TonysTractorAdventure did you mean you set it at .50volts? That would make a lot more sense.
Yes, the 50 volts. I dropped mine down to 34 volts to be on the safer side. However, that does leave my panels in a flat position for more time.
@@TonysTractorAdventure okay so yeah, your wording is where the confusing is. You are saying “50 volts” but you mean “half a volt” or “34 volts” you mean “point three four volts”.
can the mechanism handle 4x 500W panels (93.78" x 44.65")? Are the actuators be the limiting factor?
Not sure
Regarding the battery that powers the tracker...how does that fare in colder climates if kept outside in a battery box? Anyone have experience with this condition? Or is it better to keep the battery indoors and just run wires through the conduit?
Also, the amperage required for running the tracker - how much does it draw when it moves?
We are in Tennessee, So I can't really help with the question. We freeze, but nothing like up North.
On my trackers I run a SCiB LTO battery that is stable to -22f. We see a lot of negative Temps and the LTO seems to hold up much better than other options.
Great video covering this solar tracker. You said you will be using an external solar panel charger for the 12v battery? Doesn't the solar controller have a built-in 12v battery charger already?
The solar tracker doesn't have a solar controller. I bought a kit of Amazon with a solar panel, and controller for like $35
@@TonysTractorAdventure Sorry, meant solar tracking controller. On their website FAQ it does say use a 12V 10AH battery, the controller will charge the battery and use it to power the system tracking. Sounds like they are wrong. Thanks.
Yes they are. There is not solar controller built in this unit. Stuff gets lost in translation. I will say, the directions have got very good.
Would a 120v ac to 12v dc converter work ?
Thanks for all the great videos, I have learned quite a lot from watching your various videos. I have a couple of questions for ya. 1st how did you go about researching your solar components? What were your main requirements in choosing the different components?
This is off subject but, what type of equipment do you use to make your videos?
Thanks, God Bless
My tracker does not return to level after sunset and starts tacking again about 9:30 am next day. What settings do I need to get tracker to return to level after sunset?
I have this same situation. If you any suggestions it would be very helpful. Great video BTW!
It is all programmable
Any ideas on what settings will help?@@TonysTractorAdventure
Ray, I found that T4 and T10 are the settings that ensure it goes from full east to flat properly. Follow Tony's instructions in the video on timing the movements (west to east, east to flat especially for this). Enter your timing into the T4 and T10 settings and set your wind speed V2 to .05 for testing. Once you enter the settings and press Quit to save, manually move the mount to full east and spin the wind speed sensor by hand really fast until the mount moves west to the flat position. If it doesn't go far enough to be flat add a few seconds to T4 and T10 and try again. If it goes too far, shave a few seconds off T4 and T10...rinse and repeat until it settles where you want it. The full west to full east settings will affect this if they are too long or too short, but at the end of the day if T4 and T10 are not right, it won't work. Don't forget to set the V2 wind setting back to .35! If it works for the wind sensor, it should also work for the cloudy/night time set to horizontal too. Best of luck!
I see you installed the actuator on different from the directions. Does it make a difference?
To my understanding, I follow the directions which came with my kit exactly.
Your video was a great help! My book shows the actuator that’s mounted on the part that is labeled evo worthy on the opposite side and I check other videos out and some look like mine and some like yours. I haven’t completed it yet so I don’t know if mine will work correctly. Thanks for your reply.
Would this product be adequate to hold up four 430 watt panels, rhey are about 4 feet wide and 5.7 feet tall?
I am not sure.
@@TonysTractorAdventure since I saw your video, I reached out to the company, unfortunately they do not sell it in Canada.
Any ideas how to quite the actuator? It seems pretty loud?
I put it where it didn't matter. I also set mine to only move every ten mins. I had it a 3, but that was too often.
A 5:00 on voit déjà que l'angle avec l'horizontale est entre 0 et 35 degrees, pas assez pour suivre "deux axes" comme il est vendu 😞
Il faut couper l'ouverture du mat, ou échanger le mat avec un model bricolé et adapté et ne perder pas la garantie, pour lui rendre plus d'espace mais ça veut dire le verin n'est pas assez longue. Aussi le rouillements qu'arrive rapidement sont un signe qu'il n'est pas le meilleur qualité pour son prix. Ces ne sont pas mes expériences perso, voyez AMAZON.
D'ailleurs, l'augmentation maximale pour un trackeur sur deux axes est 40% seulement si on peut vraiement boucher les panneaux normalement entre 20-65 degrees, pas 35... Ca veut dire le temps pour toucher l'investissement est augmenté aussi par qqs annees. On se trompe facilement et n'oubliez pas qu'on ajoute un grand risque avec les trackeurs où on aura aucun sans. Il y a aussi les frais de pose (béton) et en cas pour plusieurs trackeurs l'ombre entre eux vous forcez de prendre un grand distance pour rester efficas. Super pour l'hobby, dommage pour le pert de profit de la production solaire.
Thank you for your opinion
What did you do for the base just a tube? I'm planning a 3x4 8" pad 3ft underground that a 16" tube connects to. my panels are 300 watt but think I'm planning to much concrete? any issues or insights after your time with them?
I used heavy duty water well casing. I used Fast2k to install my mounts 4' deep. They have been through 80mph winds.
Hi Tony,
I'm Remy from France. I have to give this to you, the doggy and to your wife👍👍👍for the video.
Explanations and details are great.
Just a remark : It's like this tracker is not going vertical enough to catch the early morning sun. Am I wrong with that ?
What do u think ?
Thank you so much. I have never noticed it not aiming at the early morning sun. We have trees to the east so that blocks the early light.
going flat for a storm might be good for wind but wont that be the worst position for a hail storm?
Most new panels are hail resistant. I have watched golf ball size hail bounce on mine. If it is baseball size hail or larger, it doesn't matter. Tornadoes, earthquakes, war, sabotage, theft, etc. are all things you can worry about too.😁😁😁😁😁
Hello Tony, i'm thinking of buying this tracker, i have a few questions for you. I will buy 4 panels which total 3,52x2.26m = 85 square feet. with a weight of 194pound. Will the tracker be capable of holding the amount of panels? Also i have a remark about the noise both actuators make, because i have neigbours quite nearby, would the noiselevel be to high? Maybe i could swap the actuators by low noise types.
Many thanks for the video, you did a good job making it.
The actuators make noise. It doesn't bother me, but my wife doesn't like it. It should handle the weight if you balance the load.
The trackers are rated for 500 lbs
Can you use this on a 48v system? So far everything i am seeing says 12 or 24
It doesn't matter what system it is. It is powered separately. 12v system.
@davidballey3289 - It is up to the user (you) to connect a 12v or 24v power supply or battery with a recharger, to power the Dual Axis Controller.
mine was all pre wired. both of them. i didnt have ANY issues... still dont i even got a 2nd unit
I just got confirmation from Eco Worthy that their user manual and assembly video shows the long actuator on the east side and that is WRONG. I installed mine according to the wrong information in the manual and that's why it's miswired, the manual is wrong and they haven't corrected it yet.
This one was perfect out of the box. No wiring needed. It was plug and play.
very good update. One question, I live at black forest ( fucked off rainbow green germany ). I need in summer times a angle ( horizon ) of 30 degrees. At winter times, 70 degrees. It look s like, that the motor only can manage 45 degrees . cheers and thanXXX
I think you will find it meets your needs. We I can't imagine a situation that it would go to the correct angle.
@@TonysTractorAdventure you mean not.go 🤔
Yes, I misspoke
Hi, i have a problem with my command module. All the "wind protection" settings ( V2 0,03 V T3 T4 T5 T6 in flat position & T7) are correct but it will not go into wind safe mode. Is there a possibility to do a software reset or a "factory reset" ?
Most likely something the unit is not hooked up correctly. Review your install. It would seem that your wind vane is not providing the voltage required to send it back to safe mode
Thanks Tony for your quick answer. The vane is providing enough voltage (measured with voltmeter G-In). If i turn the vane manually to exceed V2 the module sounds only 1 short beep and displays T8 waiting for the sun. Normally it should display T7 and sounds several beeps as long it is in "wind safe" mode. All other settings are simular to yours. I'll try again tomorrow because it's dark now and raining. Merry Xmas and i love your video's !
Ok, found the problem... 12 V DC power supply was too light. 12V dropted when the 2 actuators were activated at the same time.. Have installed a heavier power supply and now all is working fine.
I did the exact same thing. I didn't think of that until you said something .
They really should be using limit switches and a sensor to level the panel.
Why? It works well.
where can I get the 3rd gen controller
I am not sure
Has anyone figured out how to put the solar panel brackets on? I'm having the hardest tome getting them tight. They thread in easily by hand at first, but then get extremely tight (bolt and channel nut) LONG before the clamp is anywhere close to actually tightening against the panel itself. I've had to use an adjustable wrench to hold the bracket still while driving the bolt in just to get close, but I feel like Im doing it wrong.
I bought shorter bolts.
@@TonysTractorAdventure thanks! Helps to know I'm not crazy. I think I'll use shims.
Can you tell me how many Talesun 400 W (67.8 x 44.65 x 1.18) TP7G54M panels can be put on this system? I believe they are about 60 lbs. Each.
I have zero experience with your panel. I don't think the weight would be an issue, but you could only mount so many.
Solar farms are getting very popular and expensive. What is the best way to setup an one acre site? Also, why do I see solar hate signs? 😎 Thank you.
I don't have the understanding to advise you on such a large solar field.
Hi Tony, your vedio is great. This is Katherine from Ocell, we specialized in LiFePO4 battery since 2008. Any demand or interests in LFP battery for solar tracker ？ We support OEM
We would definitely be interested.
@@TonysTractorAdventure May i know your email address? I would love to share with you our company presentation.
My luck I'd order the tracker and they would send me the old one. I don't know why they didn't call this version 2 or something and reduce the price on the previous one.
I think they sell through their old stock first. All the old ones seem to be gone.
Will Wyoming winds destroy this?
I've never had Wyoming winds in Tennessee.
I did have an 80 mph wind that took down people's barns. Both my panels still work.
How do you get in contact with eco-worthy? I've emailed them several times with questions and never heard back.. Makes me hesitant to purchase anything from them
I used their website portal.
I having trouble, tried website portal no response, or phone call back
Does anyone know the max weight you could put on one of these trackers?
It seems very strong. I have no idea on the exact capacity.
Are there any major differences doing this in the southern hemisphere?
You would have to have the south sticker facing north. All should work fine.
@@TonysTractorAdventure that’s what I suspected,just wanted some extra confirmation,Thank you mate 🤜🤛
@@GhostProto Sun be north in the SH where I live, still east to west and it's an early set today here at 5:15pm. When I was near the equator we had to flip the panels quarterly, by hand and all thread- okay that was 3decades back- the internet wasn't a thing ;-) Imagine no difference in length of day, only angle and wet/dry season in Sierra Leone.
@@craigsymington5401 Yeah ,I live in South Africa on a farm with a large amount of open space …was thinking of installing a few dual axis panels ,issue is that dual axis solar isn’t very popular here yet ,so finding out any info on it is difficult …and any info you do find out is generally only specific to the northern hemisphere
@@GhostProto I did loads of work with Clearline in Midrand, they developed a decent sized solar tracking system, had one installed next to their factory. I am from Gauteng.
There must be some systems made in SA, unless everyone has given up and left, like me?
Also use Clearline for lightning and surge protection, excellent product and service. I had near 2 decades a happy customer. I had a AV, DSTV and antenna installation company for 20 years. Did commercial and amateur towers and antennas, data cabling and CcTV too, huge projects. BEE did me in eventually.
WHY didn't they change the controller to be mounted horizontally when they changed it??? I see that you mounted the long actuator on the opposite side of what Eco Worthy shows in their video. Is that due to the miswiring of the motor? I think the motor wires needed to be reversed, not changing the mount. I've started installing mine today.
UPDATE: I just recieved word from Eco-Worthy that the way you have the D bracket connected on the west side is correct and that the last video and the user manuals show it on the east side and is WRONG!!! The manual is wrong. Therefor, mine was not miswired, the manual and their video told me to assemble it incorrectly!!!
You would have to ask them
Did the assembly procedure you used show the long actuator on the west side?@@TonysTractorAdventure
No, it's on the east side. I've now seen two manuals with different configurations, neither one shows it like yours. I only started in solar a couple months ago and I'm guessing there must have been other configurations in the past. I just got a confirmation from DC House that what you are showing is correct and the video and manuals are wrong. He sent me a pic of you standing next to your tracker with what he says is the correct configuration. I'm sure glad I didn't take it apart again, only to be told it's wrong. Thank you for the video. Also, the wind/voltage scale is .01v = 0.559mph. The default setting of .35v is 19.6mph.
Even if it increases your output of your solar array by 40%, if you can get 40% more panels for the same price then its not really worth the possible failure points. I mean I still want one, but need to remind myself of that simple fact. Solar trackers only make sense if you have no more room for more panels or if they only cost
I agree, Except on those common days where midday is covered by clouds, or its cloudy in the morning through mid afternoon or gets cloudy mid day and through the evening. Then its going to maximize the clear hours. And I have already seen this first year how the low sun level require a complete change of the angle because I had lost half my peak power at peak sun from its summer angle. This will cover for most of that as well, Everything I am seeing says the gains are going to be more than 40%.
Doesn't matter how many solar panels you put there output would be in limited time period when sun is on top of them
Is extra mounting material free ?
Wrong. It's gets better output during each hour of the day. Your output at the end the day is 30-40% more. It doesn't add watts to the array. Having optimal angle is what it is doing/about.
@@claytonyoung1351 huh? Yes obviously the maximum possible output of the system doesn't change. I don't think anyone is confused about that.
Hy Tony
Hello my friend
IN: INstrument?
Not sure what you are talking about.
@@TonysTractorAdventureThe wind speed wired connection labeled as "IN".
@@ChrisEplerIn = Input, the other wire is the Ground. For the Wind Speed Indicator.