Arduino based Solar Tracker for Solar Panels
Works via two photoresistors.
Here is the Arduino Sketch code I wrote for the tracker:
int lightPin = A0; //define a pin for Photo resistor
int ledPin=6; //define a pin for LED
int val= 1;
int lightPin1 = A1; //define a pin for Photo resistor
int ledPin5=5; //define a pin for LED
int val1= 1;
int setPoint19 = 20; // Trigger value
int setPoint25 = 25; // Trigger value
int setPoint29 = 29; // Trigger value
int setPoint35 = 35; // Trigger value
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600); //Begin serial communcation
pinMode( ledPin, OUTPUT );
pinMode( ledPin5, OUTPUT );
}
void loop()
{
val = (analogRead(lightPin)*1);
if (val < setPoint35)
{
analogWrite(ledPin, LOW); // It has got dark, turn the LED on.
}
else
{
analogWrite(ledPin, 255); // It is light again, turn the LED off.
}
Serial.print("val = ");
Serial.print(val ) ; //Write the value of the photoresistor to the serial monitor.
Serial.print(" lightPin = ");
Serial.print(analogRead(lightPin));
Serial.print(" lightPin /4-1= ");
Serial.println(analogRead(lightPin)/4-1); //Write the value of the photoresistor to the serial monitor.
//analogWrite(ledPin, val); //send the value to the ledPin. Depending on value of resistor
//you have to divide the value. for example,
//with a 10k resistor divide the value by 2, for 100k resistor divide by 4.
//Serial.println(analogRead(lightPin)/3); //Write the value of the photoresistor to the serial monitor.
delay(10); //short delay for faster response to light.
val1 = (analogRead(lightPin1)*1);
if (val1 < setPoint35)
{
analogWrite(ledPin5, LOW); // It has got dark, turn the LED on.
}
else
{
analogWrite(ledPin5, 255); // It is light again, turn the LED off.
}
Serial.print("val1= ");
Serial.print(val1 ) ; //Write the value of the photoresistor to the serial monitor.
Serial.print(" lightPin1= ");
Serial.print(analogRead(lightPin1));
Serial.print(" lightPin1/4-1= ");
Serial.println(analogRead(lightPin1)/4-1); //Write the value of the photoresistor to the serial monitor.
//analogWrite(ledPin, val); //send the value to the ledPin. Depending on value of resistor
//you have to divide the value. for example,
//with a 10k resistor divide the value by 2, for 100k resistor divide by 4.
//Serial.println(analogRead(lightPin)/3); //Write the value of the photoresistor to the serial monitor.
delay(10); //short delay for faster response to light.
}
Arduino Solar Tracker
Here is the Arduino sketch code I wrote that will move a 2-wire DC motor forward and reverse depending on which of 2 buttons is pressed:
#include
/*
* Switch and LED test program
*/
int ledPin = 5; // LED is connected to pin 12
int switchPin = 0; // switch is connected to pin 2
int val; // variable for reading the pin status
int ledPin6 = 6; // LED is connected to pin 12
int switchPin1 = 1; // switch is connected to pin 2
int val1; // variable for reading the pin status
void setup() {
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // Set the LED pin as output
pinMode(switchPin, INPUT); // Set the switch pin as input
pinMode(ledPin6, OUTPUT); // Set the LED pin as output
pinMode(switchPin1, INPUT); // Set the switch pin as input
//Setup Channel A
pinMode(12, OUTPUT); //Initiates Motor Channel A pin
pinMode(9, OUTPUT); //Initiates Brake Channel A pin
}
void loop(){
delay(10);
val = digitalRead(switchPin); // read input value and store it in val
if (val == LOW) { // check if the button is pressed
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // turn LED on
//Serial.begin(9600); // set up Serial library at 9600 bps
//Serial.print("sw0 on: ");Serial.println(digitalRead(switchPin));
//forward @ full speed
digitalWrite(12, HIGH); //Establishes forward direction of Channel A
digitalWrite(9, LOW); //Disengage the Brake for Channel A
analogWrite(3, 255); //Spins the motor on Channel A at full speed
delay(3000);
//delay(10);
}
if (val == HIGH) { // check if the button is not pressed
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // turn LED off
delay(10);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH); //Eengage the Brake for Channel A
//delay(1000);
}
delay(10);
val = digitalRead(switchPin1); // read input value and store it in val
if (val == LOW) { // check if the button is pressed
digitalWrite(ledPin6, HIGH); // turn LED on
//Serial.print("on: ");Serial.println(digitalRead(switchPin1));
//backward @ half speed
digitalWrite(12, LOW); //Establishes backward direction of Channel A
digitalWrite(9, LOW); //Disengage the Brake for Channel A
analogWrite(3, 255); //Spins the motor on Channel A at half speed
delay(3000);
delay(10);
}
if (val == HIGH) { // check if the button is not pressed
digitalWrite(ledPin6, LOW); // turn LED off
//Serial.print("1=off: ");Serial.println(digitalRead(switchPin1));
digitalWrite(9, HIGH); //Eengage the Brake for Channel A
delay(1000);
delay(10);
}
}
