Affordable Solar Tracking Technology For Everyone: Save on Power Bills, Save the Environment
Friday, April 15, 2016, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
Solar tracking, a technology that has been around in various forms for centuries now, seems like a simple technology, yet it’s a fantastic way to get the most of the solar energy harvesting systems. At its heart, a solar tracking system is a device that follows the movement of the sun across the sky to harness its energy.
Various devices track the movement of the sun, but most of them are significantly expensive putting them out of range for regular consumers.
However, time tracking, a subset of solar tracking seems to be the best readily available and affordable solution. Like typical solar tracking systems, time tracking increases the exposure time of solar panels to the sun.
The basic workings of a solar time tracker allow it to be programmed to move with time, and in direction of the sun. It’s the same concept behind fully fledged solar trackers, the main difference being that instead of them following the sun’s movement, time trackers follow a timed movement.
Therefore, in the morning, the time tracker is programmed to face East, and it gradually changes its direction to end up facing West when the sun is setting.
The biggest advantage of time trackers is that they are relatively cheap compared to full-fledged solar trackers. The biggest concern most people have with time trackers is their effectiveness.
So are time trackers useful in harvesting the sun’s energy?
Of course they are! Attaching a panel to a correctly programmed time tracker means that the panels get increased exposure time hence generate more power. Since it’s relatively easy to predict the movement of the sun across the day, programming these devices to face the direction the sun will probably be at a particular time is trivial.
There are a few variables you should look into before installing a time tracker on your solar energy project:
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Consult a Professional
Talk to a professional before buying a particular time tracker. Professionals are in a better position to know if you need a solar tracker or a time tracker depending on your requirements. Additionally, consulting a professional before installing the system allows them to program the panel so that it’s in sync with the sun’s movement.
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Don’t Compromise on Quality
You want to get the best time tracker in the market. As you saw earlier, time trackers do not track the movement of the sun. Rather, they rely on the time of day to determine the position of the sun.
If you scrooge on quality, you may end up with cheap knock-offs that, like a broken watch, get the position of the sun right twice a day. Also, if you go for the most affordable option, there’s a high chance the system will break down within the first month.
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Go for Tried and Tested Time Tracking Systems
There are a few solar tracker manufacturers who also specialize in time-tracking technologies. These manufacturers have been around the block for a while, and they know what they are doing. It’s advisable you buy their products to get the best results.
Throw us a like at Facebook.com/doable.financeAuthor Bio
Greg McCoy is a solar energy expert and likes to write solar tracker manufacturers and reviews about their products. Greg is also an advocate of Green energy around the home, and you’ll find him looking for innovative ways to harness green energy for everyday life.
