About Your Tracker

About Your Tracker

A Day in the Life of your Tracker

Solar systems only produce power when the sun is shining. The more directly the sun hits the panels, the more electricity the system can produce. The angle of the sun varies greatly over the course of the day. In addition, the sun’s location varies according to the season. 

For a fixed solar system, like a roof-mount, the orientation of the panels is set. The exact angle and pitch is a compromise that captures as much solar energy as possible, but is not optimized for the full range of the sun’s movement. Tracker systems, in contrast, are designed to follow the path of the sun, keeping the solar panels facing the sun for maximum production. Modeled from nature, your Tracker wakes up with the sun just like us and captures the day’s full solar potential, year-round. By following the sun during the day and adjusting the orientation for the different seasons, an AllEarth Solar Tracker can generate up to 45% more energy than a fixed system.

You’ll love watching the beauty of our Tracker’s slow, quiet movements as it follows the sun throughout the day. So, what does a day in the life of your Tracker look like?

Sunrise

Good morning, sunshine! In normal daily operation, the tracker begins its day in what we call “safe mode.” In this position, the tracker is laying flat and parallel to the ground. At sunrise the panels will rise and position themselves to face east to capture the first sunshine of the day. During each morning’s wake-up process the tracker recalibrates its sensors and drive mechanisms to assure that it’s ready to track the sun properly for the new day.

Daylight hours

Unlike traditional solar arrays, our AllEarth Solar Tracker is an active system. That means it tracks the sun to capture the optimal energy yield – hence the name “Tracker”! Over the course of the day, your Tracker will adjust its position and follow the path of the sun.

How does this work? The Tracker has an integrated motor drive and gear system that moves the solar panels every few minutes to keep them oriented directly toward the sun. This allows the panels to be optimized to maintain peak power output during the entire daylight period. Built into every AllEarth Solar Tracker are a number of sophisticated devices and controls which continually monitor a range of inputs to keep the tracker tracking.

  • A GPS receiver in the tracker control box tells the tracker the date and time as well as the tracker’s location. This information lets the tracker know where the sun is at any given moment. 
  • Sensors in the control box use this information to work in conjunction with the tracker’s drive mechanisms to position the tracker to face the sun. The tracker continually monitors GPS and sensor inputs and automatically adjusts its position accordingly to face the sun throughout the day. 
  • A wind sensor located on the top of the tracker and a temperature sensor inside the tracker’s control box provide additional input on local weather conditions. If the tracker measures extreme conditions such as high wind, the tracker will adapt to local conditions by temporarily putting itself flat into “safe mode.” When conditions subside, the tracker will automatically go back to normal operation.

Sunset

After sunset the panels will tilt back into safe mode and stay static through the night, before rotating back around to the east and repeating the process again when the sun rises the next day.

Tracker Controls & Functions Glossary

  1. Anemometer – Measures and monitors wind speed
  2. Solar Panels / Modules – Multiple units of silicone-based cells that absorb energy from the sun
  3. Frame / Racking – Steel frame that supports the solar panels
  4. Hydraulic Cylinder – Controls the “tilt” (vertical angle) of the Tracker
  5. Yaw Motor – Controls the “yaw” (East/West movement) of the Tracker
  6. Control Box – Microprocessor and sensor system that lets the system “know where it is” (it receives data from the sensors, and directs the movement of the panels)
  7. Inverter – Takes the DC current from the panels and converts it into AC current that can be used to power the household. Depending on the specific model/design of the system, there may be an inverter for every panel, or there may be one inverter for the entire system
  8. Hydraulic Power Unit – Powers and controls the movement of the panels, and directs the hydraulic cylinder and yaw
    motor
  9. Load Center – Electrical breakers that control power to the tracker
  10. Mast – The vertical steel column that holds the panels/racking