ROTATING OF SOLAR PANEL

By:
G.ANIL KUMAR

IN ASSOSCIATION WITH

CST SERVICES

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 ROTATING OF SOLAR PANEL

Aim: Build a rotating solar panel to increase the electricity production.

Introduction:

Solar energy is rapidly gaining notoriety as an important means of expanding renewable

energy resources. As such, it is vital that those in engineering fields understand the technologies
associated with this area.

Our project will include the design and construction of a microcontroller-based solar
panel tracking system. Solar tracking allows more energy to be produced because the solar array
is able to remain aligned to the sun.

The aim of this project is to keep the solar photovoltaic panel perpendicular to the sun
throughout the year in order to make it more efficient.

Requirements:

 Solar panel

 Two ldr sensors

 One DC motor

 L293D Motor driver

 Jumper wires

 Arduino board

 Bread board

Arduino UNO:
Arduino is an open-source micro-controller device. It is an educational development
board which is mainly used for developing different kind of projects which is equipped with
digital and analog pins.

It can be powered by using a power cable or by external 9v battery. For developing

different projects using arduino uno board we use software called “Arduino”.

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 Arduino board

Light Dependent Resistor:

A photo resistor or light dependent resistor is a component that is sensitive to light. When light
falls upon it then the resistance changes. Values of the resistance of the LDR may change over
many orders of magnitude the value of the resistance falling as the level of light increases.

Typical leaded light dependent resistor

L293d Motor Driver Module:

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The L293d Motor Driver Module is responsible for providing the necessary drive current to the motors of the
robotic car.

Working:

The electrical system consists of two LDR sensors which provide feedback to a micro
controller. This micro controller processes the sensor input and provide signals for the movement
of Dc motor.

We are using two Light Dependent Resistor’s as a sensor. They sense the higher density
area of sun light. The solar panel moves to the high light density area through DC motor.

Connections:

Motor Driver to Arduino:

Motor Driver Arduino

Vcc Vin
B1 Digital pin 3
B2 Digital pin 5
GND GND

LDR sensor1 to Arduino:

LDR sensor1 Arduino

GND GND
D0 A0
Vcc 5v

LDR sensor2 to Arduino:

LDR sensor2 Arduino

GND GND
D0 A1
Vcc 5v

Code:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

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int sensorPin = A0; // select the input pin for the LDR
int sensorPin1 = A1; // select the input pin for the LDR
int sensorValue = 0; // variable to store the value coming from the sensorm
int sensorValue1 = 0;
int motor = 3;
int motor1 = 5;
void setup() { // declare the ledPin as an OUTPUT:
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(3,OUTPUT);
pinMode(5,OUTPUT);
pinMode(sensorPin,INPUT);
pinMode(sensorPin1,INPUT);

void loop()

Serial.println("Welcome to cst employees");

sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin);
sensorValue1 = analogRead(sensorPin1);
Serial.println(sensorValue);
digitalWrite(motor,LOW) ;
digitalWrite(motor1,LOW) ;
if (sensorValue < 50)

{
Serial.println("1st LDR light on");
digitalWrite(motor,HIGH) ;
digitalWrite(motor1,LOW) ;
}
else if (sensorValue1 < 50)
{
Serial.println("2nd LDR light on");
digitalWrite(motor,LOW) ;
digitalWrite(motor1,HIGH) ;

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}
else
{
digitalWrite(motor,LOW) ;
digitalWrite(motor1,LOW) ;
}

Procedure:

 Open Arduino software, connect Arduino board and upload the program into it.

 Give connections to devices, microcontroller as given in above.

 Check the result after giving power source to our prototype.

Output:

Solar panel changes its angle towards the sun and it depends on how much light is hitting
the LDR sensors.
We are using two ldrs one is attached left side and one is attached right side of Solar
panel which is connected horizontal to the DC motor. Solar panel will face towards the LDR
which is taking higher intensity of sun light.

Rotating Solar panel