This project is my first shot at programming real-time systems featuring multiple tasks. I wanted to create a dual axis solar tracker that's reliable in terms of hardware and software in the field where most of the similar projects run on a breadboard with an Arduino.
The device is able to:
- Track the sun in two axis
- Charge a Lithium-Ion Battery with current limit and overvoltage protection
- Display a web UI with real-time status of the device
The mechanical design is a remix of the Dual Axis Solar Tracker by OpenSourceClassroom. My updated design fixes some major mechanical issues apparent in the original design, mainly related to poor alignment of the two axis. In my new design, the pan axis is kept aligned with bearings, the gears are screwed on instead of being plastic welded and my design features proper cable management with strain relief.
Required materials for assembly:
- Printed parts
- M4x10mm Screws
- M4x20mm Screws
- M3x6mm Screws
- 6001 Bearing (I recommend opening it up and removing the grease inside to decrease friction)
- M3 standoffs (Optional, extra space under the pcb allows cable management)
- M6x100mm threaded rod with two M6 nuts
- MG-996R Servo (pan)
- MG90S or SG90 Servo (tilt)
- Cables (silicone insulation is optimal)
- Cable conduit
Everything is placed onto a custom pcb. For more details refer to schematics and kicad files in the repository. This design uses a 3W solar panel.
The code is written in ESP-IDF with FreeRTOS and is designed to run on an ESP32.
- ESP32 Toolchain
- Python interpreter
- Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/sztvka/solarcharger.git - Make sure your ESP-IDF path is set correctly and
idf.pyis resolvable - Install the required python packages
pip install rjsmin css_html_js_minify - Configure your install in
config_default.hfile - Run the
compile_extras.pyscript to setup the web UI (this will minify web files and set your config for compiling) - Run
idf.py buildto compile the project - Flash the device with
idf.py -p (PORT) flash
video.mp4
This project is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.0 International - see the LICENSE file for details
