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Section
8
OVERVIEW: OPERATING THE TRACKER CONTROLLER AND SETTING THE DIP SWITCH OPTIONS.
Your tracker controller is preinstalled and "ready to go" as soon as you connect power it. The following procedure
tests the controllers operation, the full range of motion of the tracker and to set some field selectable options. You
can turn the tracker on and off or choose to bypass the Energy Integration Circuit. If you have a Dual-Axis tracker,
you can make the tracker lay nearly flat at night or disable the auto-tilt function entirely.
8.1) Survey your work area: You are going to test the tracker range of motion. Be aware that your tracker is set
to Auto-Track and will start moving as soon as power is connected to the controller!
Make sure that there in nothing in the way of the tracker when it begins to rotate. A common mistake is to
leave a ladder standing nearby. Inspect the wiring from the array to the controller and your junction box.
Make sure that all wire service loops are long enough and that the wires are free from binding at all pivot
points. Is there enough slack in the wires to accommodate full azimuth rotation in either direction?
8.2) Remove the controller cover: Loosen the 4 Phillips bit machine screws and remove the metal cover of the
controller. Keep the cover and gasket free of dirt.
8.3) Switch#1- Auto Tracking: ON when pushed in at the bottom. Depress the top rocker of Dip Switch #1 to
the UP position to temporarily freeze the tracker position. Push in at the bottom to return to Auto Tracking
when you are finished testing the controller.
8.4) Switch #2- Energy Integration: ON when pushed in at the top. Always Leave UP (E.I. ON) unless you are
powering the tracker from a nearly depleted 24VDC battery bank. The down position (E.I. OFF) bypasses the
Energy Integration Circuitry. This allows the tracker to operate when the battery voltage is below 23.5 VDC
8.5) Switch #3 – Dual Axis, Maintain Array Tilt at Night: ON when pushed in at the bottom. The Azimuth Drive
st
motor operates 1
the switch is pushed in at the bottom, both tracker motors can operate at the same time and the array will
LAY FLAT at night. Use only in situations where there are high winds and no snow during the evening hours.
8.6) Switch #4: Dual Axis, Elevation Tracking: ON when pushed in at the bottom. The tracker will
automatically track the sun up and down in the sky. OFF when the switch is pushed in at the top, the
elevation tracking is stopped. Use in high-latitude sites where the days are short, the sun is low in the sky
and snow loading on the array is an issue.
8.7) Switch #5: EAST OVERRIDE OFF when pushed in at the bottom. Manually move the tracker East by
depressing the top of Dip Switch #5. The tracker will track to the East and then stop once the Limit
Adjustment Cam touches the limit switch. Return it to OFF position for AUTO TRACKING.
8.8) Switch #6: WEST OVERRIDE OFF when pushed in at the bottom. Manually move the tracker West by
depressing the top of Dip Switch #6. The tracker will track to the West and then stop once the Limit
Adjustment Cam touches the limit switch. Return it to OFF position for AUTO TRACKING.
8.9) Switch #7: NORTH OVERRIDE OFF when pushed in at the bottom. Manually move the tracker North (de-
elevate) by depressing the top of Dip Switch #7. The tracker will "flatten out" and stop once the elevation
actuator's internal limit has been reached. Return it to OFF position for AUTO TRACKING.
8.10) Switch #8: SOUTH OVERRIDE OFF when pushed in at the bottom. Manually move the tracker South
(elevate) by depressing the top of Dip Switch #8. The tracker will track to the North and then stop once the
elevation actuator's internal limit has been reached. Return it to OFF position for AUTO TRACKING.
8.11) Setting the Sensor Light Sensitivity: The sensor sensitivity is preset at the factory. Inside the controller
chassis are two adjustment potentiometers for light sensitivity. They are a single-turn pot: clockwise rotation
equals greater sensitivity, counter-clockwise rotation equals lower sensitivity. Only qualified personnel
should perform this adjustment. Do not turn more than ½ turn in either direction!
Setting Preferences and Operating
and the Elevation actuator operates 2
the Tracker Controller
nd
. At night, the array maintains a steep tilt. When
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