World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

*Ejiko S. O., Ogunlowo M. and Ukachi P. A.

ABSTRACT

Solar tracking devices have been in existence for many years but its affordability is limited to medium income earners. The ability to develop component parts locally will go a long way to reduce the cost, hence the development of light positioning detector. Overview of the contributions of some authors in solar tracking technology is presented to highlight some disadvantages that are expected to be tackled. In the development of the light positioning detector, a four quadrants sensor (light dependent resistors) was used as the detector, which serves as a medium for sensing positional change of the sun and in turn influences the repositioning of the solar panel. Signal from the (Solar Tracking Sensor) STS is fed through the potentiometer (10k variable resistors) and the IN4001 diodes, (having all their cathodes connected to the terminal 6(VIN) of ADC0804LNC (Comparator) - Slave micro-controller. This compares the input signal with the reference voltage and the error signal (the difference) is sent through the parallel port to AT89352 - Master micro- controller that then executes pre-defined task in its software. The micro-controller in line with the pre-defined programme written on its software scans through the LEDs and gives a stable signal (voltage) to those LEDs corresponding to the ?exposed? STS quadrant. The prototype light positioning detector was implemented to save cost using local content and affordable microcontroller.

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