Low-Cost Solar Tracking Device for Household

The frequent power out in South Africa has led most households to install static solar panels to try to remain powered during power outage periods. Solar energy is not harvested to its full potential by static solar panel systems. This paper forms part of the ongoing investigation and demonstrates the hardware design and implementation of a dual-axis solar tracking system, ensuring that the solar panel maintains a perpendicular profile to the sun to capture the most solar energy possible. With the help of a DC motor, the LDRs detect changes in the sun’s position, which are caused by corresponding changes in the position of the solar panels. With the suggested system in place, more energy will be produced than with a standard system while using much less energy itself. Households will be able to harvest more solar energy and continue to use affordable electricity if solar energy harvesting efficiency is improved. This work’s second part and extended version focus on the simulation and verification of the design for possible commercial scale.