Traditional Chinese Practical Solar Stove Automatic Tracker: Circuit Design, Parts List & Workshop Prototype Guide

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Solar cooker automatic trackerWith the world's energy shortage, solar energy is being developed and utilized by people, among which solar cookers bear the brunt and are gradually being promoted. However, because most of the current household solar cookers have fixed positions, their light receiving efficiency is low and they cannot fully utilize the true efficiency of solar energy. In order to enable the solar cooker to rotate in time with the position of the sun, receive direct sunlight every moment, and obtain the highest light reception efficiency, the solution is to make the solar cooker rotate on its own with the position of the sun, that is, synchronous tracking. The solar cooker automatic tracker introduced in this article has the function of synchronous tracking. It is characterized by simple structure, easy to make and install, and is very suitable for use in household solar cookers.1． How the circuit worksSolar cookers convert sunlight energy into heat energy, that is, solar cookers only have thermal energy effects when there is sunlight. It just so happens that the light resistance and dark resistance of phototransistors, photodiodes or photoresistors change significantly when there is or is no sunlight. They can be used to track the presence or absence of sunlight and control the rotation and stop of the solar cooker.The circuit of the solar cooker automatic tracker is shown in Figure 59-1. Figure 59-1When sunlight shines on the phototransistor BG1, the dark resistance of BG1 decreases, causing the base potential of BG2 to drop to nearly zero volts. Since BG2 has no base voltage cut-off, its collector potential rises, causing the BG3 tube to conduct, and the relay J is electrically closed, and its normally open contact J1 is closed, and the power supply of the motor M is connected. The motor runs, drives the reduction gear, and drives the solar cell. The solar cooker rotates clockwise. When it moves to a certain angle, the light received by the photosensitive triode weakens, and its dark resistance becomes larger, and finally it is almost open circuit, causing BG2 to conduct, BG3 to cut off, the relay J is released, the normally open contact disconnects the power of the motor, the motor stops running, and the solar cooker stops accordingly, so that the solar cooker remains in the state of receiving direct sunlight and has the highest light receiving efficiency.When the position of the sun moves and shines on the phototransistor again, the solar cooker has deviated from the direction of direct sunlight, the circuit flips again, and the motor drives the solar cooker to rotate with the sun again. Repeatedly in this way, the solar cooker automatically tracks the direct sunlight.2. Mechanical transmission systemThere are many types of mechanical transmission systems for solar cookers. Figure 59-2 shows the commonly used mechanical transmission method. It is composed of a motor and a reduction mechanism. Other transmission and reduction methods can also be used. Figure 59-2When using it, considering that the power required for the rotation of the solar cooker is not large, the transmission mechanism of a car wiper can be used, which will be much more convenient to make.The mechanical transmission mechanism of the car wiper is shown in Figure 59-3. Figure 59-3The working voltage of the car wiper is 12V. It has two speeds under the rated working voltage. …

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