Campatracka.com customer photos

New Sensor Store Front up and running. Or go here to buy a tracker online Linier Actuator Store Front Home Page Customer DIY page 2

This Page is to say thank you to those who have bought my Trackers and or Sensors etc

If you have photos of your diy tracker, or any info you wish to share with other amp-grabbing enthusiasts like myself, using my sensors or actuators, simply send me a photo or two and your thoughts ok. And they will be posted here.
If you have a web site of interest to the DIY people and have bought sensors or a tracker from me, include your web address and I will add a link to it for you from here.
A customers story on amps gained using a V3 Solar tracker
From Jeff H of QLD Australia If I have you on this page and you did not wish to be, please email dave@campatracka.com and you will be removed ok.
I have so many emails and phtots from customers I may have put you here in error.

Denny T of MI USA beside his Campatracka PMTHDA his coments=
David,
I just wanted to let you know I got my tracker installed and so far it has worked well. I have observed it in sustained 30 mph winds and it shimmies a little but seems solid. I have 2 x 90 watt panels installed on it. On a sunny day it has the batteries recharged by 11:00 am! I'm going to need to add to my load just to use some of this "extra power". I've enclosed a picture of me standing next to the unit. I hope all is well and let me know how you are.
Denny

Comment from Dave
Note how close Denny has placed his batteries to the tracker/panels.. a must-do when using 12v solar on a small scale.
Always, always, keep 12v systems on as short of possible distance from panels. many people do not realise how much volts and current is lost when you have long cables on 12 volts. the drop over just 10mtrs is significant. So it is worth remembering that the higher the volts the less is lost over distance in cables.
He has also kept the height to a minimum, also a must do for any sized solar tracker. Wind and panels x sail-area = disaster. 10/10 Denny. Always keep tracker as low as possible. if high wind is imminent, try parking your tracker flat, or slightly facing the wind so it diverts wind over the panels, not under them.
top job Denny.
Dave

Note how well covered the mirror is when not in use
You don't want a panic stricken local calling in the ufo hunters all because of your mirror

From memory Gordon said there was around 3000 x 1" mirrors stuck onto the sat-dish.
I hope to do a full page article on Gordon's system and exactly what it does when time, and Gordon's permitting and knowledge allows me to do so

Gordon is using my SDA dual axis sensors, 12v, to run his heater dish for house heating. You will see he has done a top job here, and has used a cleverly positioned counter-balance to ease the load on the 36v linier actuators to help the 12v supply.
Gordon and I have sent sensors and LEDS and micros back and forth for months to get the beast tracking to the point where the target is held on the receptor, = constant heat for his recirculating hot water system. it seems we have finally won the battle there.
I thank Gordon for his patience and persistence, as his need has helped me better understand the need of accurate sensors on water heating systems like his.
it is an amazing mirror. A lump of 4x2 timber held in the beam will instantly burst into flames. I just hope my sensors don't start tracking low-flying FA18's, or they may get a hot butt and think a SAM is locked onto them. haha. Can't happen of course. can it???
I hope to add more about Gordon's Mirror when time permits. He has done all the research and spent countless hours getting it right, and I have spent similar hours modifying my Sensors for the task he needed them to do.
I am still actually working on the best sensor I can for this purpose. My normal std issue dual axis simply was not good enough, and will soon have ready my new Dual Axis mirror sensors. Soon, I hope.
Dave

Below , John has used my SDA dual axis sensors to run his very well designed and built dual axis Tracker.
Perhaps the best DIY tracker I have seen to date. Very tidy Job

Johns email is shelka04@yahoo.com
I will only include your email or other contact info if you request I do so. Hence the inclusion of Johns email

Johns Email
Dave,
First off thanks for the info.
Figured since I didn't have yet another question for you that I'd share some end result.
I've attached a picture of my beast. Another one will follow with panels on it, but I figured you probably would be more interested in what's under the panels. For scale, the support post is almost 11 feet tall, that cinder block wall to the rear is 7 feet tall, the width of the yoke along the top is just under 8 feet and the cross members that the panels will go on are just over 15 feet.
If ya get people sending you pictures of their creation and ever put them on a web page, feel free to include mine, as well as contact info for anyone who might have question about it, I figure the more the merrier.
Cheers, -John
Dave's Coments
John K 's tracker he built to the most professional standard I have seen yet for a DIY job. First class all round John.
Note he has used tandem Actuators for east/west to help stop any shimmying in wind. If you do this make sure that your actuators travel at the same speed and have the exact same travel length. Some use a yoke set-up as used on stage couches for balancing the pulling force of two horses side by side. I know one chap did this only to find he had one actuator faster than the other. He asked how to overcome this without the need of the yoke idea. I suggested a heavy valve spring from a 600 horsepower Cummins truck engine, it did the job and took up the slack of the slowest moving actuator.
As with little problems regarding solar trackers, the answer is usually simple... you just need to sit back and think for a while.
Johns email is shelka04@yahoo.com
I will only include your email or other contact info if you request I do so. Hence the inclusion of Johns email

On Left is Jilden's DIY tracker. I was particularly impressed with his bush method to get the pole upright using a pivot at the bottom of the pole and the hydraulic jack. He even used a safety chain. Jilden's home brewed Work-place-health & safety. Reminded me of me and my truck repair days. Using whatever I could find when tyring to get a half ton 15 speed roadranger gearbox into a kenworth truck on the side of the road at 3am in the freezing rain. I used to use whatever was about, including but not limited to some poor farmers fencing wire when needed.
Great stuff Jilden.

Vittorio of Victoria Australia Built this little rippa to keep a garden light running.

On Left, Vittorio's mini tracker which he said he built mainly to see if he could do it, more than a need.
You can see he went to great measures to insure he waterproofed my axetracka sensors.
He told me in an email, that after he sealed my box he held it under water using bricks to stop it floating, and left it overnight to be sure he had it sealed. Now that, people, is dedication to perfection.
A very neat and tidy job all round.
He used a DYSEQ Satellite Actuator. And they do a great job. I made one also and it handles a 80watt Suntech panel very well. But keep the wind factor in mind people.

I am impressed with Vittorio's very neatly made battery box with everything in its place. He would likely die in horror if he saw my workspace. totally out of control and unruly is my way.

I will continue adding peoples DIY to this and other pages when time permits. If you have built a tracker or heater dish tracker using my sensors etc please send in a couple photos and any thoughts you may have to share with others.
Remember, if you want people to be able to ask you questions please advise me in your msg that you want this done. otherwise I will not put your contact info on the pages.
And remember to,
Smile, Damn it.....! Customer DIY page TWO New Sensor Store Front up and running. Or go here to buy a tracker online Linier Actuator Store Front Home Page