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THE OZY MADE SOLAR "CAMPA-TRACKA" Inspired by a bushmans Needs, For Fellow Ozy Bushmen |
          
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Answers to some recent questions at CampaTracka.com A; No we don't. As we are manufacturing for the mobile user of solar panels, IE; Metal detector enthusiasts, caravans, campers etc, we have decided to stay within this range. However, if you use a 12 volt voltage regulator you can use the sensors we make to drive heavy duty relays. Q; why aren't the pivot points; namely the lower pivot, welded at the base where they are bent? A; Good question. But the answer is simple. if you happen to assemble your solar panels to the pivot arms slightly out of square, you could twist your panels and cause permanent damage to your panels. This is why they are not welded and also why they only have one bolt. this allows the pivot to absorb any twisting action due to unaligned panels. Sort of like the crush-zone in modern day cars. See the v2 or v3 set-up pages for the correct setting up procedures Q; Why do I need a small 7ah battery? Can't I run it from the batteries I am charging? Or from the Panels? A; Yes you can run the campatracka direct from the panels or from the batteries you are charging. But I recommend the use of a smaller battery exclusively for the tracker simply because, I personally like the tracker away from camp by about 20 feet. Having an exclusive battery means less cable required. Also, this leaves 100% of what you gain from the tracker to your fridge & fridge batteries. It's not a "must", simply better in my opinion. Q; Why are you only using basic solar tracker sensors? would they not be better with reverse inhibit and auto parking? A; The main aim for Campatracka was to keep them as simple as possible for a variety of reasons. Mostly to keep the costs down so the majority of campers can afford to buy them. secondly, if being used for camping only, we don't really see a need to complicate and clutter the system with a maize of electronics that makes things more likely to failure problems. However, we are constantly working on two new solar sensors which will have reverse inhibit etc, but we need to keep the costs and reliability factors in check. And as stated previously; when being used as a part-time or only for a weak or two each year, we don't really see the need to complicate them. But we are working on this issue and will advise everyone on the home page when these are through the testing and reworking and again, retesting stages. Q; Why do my LED sensors move the tracker when I see nothing to force the move? No clouds or anything in sight. A; This can be forced by a variety of conditions. And, is due to the extreme sensitivity of the sensor system. We actually found they will move when we have what's called atmospheric clouding. Simply put, this is when a very high cloud or a sudden change in atmospheric conditions occurs. Invisible to you or I but seen clearly by the LED's because they work on heat more so than actual light. This is one reason, the main reason we are working on the time delay, or reverse inhibit feature. Q; Can I buy just the tracker assembly without the sensors and actuator? A; Certainly you can. just ask for what you want by way of pivot arm lengths etc. But remember they must be less than 140cm for posting reasons. if you require wider than one mtr than we can make extensions the same as on the V3. Q; Can I have two campatracka's side by side but both using the one sensor system? A; Yes, you can. I have experimented with this and you can easily drive two systems, however you can NOT run a third one simply because the relays we use are too light and likely to failure if overloaded. The 2nd tracker would also be discounted due to only one sensor being supplied with two units. FOOT NOTE ON SENSORS; If you really want a more sophisticated Sensor, I would strongly recommend a guy in the USA who makes, what I think, are the best. Look him up on Google and search for redrock solar trackers. He does not sell them boxed and ready for use however. Q; A; Q; A; Q; A; Q; A; |