Solar Tracking

Solar Tracking is usually a mechanical method of maintaininng a solar device aligned perpendicular to the sun for maximum solar exposure. They can track in one plane [east to west] or in 2 planes by having adjustment in vertical direction as well as horizontal. Generally this process is automatic but manual vertical tracking is often done only seasonally. An old style satellite dish mount can be used for tracking mount and can be either controlled by a computer or with a custom circuit that follows the bright area of the sky. Tracking the sun even hourly can increase the output of photovoltaic panels by at least 50% on average over fixed panels. Since a tracker is cheaper than adding 50% more panels in any largish system it is a very good way to optimize your production for minimal cost.