Three Things to Look for While Buying Mini Trackers
Mini trackers are useful little devices that can help you in optimizing the use of your solar panels and achieving greater power generation. They trace their origin to the early years of solar energy development, when scientists and engineers started making inroads into domestic use of solar panels.
These panels were not large enough to be latched onto industrial size trackers and there was a need for smaller size. These trackers were introduced to tap into that market and now they have become popular among residential users.
Size
If you are planning to install mini trackers in your home then it is important to take the measurements of your solar panels. A tracker should not be equal to the size of a solar panel because it will block its movement instead of supporting it.
As a rough guide, the framework of a tracker should be less than 20 percent of the diameter of the panels. If you have installed smaller solar panels then it will become even more important to select the right size. Get one that is too big and it will interfere will power harvesting. Get on too small and it won’t be able to influence the panels.
Type
Mini trackers are as diverse as their standard size cousins. You can purchase trackers that can rotate on a single axis as well as trackers that have a dual-axis rotation. It is also possible to purchase trackers that have a passive mode of action and those that can actively chase the sun. You will be able to find the right type for your solar panels after taking into account a number of factors.
• Location: It is important that you consider the location of the trackers as areas with low light need trackers with greater harvesting power.
• Pattern of the sun: If you live in an area where sunlight hits the ground at a steep angle then it is better to install a dual-axis tracker. This will ensure that solar panels are working at maximum efficiency irrespective of that angle.
Cost
Costs can vary significantly in mini trackers as there are many shapes, designs and capabilities. You can start paring down the costs by looking at the features available on the different trackers. A dual-axis tracker with an affordable price will be the best option whereas a single-axis tracker with passive operation can be the least favorite.
The cost of installation also plays an important role in estimating the total spend. While trackers are a relatively simple technology, their implementation isn’t always straightforward. The more complex your solar array, the more complex it will be to fit trackers.
As you would imagine, it’s far easier, and cheaper to fit a solar tracker when everything is being installed, but isn’t impossible to fit after the fact. Fitting them later will of course add to the cost.
The type of tracker and solar array will also influence the price. Roof mounted panels will require a little more installation than a pole mounted setup. Multiple panels will need multiple trackers, so that’s a factor too.