As you can see from the projects listed below on this page, I am currently working to make sun tracking and heliostats more accessible to the DIY hobbyist.
The quickest way to see what has been accomplished with this project so far is by watching the video below. There is still much more to be done, but, as you can see from the video, quite a bit of progress has already been made.
If you are unfamiliar with the term, heliostats are generally used for solar energy. Although not as popular as solar panels, they can potentially give you access to considerable amounts of untapped heat energy for a much lower price, assuming, of course, you build it yourself.
Arduino Controlled Sun Tracking / Heliostat System
The links below show how my Arduino controlled heliostat array works. I’m still working hard to test everything, but, as it is now, it is ready for beta testers.
Open Source Arduino Sun Tracking/Heliostat Program
On this page you will find a program for the Arduino which is capable of controlling various types of solar machines such as a a dual axis solar panel tracking system, a parabolic dish solar concentrator, and a heliostat. (8/16/10)
Arduino Sun Tracking / Heliostat Electronics Control System
This page will show you how my heliostat / sun tracking electronics control system works and will also give you information which should help you put together your own. (8/03/10)
Heliostat Design Version 2.0: Page 1
Here is the latest version of the heliostat design that I am currently using.
I still have to make some improvements, but it seems to be getting pretty close to the final version. (12/21/10)
I still have to make some improvements, but it seems to be getting pretty close to the final version. (12/21/10)
Single Machine Sun Tracking / Heliostat Electronics Set Up
This page shows off a single machine sun tracking / heliostat electronics set up. A single machine system has fewer parts and is therefore easier to build, so this is a good starter circuit to introduce yourself into the world of sun tracking / heliostat electronics.
Wiring a Step/Dir Type Stepper Motor Driver Board to an Arduino
This page will show you how to wire a step/dir type stepper motor driver board to an Arduino. The driver board used in this particular example is available from Avayan Electronics and has thus far proven to be quite superb.
Heliostat Setup
How Much Energy can you get from a Heliostat?
This page will show you how to find the amount of energy you can get from a heliostat based on your location and the angles between the sun, heliostat, and target. (11/29/10)
How to Maximize Your Heliostat's Efficiency by Choosing Good Targets
This page will show you how you can increase your heliostat's efficiency considerably by simply choosing good targets. (6/24/10)
How to Align your Heliostat for the Visual Basic Sun Tracker Program
This page will show you how you need to align your heliostat for it to work with the Sun Tracker program.
The process is fairly easy to accomplish, but it might seem daunting if you've never done it before. Just take it one step at a time, and you should be fine. (8/04/09)
The process is fairly easy to accomplish, but it might seem daunting if you've never done it before. Just take it one step at a time, and you should be fine. (8/04/09)
Heliostat Range of Movement for Chosen Target Simulation
Before using a target, it's a good idea to double check to see if your heliostat is physically capable of tracking it throughout the day. To make this task easier, I have uploaded a simulator to this page for you to try out.(6/29/10)
Heliostat Target Efficiency Simulator
To make it easier for people to check whether or not their chosen target is the best one, I uploaded a program to this site which will graph how efficiently their heliostat is performing throughout the day. (6/27/10)
Heliostat Safety
Here are a few safety tips that you should keep in mind when operating a heliostat. Much of it is fairly obvious, but I do feel as though I should at least make a couple of things clear.
Understanding Heliostat Targets
When setting up a heliostat, it is necessary to select a target for it. To help make the process clearer, this page contains a handful of pictures along with a few quick paragraphs to explain what’s going on.
Setting up your Solar Machine’s Reset Limit Switches
This page will show you where to put the reset limit switches on either a heliostat or a sun tracking machine (both are set up the same way). Although this page has been written with the Arduino Sun Tracker program in mind, the general concept should be the same if you happen to be using another similar program.
Computer Controlled Heliostat
Visual Basic Sun Tracking / Heliostat Program
This program will calculate the angles needed to correctly position a heliostat or sun tracking machine.
Once finished, it will then send signals through the computer's parallel port in order to control the stepper motors that will move the machine to it's correct orientation.
Once finished, it will then send signals through the computer's parallel port in order to control the stepper motors that will move the machine to it's correct orientation.
Computer Based Heliostat Electronics / Making it Move
This page will cover the electronics you need to buy/scrounge/steal to make your heliostat move. (8/17/09)
Other People’s Heliostat_Projects
Brendan's Heliostat Project
Brendan from heliostats.org has been making some progress with his heliostat project. The gears you see in the above picture were printed out with his Makerbot. Pretty neat idea. A printable heliostat for solar power. The future looks very cool indeed. (8/22/10)
Mark's Heliostat Project
Here is a heliostat which was sent in by Mark. He says that he has had it up and running for about a year now without having to make any recalibrations. It looks pretty cool.
He has several more projects on his site besides just this one, so don't forget to check them out too. (9/17/09)
He has several more projects on his site besides just this one, so don't forget to check them out too. (9/17/09)
Heliostat Project at ZininZelfdoen
Here is a Heliostat project which, if I have my facts correct, was designed and built by industrial design students from Amsterdam. The site itself features several open source solar builds and is definitely worth keeping your eye on in the future.
One thing is certain, the design of this heliostat is a heck of a lot better looking than what I made. :)
One thing is certain, the design of this heliostat is a heck of a lot better looking than what I made. :)
Misc. Heliostat Stuff
Time Lapse Video of a Test Heliostat
Here is a small heliostat that I put together to test the "Sun Tracker" program.
I took a short 20 second time lapse video of it in action.
I took a short 20 second time lapse video of it in action.
Applications for Heliostats
I've started to compile a list of heliostat applications on the forums. Of course, I couldn't possibly have thought of everything, so I need your help.
If you can think of an application where a heliostat would be useful, please share. Crazy ideas are just as important as practical ones. Thanks!
If you can think of an application where a heliostat would be useful, please share. Crazy ideas are just as important as practical ones. Thanks!
Epic Fails and Old Stuff
Here are several old heliostat projects which are what the more recent ones are built upon.
Heliostat Prototype #1
Here is my first decent sized heliostat. It is based on a gimbal design which seems like it should work well. This is still just a prototype, but I figured that I would show it off anyway.
Heliostat Prototype #2
Here is my second decent sized heliostat. I never actually got this one to work right, but I sure as heck gave it my best effort.
I did learn a lot from it though, so it wasn't a complete waste. (8/22/09)
I did learn a lot from it though, so it wasn't a complete waste. (8/22/09)
Heliostat Prototype #3
Here is my third heliostat prototype. Believe it or not, this one actually worked! Finally! Woo Hoo!
I'm not going to go into too much detail here about building it, but it is still interesting to look at. (8/22/09)
I'm not going to go into too much detail here about building it, but it is still interesting to look at. (8/22/09)
Heliostat Array Prototype
Here is a heliostat array prototype. That uses just one pair of stepper motors to control three mirrors. It's still not a perfect design, but it's more than good enough to give me the chance to do some experiments with it.
I hope to be able to test some of my heliostat ideas with it. (9/05/09)
I hope to be able to test some of my heliostat ideas with it. (9/05/09)
Sketchup Model of a Gimbal Heliostat Design
This page will go over a Sketchup model of a heliostat design based on a gimbal.
Hey Gabriel
Very nice site. You’re serious, don’t you? Can i volunteer for a job in the heliostat business already? If I would have to place a bet between you, Brendan and redrok, then I would choose you, you will make it. But we better all make up our minds if we can’t work together rather than to be competitors. I have no idea of programming, but my heliostat design is nicer. It’s not made of wood, I use PVC. Can the Arduino concept be adopted to other sensors as steppermotors? I could define a whishlist for all the functions, a easy to use program for 2-axis heliostats has to meet. Interested?
You want proposals? Melting basalt lava at 1200°C to special-form construction stones. You can build “COS.H.”-houses with this. This is my name for the “Cosinus-Hypertenuse”-principle or “Hyperbolisches Paraboloid”- Constructions. See Architect Gaudi.
Let’s keep contact.
skype: christiantietz77
greetz, Christian
Hey Christian,
The Arduino microcontroller can be adapted to many different tasks. One thing my program does is provide a pretty good template if someone wanted to add things onto it. A temperature sensor for example.
It’s been awhile since anyone has added anything, but people have been posting ideas for heliostat applications on this page of the forum. http://cerebralmeltdown.com/forum/index.php?topic=21.0
You’re welcome too add to it if you want.
I had never seen the Architect Gaudi’s work before now. That’s pretty impressive.
Thanks!
Gabriel
Hi Gabriel!
I’m a 31 year old construction worker living in BC. I’m super interested in renewables and in particular Heliostats. I’m really excited with what you’re doing on this page and I’m actually starting on trying to build one myself. Problem is, I have no experience whatsoever with circuits, programming welding etc and things aren’t going so well. I know that this type of thing would be easy for someone with more experience, but for the average person, this is still quite daunting.
So this is my proposal – Would you be interested in maybe doing some kind of workshop for a weekend or two walking newbies through the construction of a heliostat. I wouldn’t mind shelling out a few hundred bucks and I’m sure there are other people out there like me who need a bit more “hands on” teaching. Just an idea.
I really applaud you for putting all this information together on this webpage – I really think that if this tech. was more widely available, it could really change the world. Thanks,
Paul
Hey Paul,
Holding a workshop is something that has never crossed my mind before. Honestly though I still have some designing to do before I would be able to pass on the knowledge of a complete system.
I’m still working on finding the optimum system and documenting everything along the way. So far this page is a decent rough draft, but there are still some ugly bits that need to be cleaned up.
Next on the list is to come up with a good heliostat design that is easy (or at least as easy as possible) to put together. Then I might take a second look at the electronics to see if I can find some of the components in a kit form.
I’m still working to make everything easier on the average person, but there is still a lot to do.
That said, I knew next to nothing about heliostats, programming, and electronics when I started this project and still managed to muddle through it somehow.
With a bit a thick headed determination, you can do the same.
Gabriel
What is the angular accuracy of your heliostats. I am interested in an accurate heliostat for a small research project. Will you offer a kit containing the parts needed to construct one of your heliostats ?
I’ve never measured the accuracy before, but I can tell you that the one I built (the linear actuator based heliostat) isn’t really all that sturdy and therefore not very accurate. I have also done some experimenting with the Arduino and found that its calculations of the sun’s position are also not super precise.
There is a link on the forums here. In reply #69, I talk about some of the accuracy issues.
http://cerebralmeltdown.com/forum/index.php?topic=293.60
You can also check out Jim’s design on that thread. I am currently undergoing a rebuild of my own heliostat, and it is going to be based on his design.
I currently don’t have any kits available because I don’t have a design finished and working well enough to where I would be confident enough to sell to someone.
What do you want it for exactly?
Pingback: 2 L’Abondance Energetique, et l’abondance en matière première ( que la lumière soit ) | singularite
For heliostat tracking on a single axis without electronics, just rotate the heliostat at a rate of once per around a single axis that points half way between the south direction of the polar axis and the target. Then the mirror needs to be adjusted by tilting forward or back (on the rotating axis, not the fixed modified-polar axis) on a weekly basis as the sun changes position in the sky. Here are my videos about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLVzyrOLl8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBiZPtTo6Wo
my heliostat tourneseul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0XDCczRMzY
for information
Pingback: Contest Entry: Open source sun tracking / Heliostat - BuildLounge » BuildLounge