(Repairable) Tracker actuator available

[michiel]

Hi,

Two years ago now I purchased 3x Lorents ETATRACK 1500 trackers from wind and sun.
A year ago one of the Actuators gave up and was duly replaced by afore mentioned supplier.

A couple of weeks ago another gave up the spirit.
After speaking to wind and sun, and expressing concern about the final 3rd original one maybe giving up as well, they agreed to send me 2 replacement ones.
(Good service, and would recommend this company)

I now have 2 faulty actuators Type 36" here.
Having looked a bit closer and opened one up I can see and hear the motor running ok.
The gearing is ok and the main driveshaft turns.
I assume that at the end of this shaft there is some sort of 'worm wheel' that works the extending part.
It is this connection that has failed. Maybe worn, or part come loose??
I have not been able (yet) to get access to this bit. Still working out how to do.

Anyway, I want to keep one as spare and have one to give away to anyone with use for it.
Am pretty sure is repairable.
Remember, is actuator only, not control box.
Works of 12V. Should not be too big a job to design simple time driven system?? Nice challenge

I could stick on pallet if taker organises uplift.

Michiel

(Am in Perthshire)

[michiel]

Hi,

Maybe didn't make it clear enough, but this item is for free.

Does anyone here know exactly how the drive works, within the shaft?

[MR GUS]

I'd like to register my interest at such a great & generous offer!
(nips off to check out Lorentz, it's been a while) 

[Other-Power]

I too would be intrested.

Cheers

Jon

[Baz]

I'm just intrigued now to know what the fault is. Expect a full pictorial report from whoever end up with it. 

[ecogeorge]

As someone who has a new Lorentz tracker, I'm interested in the fault analysis.

[michiel]

Hi,

Mr Gus,

I have pm'd you my address.
I will get it wrapped up securely, so if you let me know when it will be collected please.

Michiel

[michiel]

Hello,

Mr Gus,

Are you still interested?
Did you get my pm?

I offered it you first as you replied first.

Michiel

[biff]

come on gus,,,
               there is a que for this piece of marvelous engineering.get in there.!!!
                                                                                                  biff

[Other-Power]

 

[michiel]

Other-Power,

I see Gus has not been on the site since the 22nd.
Did pm him though.
Think it is only fair to give him till tomorrow night to re-ply.
If no re-ply by Sum.AM, it's yours.

Michiel

[clockmanFR]

Very interesting.

I am just about to start manufacturing PV Tracker array frames.
Each is about 1.5kw PV, and will be in total (with panels) 232Kgs with size 4m by 3.4m and 1.4m from the ground. They are perfectly balanced on a central double pivot arrangement.

I am interested in the actuator arm and its workings, is it similar to an electric gate opening actuator?, as i have been considering some off the shelf arms that will operate about 400kgs.

I need the arms to then work out all the appropriate angle distances.

Any comments please.

[ecogeorge]

As per your pm - manual in post (copy) I gave up trying to scan it to email.
rgds George.

[biff]

lo clockman,
          for a while there during the summer i made an effort to knock a tracker together out of scaffold pole,two front stubbs(wheels) and a slewing gear of a hiab driven by a 24volt hydraulic pump, i believe the whole set up can be controlled from inside my house.
   however ,due to circumstances beyond my control it will be next spring before i can lay a hand on it,i am not in a position to do it.
   but the idea is ok, the scaffold pole is a bit ignorant to say the least but can easily be replaced by boxs iron when i get the balance right. i am not worried about perfect tracking,instead i would like to think i could manually regulate the amount of desirable power coming in by the angle to the sun,in other words i could move it away from the sun in minutes at the touch of a button, other than that it can be set on a timer to move so many degrees every 3 hours.
  the base of the slewing gear is very heavy and if secured to the ground(through the side jacks) would make an exellent anchor for the whole array so that wind resistance would be on par with the big lorenz concrete affair. this design could be relocated elswhere on site because the two wheels can act as carriers,adjusted to forward and backward motion as opposed to circular motion when tracking,it could be moved with a teleporter or 4ton forklift,, worth some consideration,if only to be different.
                                                                                   biff

[michiel]

Other-Power.

Have PM'd you, ref actuator.

Michiel