Eco-Worthy Dual Axis Solar Tracker - Winter Update & Review

[@solojimoutdoors]

How do you keep snow off your panels?

[@Familyadventure369]

What i used was ceramic coating in panels and left it at a 45 to 50 degree angle never had problem again

[@solojimoutdoors]

Great idea! @@Familyadventure369

[@buns52557]

You could try some Rain-X & on your actuator look at inside you controller on your connection those screws that tighten your wires could be corroded there only plate. It only took one winter on my controller for them two rust’ what I did used finger nail polish 😊

[@davewarrant8673]

Have you tried parking it with the most extreme angle possible at night?

[@solojimoutdoors]

@davewarrant8673 Yes, and I think that will do the trick next winter. The most extreme angle I can get is all the way to the East. Hopefully it will then pick up the morning. Thanks for watching

[@danielmcneely1579]

I watched your earlier videos prior to getting my tracker about 5 mos ago. Judging from your hat (Kromer), and what look like Jack pines I’m guessing you’re up around the U.P. I’ve found that if I tilt it all the way east and south it sheds pretty well. The wind protection will still kick if needed, and then the wind kinda keeps them clear. We’re living off-grid full time around Ishpeming, and I’ve decide that more panels is the key due to the cloudy days.

[@solojimoutdoors]

Thank you for the great advice! I will give that a try.

[@amio_roseto1]

thanks for the video, worst case you can find same actuator with more higher N (3000N) in aliexpress, 12 V that should fit instead of the one that stop working if eco-worthy won't replace it, but good to know about the concept or change the position.

[@solojimoutdoors]

Thank you for the info. Eco-Worthy contacted me within 24 hours, and a new actuator is on its way. Hopefully, the problem will be resolved.

[@mustafabyalk8368]

Did you pay for the new actuator?

[@solojimoutdoors]

@mustafabyalk8368 they sent me a link and had me order it directly and credited my account. I had it within 3 days of contacting them. Now I just need to get it installed.

[@byronshepherd8415]

@@solojimoutdoors that's good to hear, and I appreciate the follow-up update. Thanks!

[@mari-leefiducia8640]

Solo Jim , Thanks 😊

[@Fordy357]

Thank you for the video. Very informative. How loud is the tracker? It seems like it’s kind of loud but the video could be magnifying the sound. What are your thoughts?

[@solojimoutdoors]

The video does amplify the sound. The sound is noticeable when it operates but it only makes small adjustments every now and then. It does not bother me.

[@michaelvanallen6400]

*Due to the extreme drop in prices in the solar sector it now makes much more sense to simply install more solar panes instead of a tracker!* Tracker = mechanics & electronics outdoors = susceptible to maintenance and repair! Solar modules = at least 25 years maintenance and repair-free! So that you have yields all day long, you should install them in S-E (in the morning) and S-W direction. In the meantime, however, a solar battery makes more sense.

[@byronshepherd8415]

true, unless, like in my case, space is a factor. With neighbors on a higher elevation and with tall landscaping, there are only so many places I can actually collect light without putting an array right in the middle of the yard. Once the south part of the roof and garage were covered, the only option is a pole-mount array, thus the tracker makes sense. Barring that, yeah, you're right. If you have the space, you can toss $175 440W bifacial panels at the problem all day.

[@karlbrown4635]

putting mine in a small greenhouse to avoid snow wind and hail.

[@bmwalker5816]

if your north south isn't working check the fuses inside the controller. My fuse failed. there is a 10 amp fuse inside.

[@solojimoutdoors]

Thanks. It ended up being the actuator. Eco-Worthy sent me a new one and it is working great now.

[@cindystokes8347]

What is powering your tracker? I keep seeing hooking up car batteries and I don’t even want to mess with this if that is the only way to power it. Isn’t there a way to run it on DC and collect from the panels to power?

[@solojimoutdoors]

It is being powered by my battery bank. When I ran the wires for the solar, I also ran a 14/2 wire back to my batteries so I didn't have to do a separate battery to power the tracker like others have done. Seemed clean and simple to me. Thanks for watching!

[@byronshepherd8415]

yes. you can add a small charge controller and small lithium motorcycle/ATV battery right at the tracker, and they will be powered by one of the solar panel's legs. Since you have to trench to get the panel power to the inverter/batteries anyway, I find it's a good idea to just do what Jim did and run some 14/2 wiring back out to the tracker.

[@justOffgrid-ph7uo]

Can bifacial panels be an solution? They heat up from the back and snow should fall off?

[@solojimoutdoors]

Maybe. Great thought.

[@MrCPPG]

There aren't any 'heaters' in bifacial panels. They merely can collect solar from front and back.

[@byronshepherd8415]

@@MrCPPG I think they mean they don't have the heat-reflective panel on the back like single-face panels, so the reflective albedo from behind the panel actually hits/heats the cells from behind, which might get warmer than the freezing point, and that's all you need.

[@TheFutureisTheFuture]

couldn't you add wire warmers (normally used for pipes) to heat the back of the panels to melt the snow? winter is coming... again... 🙂

[@solojimoutdoors]

Great idea but I am not sure how to do that without it using too much power. This year I changed the angle and added Rain X. I hope it does the trick. Thank you for watching.

[@maandalorian]

You wouldn't need to switch the wires. The actuator extends and shortens the same way, whether upside-down or not.

[@solojimoutdoors]

You are correct. I figured that out real fast when I replaced it. Thank you for your help.

[@maandalorian]

@@solojimoutdoors I had the same problem with one of the actuators. It quit when the temperatures dropped into single digits. Thankfully, however, it resumed function when it warmed up.

[@jeffadams4945]

Before next winter treat with rain ex or car wax

[@solojimoutdoors]

Great idea. Thank you!