LED3 LED Sensor Electronic Tracker with H-Bridge Drive.

LED3
I decided to make a commercial surface mount PC board using the LED2 sensor
concept. It is quite sensitive and can track to a few degrees of accuracy in bright
sunlight. If a blocking shadow is used the accuracy is better then 1/4°, that's about as
good as you can get with an active feedback sensor. The board is a tiny .7"x1.4".
Note! I have replaced the LED3 with the much more capable LED3X series of solar
trackers. See below.
This circuit uses power MOSFET drivers and is designed to operate satellite dish
linear actuators, however most any DC motor can be used. The power drivers are
capable of delivering about 10 amps of peak current, maybe more. When better
transistors become available this current can be increased. The drivers operate the
actuators in pulses of about .3 second every 3 seconds or a 10% duty cycle. This
eliminates the needed for a heat sink on the transistors. Neat huh!
I haven't decided if 10% is the best duty cycle to use. Less will make the tracking
slower but, we don't need speed anyway. I will determine this when I get better
weather. Slow tracking speed helps in partly cloudy condition. This prevents the
tracker from making unnecessary movements when clouds move by.
No electrical adjustments are required. The LEDs can be mechanically adjusted for
optimum tracking performance by aiming them after the circuit board is mounted.
led3shadow
To improve accuracy, ie. with concentrators such as troughs or dishes, a blocking
shadow can be placed in front. The shadow just covers the two inner LEDs when
aimed at the sun. Similar to the shadow on the Chace Tracker.
I have used a band of metal about .5" in width at about 6" from the LED3. If the
LED3 is used for E-W tracking the band is oriented N-S. Conversely, if the LED3 is
used for N-S tracking the band is oriented E-W. The shadow device is not particularly
critical. For instance, I have used black electrical tape on the weather dome and it
worked well.
led3specifications

Power S 8 Volts to 22 Volts inclusive.

upply Vo The 8V minimum is specified to prevent damage to the MOSFET
ltage power drivers. The damage is due to operating them in the linear
region with a load. This causes excessive power to be dissipated in the
MOSFET with a resultant damaging temperature rise.
The 22 volt maximum is defined by the voltage tolerance of 24V
protection zener. This zener protects the power MOSFETs from
seeing damaging breakdown voltages. During testing I had several
failures when operating from a car battery while the alternator was

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 running. It was determined that the alternator was producing voltage
spikes in excess of the 30V breakdown specification of the MOSFETs.
The 24V zener has an initial tolerance of 5%. So the maximum
continuous voltage that can be applied before conduction can occur is
22.8V or so.
Most PV panels don't output more than 22V in open circuit. You
should check for sure. If they do go to high in voltage a simple power
regulator should be added to limit the maximum voltage.
Load Cu 5 Amp resistive.
rrent Co The power MOSFETs are rated at over 10A at 25°F. A conservative
ntinuous derating of 50% is prudent especially in hot weather conditions.
Load Cu 10 Amp intermitant at 10mS width once per timing cycle.
rrent Int The Power MOSFETs have an absolute maximum current rating of
ermitant 30A, but this is with ideal conditions where the temperature is 25°F
and very fast gate rise times. The LED3 has a relatively slow gate rise
time and may be operated at quite high temperatures sue to the
weather. I think 10A at about 10mS is adequate for normal tracking
applications.
If higher current motors are required a power amplifier may be
needed. See:
http://www.redrok.com/electron.htm#power
I should note that the satellite dish actuator I use normally consumes
about 290mA of current at 13.8VDC. This actuator is capable of
driving a 15' dish with 1500lb of force. You don't need a high
powered drive, just a slow forceful one.
Think slow!
Operatin -40°F to 185°F or -40°C to 85°C
g Tempe
rature

semiconductor

Transistor's I've Used

mosfet
nch ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
IRFB 100V 59.00 25mΩ 5.5Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $2.99
59N1 A 0, integr
0D TO-26 al
2 100V
Zener
+-30V
Gate
IRFP 500V 20.00 270m 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-24 with $6.28
460 A Ω 7 integr
al
500V
Zener
IRF8 500V 8.00A 850m 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $2.79
40 Ω 0 integr
al
500V
Zener
FQP4 150V 45.60 42mΩ 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 +-25V $2.08
6N15 A 0 Gate
STP4 120V 40.00 32mΩ 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.87
0NF1 A 0 integr
2 al

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 120V
Zener
IRF5 100V 9.70A 200m 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.23
20N Ω 0 integr
al
100V
Zener
NDP7 80V 60.00 22mΩ 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $?.??
08AE A 0, integr
T0-26 al
2AB 80V
Zener
IRFZ 60V 72.00 12mΩ 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $2.13
48V A 0 integr
al
60V
Zener
IRFZ 60V 55.00 16.5m 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.68
44N A Ω 0 integr
al
60V
Zener
RF1S 60V 50.00 22.0m 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-26 with $?.??
50V6 A Ω 2AA integr
0 al
60V
Zener
175°C
MTP 60V 42.00 28mΩ 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $?.??
50N0 A 0 integr
6V al
60V
Zener
IRFZ 60V 30.00 50mΩ 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.38
34 A 0 integr
al
60V
Zener
IRF1 55V 169.0 5.3m 4.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $3.02
405 0A Ω 0 integr
al
55V
Zener
IRF3 150V 27.00 70mΩ 3.21Vt Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.86
315 A h 0 integr
@3Ω al
4.0Vth 120V IRF3315 Ron vs. Vgs
Zener
IRF7 30V 4.00A 29mΩ 3.0Vth Dual N/N- SO-8 with $2.37
313 Ch integr
al
30V
Zener
2N70 60V 0.30A 5000 2.5Vth Single N-Ch SOT- Philli $0.41
02 mΩ 23 ps
NXP

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 +-30V
Gate
VN22 60V 0.23A 7500 2.5Vth Single N-Ch TO-92 $0.57
22LL mΩ
2N70 60V 0.20A 5000 2.45Vt Single N-Ch TO-92 +-20V $0.42
00 mΩ h , Gate
@30Ω SOT-
3.0Vth 23 2N7000 Ron vs. Vgs
VN01 60V 2.50A 5000 2.4Vth Single N-Ch TO-92 $?.??
06 mΩ

VN0106 Ron vs. Vgs

ZVN3 60V 0.30A 5000 2.4Vth Single N-Ch TO-92 $0.78
306A mΩ
VN21 60V 0.30A 6000 2.4Vth Single N-Ch TO-92 $0.72
06 mΩ
HUF7 30V 75.00 9mΩ 2.15Vt Single N-Ch TO-22 with $?.??
6137P A h 0AB integr
3 @3Ω al
3.0Vth 30V HUF76137P3 Ron vs. Vgs
Zener
IRLI 30V 61.00 7mΩ 2.01Vt Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.70
2203 A h 0 integr
N @3Ω Insula al
2.5Vth ted 30V IRLI2203N Ron vs. Vgs
Fullpa Zener
ck
IRL5 100V 36.00 44mΩ 2.0Vth Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.23
40N A 0 integr
al
100V
Zener
VN10 60V 0.30A 5000 1.92Vt Single N-Ch TO-92 $0.68
LP mΩ h
@30Ω
2.5Vth VN10LP Ron vs. Vgs
SI344 60V 4.00A 70mΩ 1.8Vth Single N-Ch TSOP +-8V $0.66
2DV -6 Gate
IRLZ 55V 47.00 22mΩ 1.76Vt Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.67
44N A h 0 integr
@3Ω al
2.5Vth 55V IRLZ44N Ron vs. Vgs
Zener
BS10 200V 0.10A 28000 1.76Vt Single N-Ch TO-92 $0.91
7PT mΩ h E-line
@30Ω
2.5Vth BS107PT Ron vs. Vgs
RFP3 60V 30.00 47mΩ 1.75Vt Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.09
0N06 A h 0 integr
LE @3Ω TO-26 al
2.0Vth 3AB 60V RFP30N06LE Ron vs. Vgs
Zener
Gate
Protec
tion

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 Zener
IRF3 30V 62.00 12mΩ 1.67Vt Single N-Ch TO-22 with $1.74
708 A h 0 integr
@3Ω TO-26 al
2.0Vth 2 30V IRF3708 Ron vs. Vgs
Zener
ZVN2 60V 0.45A 6000 1.65Vt Single N-Ch TO-92 $0.72
106A mΩ h E-
@30Ω Line
2.4Vth ZVN2106A Ron vs. Vgs
2SK3 60V 2.00A 320m 1.5Vth Single N-Ch SC-62 Gate $0.83
065 Ω Protec
tion
Zener
ZVN 200V 0.20A 10000 1.35Vt Single N-Ch TO-92 $0.78
L120 mΩ h
A @30Ω
1.5Vth ZVNL120A Ron vs. Vgs
DMN 50V 0.30A 2000 1.0Vth Dual N/N- SOT- with $0.58
5L06 mΩ Ch 563 integr
VAK al
50V
Zener
DN25 300V 0.17A 12000 -1.0Vt Single N-Ch TO-92 Deplet $0.71
30 mΩ h , ion
SOT- Mode
89
DN35 450V 0.20A 20000 -1.5Vt Single N-Ch TO-92 Deplet $0.82
45 mΩ h , ion
SOT- Mode
89
CPC3 250V 0.36A 4000 -1.6Vt Single N-Ch SOT- Deplet $0.95
703 mΩ h 89 ion
Mode
VSG vs IS @ VDG of
15V,10V,5V
nchpch
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Si453 30/-30 4.90/- 36/53 1.0/-1. Dual N/P- SO-8 $2.06
9ADY V 3.70A mΩ 0Vth Ch
Si451 20/-20 5.80/- 33/50 1.8/-1. Dual N/P- SO-8 $2.06
1DY V 3.710 0mΩ 4Vth Ch
A
Si450 20/-20 5.30/- 30/10 1.5/-1. Dual N/P- SO-8 $1.46
0BDY V 3.10A 0mΩ 5Vth Ch
pch
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Si102 -20V -0.40 1200 -0.8Vt Dual P/P- SOT- $0.52
3X A mΩ h Ch 563
IRF7 -12V -13.00 7mΩ -0.9Vt Single P-Ch SO-8 with $2.03
410 A h integr
al -12
V
Zener
Si494 -30V -3.90 80mΩ -1.0Vt Dual P/P- SOIC- $1.22
7ADY A h Ch 8

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SPP1 -60V -18.60 130m -2.34 Single P-Ch TO-22 $1.31
8P06 A Ω Vth 0
P @30Ω
-2.8Vt SPP18P06P Ron vs. Vgs
h

MTD -60V -5.00 340m -2.86 Single P-Ch DPA with $1.07
5P06 A Ω Vth C3 integr
V @30Ω pin al -60
-4.0Vt V MTD5P06V Ron vs. Vgs
h Zener
VP06 -60V -0.12 10000 -3.5Vt Single P-Ch SO-23 -+30V $?.??
10T A mΩ h Gate
IRF7 -30V -4.90 58mΩ -3.0Vt Dual P/P- SO-8 with $1.17
316 A h Ch integr
al -30
V
Zener
IRF9 -60V -18.00 140m -3.13 Single P-Ch TO-22 with $1.39
Z34 A Ω Vth 0 integr
@30Ω al -60
-4.0Vt V IRF9Z34 Ron vs. Vgs
h Zener
IRF4 -55V -74.00 20mΩ -3.30 Single P-Ch TO-22 with $2.81
905 A Vth 0 integr
@3Ω al -55
-4.0Vt V IRF4905 Ron vs. Vgs
h Zener
IRF5 -55V -31.00 6mΩ -4.0Vt Single P-Ch TO-22 with $1.61
305 A h 0 integr
al -55
V
Zener
IRF5 -100V -18.00 60mΩ -4.0Vt Single P-Ch TO-22 with $2.66
210 A h 0 integr
al -10
0V
Zener
bipolar
npn ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
KSC2 300V 0.10A 1.0W 120Hf Single NPN TO-92 $0.11
330Y e L
BU
2SD6 80V 1.00A 0.9W 160Hf Single NPN TO-92 $?.??
67 e MOD
2N22 75V 0.60A 0.5W 35Hfe Single NPN TO-18 Metal $0.96
22A Can
TIP1 60V 5.00A 1000 Single NPN TO-22 Darlin $0.68
20 Hfe 0 gton
.12K
Ω/8K
Ω
BC33 45V 0.80A 0.625 60Hfe Single NPN TO-92 $0.44
7 W
BC55 45V 0.10A 0.5W 110Hf Single NPN TO-92 $0.52
0 e

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BD13 45V 1.50A 12.5 40Hfe Single NPN TO-12 $0.62
5 W 6
MPS 45V 0.10A .625 400Hf Single NPN TO-92 $0.52
A18 W e

2N39 40V 0.20A 0.625 40Hfe Single NPN TO-92 $0.42

04 W
pnp
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
2N39 -40V -0.2A 0.625 40Hfe Single PNP TO-92 $0.46
06 W
BC32 -45V -0.80 0.625 100Hf Single PNP TO-92 $0.43
7 A W e

BC56 -45V -0.10 0.5W 110Hf Single PNP TO-92 $0.29

0 A e

BD13 -45V -1.50 12.5 40Hfe Single PNP TO-12 $0.62

6 A W 6
2N29 -60V -0.60 .4W 75Hfe Single PNP TO-18 Metal $0.92
07A A Can
2SB1 -80V -1.00 1.0W 180Hf Single PNP SC-63 $0.98
181 A e

TIP1 -100V -5.00 1000 Single PNP TO-22 Darlin $0.60

27 A Hfe 0 gton
.12K
Ω/8K
Ω
regulator
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
LM31 40V 1.50A 1.25V 100 2.5ΔV Positi TO-22
7 adj µA ve 0
LM31 80V 0.10A 1.25V 100 1.9ΔV Positi TO-92
7L adj µA ve
LM31 Positi Excel
7 ve file
opamp
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
LM12 32V 20mA 3000 0.5m 0.25V Quad DIP-1
4A µVos Hz /µS 4
LM35 32V 20mA 7000 0.5m 0.25V Dual DIP-8
8A µVos Hz /µS
AD86 16V 19mA 23 1.3m 2.50V Dual
SOIC-
39 µVos Hz /µS 8
comparato
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
------
LM33 36V 6mA 2mVos 1.3µS 300nS Quad
DIP-1
9A 4
LM39 36V 6mA 5mVos 1.3µS 300nS Quad DIP-8
3A
------
tempsensor
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
LM50 4.5V- 130 100m +-2°C Analo SING SOT-
BIM3 10V µA V g LE 23
X @ -40
°C
1750
mV
@
125°C

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diode
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
1N54 400V 3.00A 1.00V 3.00 150°C DO-2 Silico
04 @3A W 01AD n
1N40 400V 1.00A 1.10V 3.00 175°C DO-2 Silico
04 @1A W 01AD n
HSS8 200V 0.125 1.00V 0.40 200°C DO-3 Schott
2 A @ W 4 ky
100m
A
1N41 100V 0.30A 1.00V 0.50 175°C DO-3 Silico
48 @ W 5 n
10mA
PMB 100V 0.215 0.82V 0.25 150°C Dual SOT- Silico
D700 A @ W 23 n
0 10mA
BAW 85V 0.200 0.855 0.35 150°C Dual SOT- Silico
56 A V W 23 n
@
10mA
MMB 75V 0.200 1.00V 0.35 150°C SOT- Silico
D414 A @ W 23 n
8 10mA
BAS4 75V 0.20A 1.00V 0.25 150°C SOD3 Silico
16 @ W 23 n
10mA
1N27 50V 0.040 1.00V 0.05 90°C 0.8pF DO-7 Germ
0 A @ W anium
200m
A
SB54 40V 5.00A 0.55V 2.75 125°C DO-2 Schott
0 @5A W 01AD ky
RSX5 20V 5.00A 0.39V 1.50 125°C SOD- Schott
01L-2 @3A W 106 ky
0
G331 20V 0.050 1.00V 0.05 75°C DO-7 Germ
A @ W anium
5mA
zener
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
2EZ1 110V 17mA 2.00 4000 150°C 5% DO-4 Zener
10D5 @ W Ω 1
4.5m
A
1N47 51V 20mA 1.00 1,5K 175°C 5% DO-4 Zener
57 @250 W Ω 1
µA
1N46 5.1V 70mA 0.40 1.5K 175°C 5% DO-3 Zener
25 @ W Ω 5
5mA
BZX8 2.7V 83mA 0.225 1.5K 150°C 10% SOT- Zener
4C2V @ W Ω 23
7LT1 5mA

chace

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The circuit board and sensor assembly of the Chace tracker.
The circuit is not water proof so a protective plastic dome is needed. I have used 2
liter clear plastic soda bottles. They last a long time, at least 5 years for one I have
used, probably a lot more. This circuit will fit into the 20 Oz. size. The plastic bottle
chosen needs to have a round bottom, the type that comes with the black plastic
bottom which is removed. The type with the molded in feet don't work very well as
they diffract the light too much.
Glass jars are even worse optically if looking through the bottom.
Any one out there with a good idea for a better weather dome?
In Minnesota I have snow that builds up on the top of the dome. This snow is quite
reflective and can confuse the sensors as to the correct direction for the brightest
portion of the sky when in the sky is overcast. It's easy to just brush the snow of but
this is not always timely. I have experimented with putting black opaque paper inside
the dome to eliminate the light from the snow. Another paper light blocker can be put
under the sensors to stop the reflected light from the snow on the ground.
dome

Dome on Chace tacker

This weather dome is made from a 2 liter pop bottle.
Pasted from <http://www.redrok.com/electron.htm#led3>

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