What ever happened to solar troughs

[HENRY WSZOLA]

I was researching solar troughs as an alternative to the grid and everything
seems to have disappeared. There was a company, sensible steam, that looked
like an option and they are gone also. Anybody know what happened?

 

[Jim]

Duane;

Re the C-Band trackers, do you mean the people remove the present
black panels from the dish and replace them with highly polished
aluminum or such, then gather the energy at the focal point where the
feedhorn used to be? That might be a cheap way to go using your
tracker system. I guess they would have to modify the mount to track
in elevation too rather than just azimuth, which on my 10 ft dish
would be an easy modification.

I enjoyed your website and especially the schematics and layout, very
informative.

Jim

 

[Pete C]

It's easier than that. The dish mount has a main axis
that is polar and moves in Right Ascension, RA.
So this is already done using the original actuator.
There are better actuators but the first one is free.
The secondary axis is a bolt that adjustment for
DEClination, DEC. This axis moves slowly throughout the
tear. Some leave it manual and adjust every few weeks.
To convert it track is generally simple mechanically
with the addition of another actuator.

Hi,

Wonder if it would be 'fun' to use a micro with RTC for tracking.
Could drive a couple of steppers, or something made from threaded
studding and a battery drill mech.

cheers,
Pete.