DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-AXIS LDR-BASED SOLAR TRACKER FOR ENHANCED SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING
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Date
2026-08-31
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CHEMONGES IVAN
Abstract
This project designed and constructed a simple single-axis solar tracker to improve the energy output of a small solar panel. The system used two Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs), a comparator circuit based on the TPA2822M IC, and a servo motor to orient a 9V solar panel toward the sun. A fixed panel of similar rating was used as a control. Results showed that the tracking panel generated approximately 30% more power on average compared to the fixed panel, with peak gains of over 60% during morning and evening hours. The tracker performed best between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. This low-cost design (approximately 45,000 UGX excluding the panel) is suitable for small-scale rural applications in Uganda, including phone charging, and science education demonstrations.
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CHEMONGES IVAN