Brochure No 9754.

0006

MODEL SunTracker-2000
VERY PRECISE AND LIGHTWEIGHT SOLAR TRACKER
FOR THE AUTOMATIC MEASUREMENT OF THE DIRECT, GLOBAL
AND DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION

FULLY AUTOMATIC
VERY HIGH ACCURACY
UNATTENDED OPERATION
POSITIONING CONTROL AND REMOTE
COMMUNICATIONS BY ASSOCIATED ACTIVE TRACKING WITH OPTIONAL SUN
DATA LOGGER SENSOR
OPTIMISED POWER REQUIREMENTS OF
INTEGRATED GPS RECEIVER (OPTIONAL)
2.12 WATTS

REMOTELY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC OPERATING DIAGNOSIS

GEONICA, S.A. - Alejandro Rodríguez, nº 22 - 28039 Madrid - Spain Tel. +34 91 450 51 18 Fax +34 91 459 46 14 e-mail: info@geonica.com www.geonica.com
 Brochure No 9754.0006

DESCRIPTION SunTracker-2000

Model SunTracker-2000 is a two axis fully automatic lightweight

solar tracker, to align solar radiation instruments with the normal
incidence of the Sun, from any position on the earth's surface.
Includes a two axis mechanical device with two stepping mo-
tors, controlled by an electronic module combined with our
Data Logger Model METEODATA. Tracking control is carried out
by an astronomical algorithm calculated by the data logger,
Associated DataLogger
having the possibility of integrating an optional GPS receiver
METEODATA 2000/3000
for ensuring a very precise clock synchronization.
This new design has a fundamental advantage versus other
solar trackers regarding the energy consumption, as it requires
2.12 watts from the battery of the data logger. So a single 50W TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
solar panel will be enough for powering both, the solar tracker
and the data logger, avoiding the need of having 115/230VAC
Control module Internal, with RS485 interface
mains line at the site.
Data logger communications RS232/422/485, Ethernet, etc.
The SunTracker-2000 allows to mount one or two pyrhelio- Clock synchcronization By Internet time base or GPS
meters for the measurement of the Direct solar radiation, as receiver, via the data logger
well as one pyranometer for the measurement of the Global Pointing accuracy 0.1º in both axis (passive tracking)
radiation. An optional support and shading assembly can also better than 0.01º (active tracking)
be installed when Diffuse radiation is necessary.
with optional Sun sensor)
The operation of the SunTracker-2000 in association with the Mechanical transmission Precision Machined Worm and gear
METEODATA logger allows to profit all the unique advantages Torque 12 Nm
offered by our versatile unit, as indicated below. Payload (Balanced) Greater than 80 kg
Angular velocity 18.8º/second
MAIN FEATURES Supply voltage 12 VDC

• Unattended and automatic operation. Power required 2.12 watts (only SunTracker-2000)

• Remote control of the solar tracker by means of the same

3.02 watts (entire system: METEO-
DATA, GPS controller, Ethernet,etc.)
communications network used with the data logger
Environmental Temperature range (no heater neces-

• Automatic transmission of SMS alarm messages in case of

(GSM/GPRS, 3G, satellite, Wi-Fi, WiMax, etc.).
sary): -30ºC to +60ºC (working accor-
ding to Geonica’s operating specifica-
low battery or vandalism (GSM/GPRS optional modem is re-
tions). For applications under condi-

• Clock synchronization via Internet time base or by an optional

quired for the logger).
tions below -30ºC, contact Geonica.
Rel. Humidity range 0-100%

• Real-Time calculation and recording each second, of the Sun

GPS receiver integrated with the data logger. Mounting base Tripod with two spirit levels
Materials Cast aluminium housing. AISI 304
elevation and azimuth, alongside the absolute position. This Stainless steel worm and bronze gear
allows to correlate the solar radiation measurements with Weight 8 Kg
the Sun position and also to carry out the Automatic Opera- Dimensions 300x370x290 mm ( HxWxD)
tion Diagnosis by the ADAS-3000 (Automatic Diagnosis and
Alarms Software, running in the Datalogger) each second, as

• Automatic and continuous diagnosis of the correct operation

described at the end of this brochure. TYPICAL SOLAR MONITORING CONFIGURATIONS

• Model SunTracker-2000
• METEODATA logger/controller with GPRS optional modem.
of the two stepping motors, in such a way that, in case of

• Very low power consumption of 2.12 watts. This allows the • One or two Pyrheliometers for direct radiation measurement.
accidental error, a SMS alarm message will be sent.

logger to power also the solar tracker using a little solar • One pyranometer for either Global or Diffuse radiation
panel for recharging its internal battery (mains is not neces- with optional shading assembly.
sary on the site).

GEONICA, S.A. - Alejandro Rodríguez, nº 22 - 28039 Madrid - Spain Tel. +34 91 450 51 18 Fax +34 91 459 46 14 e-mail: info@geonica.com www.geonica.com
 Brochure No 9754.0006

LOCAL AND REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS

The Control Functions for the SunTracker-2000 made locally

or remotely from the GEO-DRC Data Receiving Center are in-
dicated as follows:
1. Automatic Axis Calibration at any time.
SunTracker-2000
2. Change of geographical coordinates.
3. Fine Tune of the azimuth and elevation axis alignment. Sun Sensor
4. Activate / Deactivate solar radiation measurements during
start-up and maintenance operations.
5. Date and time synchronisation.
6. Diagnostic Alarm Threshold setting

OPTIONAL: ACTIVE TRACKING WITH SUN SENSOR

The Sun sensor for active tracking measures the incident angle
of Sun rays in both orthogonal axis and the solar radiation. The SUN SENSOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
high sensitivity reached is based on the geometrical dimen- Sensor type: Two orthogonal axes Sun sensor
sions of the design. Its characteristics make it a suitable tool Field of view (FOV): 5° (± 2.5°)
for high accurate Sun-tracking and positioning systems, with Accuracy: Better than 0.01º
low power consumption and high reliability. The Sun sensor Average consumption: 33mA active mode (5mA sleep mode)
has been designed with an unique and novel own technology Temperature range: Industrial: -40 to 85ºC
based on MEMS fabrication processes to achieve high integra- Optical set: Diaphragm and collimator
ted sensing structures at low cost. Material: Natural anodizing machined aluminum
The Sun sensor allows automatic Sun pointing correction under soil, Optical window: Fused silica glass (high transmittance)
pedestal or basement displacement issues as well as for clock shifts Dimensions: 105mm long x ø80mm
where no GPS date and time correction is available. Weight: 700 g

OPTIONAL: AUTOMATIC DIAGNOSIS AND ALARMS (ADAS-3000)

The marriage of the Data Logger METEODATA-3000 and the parameters, an alarm condition is automatically generated.
SunTracker-2000 working together, is a unique and exclusive
symbiosis solution, which allows to profit all the functiona- This alarm can be generated by any of the following circumstances:
lities of the optional Automatic Diagnosis and Alarm Software ▪ Dirt deposition in the domes of the Pyranometers or in the
(ADAS-3000 option).
▪ Degradation of the solar sensors or incorrect calibration
glass filters of the Pyrheliometers.
The ADAS-3000 software installed at the data logger, is mo-

▪ Wrong leveling of the Sun tracker.

nitoring in real-time the measured values of the main three constant.

▪ Misalignment of the Pyrheliometer mounted on the Sun

solar irradiance parameters (DNI, GHI and DIFF), supervising
also the results of the local running algorithms that are in

▪ Incorrect operation of the Astronomical algorithm

charge of the SunTracker operation. tracker
The monitored solar radiation sensors and local running al-
gorithms at the data logger are : These alarms are automatically sent by SMS (up to 5 different
users) or by TCP/IP (to a Data Receiving Center) to warn the
1. Global, Diffuse and Direct solar radiation sensors readings.
user about the low data quality being recorded at the site.
2. Accurate GPS fixes.
3. Astronomical Sun tracking algorithm. The alarm status is also recorded at the alarm channel of the
4. Digital Signal Processing Functions. data logger as the rest of historical data.
The ADAS-3000 determines automatically the ‘coherence’ of the It is important to mention that minor and even large diffe-
three measured parameters : DNI, GHI and Diffuse values, as a rences between the actual measurements of any of these
function of the Sun position at any moment, obtained by the data three solar irradiance parameters and their real values (co-
logger from the astronomical algorithm used for controlling the rrect values), due to any of the reasons indicated before, will
automatic tracking. If the ADAS-3000 detects any inconsistency not be detected in any manner without our unique automatic
or lack of coherence between the measured values of these three diagnosis carried out by the ADAS-3000 software.

GEONICA, S.A. - Alejandro Rodríguez, nº 22 - 28039 Madrid - Spain Tel. +34 91 450 51 18 Fax +34 91 459 46 14 e-mail: info@geonica.com www.geonica.com
 Brochure No 9754.0006

GALLERY

SunTracker-2000 vs SunTracker-3000
Sun sensor for
active tracking

SunTracker-3000

SunTracker-2000

SunTracker-2000

Datalogger /
Tracker Controller

GEONICA, S.A. - Alejandro Rodríguez, nº 22 - 28039 Madrid - Spain Tel. +34 91 450 51 18 Fax +34 91 459 46 14 e-mail: info@geonica.com www.geonica.com