Chapter 14
Development of a Solar Tracker Using
Servo Motor and Light Dependent
Resistor for Electrical Boats
Wardiah Mohd Dahalan, Arif Fikri Kamil Firdaus,
Megat Khalid Puteri Zarina, and Noorazlina Mohamid Salleh
Abstract Solar power is one of the natural sources available in most countries. This
gives a definite advantage to the tropical countries that experience hot weather to
use solar energy to generate electrical power supply. However, the generation of
electricity using solar irradiation is costly and it can produce its maximum capability
only at peak hours which is 12 pm to 3 pm in a day. In order to overcome this
disadvantage, researcher has developed a mechanism called the solar tracker. The
solar tracker will track or trace the position of the sun from the morning until evening
and manoeuver accordingly to get maximum exposure. By doing so, the solar panel
can obtain its maximum capability in the morning and evening although the time
is not in peak hour. A solar tracker can also increase the solar output from 5% to
20% depending on the tracker and weather. This project extends the development
of the solar tracker by building a portable solar tracker by using a servo motor and
a light-dependent resistor (LDR). The average voltage, current, and power output
between this solar tracker and a fixed solar panel show more than 50% improvement.
The percentage of the output between these two panels has been calculated to show
the rate of improvement.
Keywords Dual-axis portable, solar tracker · Four-quadrant system · Servo motor
W. M. Dahalan (B) · A. F. K. Firdaus · N. M. Salleh
Marine and Electrical Engineering Technology Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian
Institute of Marine Engineering Technology, Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: wardiah@unikl.edu.my
A. F. K. Firdaus
e-mail: areffikri95@gmail.com
N. M. Salleh
e-mail: noorazlinams@unikl.edu.my
M. K. Puteri Zarina
Students Development & Campus Lifestyle Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian
Institute of Marine Engineering Technology, Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: puteri.zarina@fbk.upsi.edu.my
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Ismail et al. (eds.), Advanced Engineering for Processes and Technologies II,
Advanced Structured Materials 147,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67307-9_14
141
Development of a Solar Tracker Using
Servo Motor and Light Dependent
Resistor for Electrical Boats
Wardiah Mohd Dahalan, Arif Fikri Kamil Firdaus,
Megat Khalid Puteri Zarina, and Noorazlina Mohamid Salleh
Abstract Solar power is one of the natural sources available in most countries. This
gives a definite advantage to the tropical countries that experience hot weather to
use solar energy to generate electrical power supply. However, the generation of
electricity using solar irradiation is costly and it can produce its maximum capability
only at peak hours which is 12 pm to 3 pm in a day. In order to overcome this
disadvantage, researcher has developed a mechanism called the solar tracker. The
solar tracker will track or trace the position of the sun from the morning until evening
and manoeuver accordingly to get maximum exposure. By doing so, the solar panel
can obtain its maximum capability in the morning and evening although the time
is not in peak hour. A solar tracker can also increase the solar output from 5% to
20% depending on the tracker and weather. This project extends the development
of the solar tracker by building a portable solar tracker by using a servo motor and
a light-dependent resistor (LDR). The average voltage, current, and power output
between this solar tracker and a fixed solar panel show more than 50% improvement.
The percentage of the output between these two panels has been calculated to show
the rate of improvement.
Keywords Dual-axis portable, solar tracker · Four-quadrant system · Servo motor
W. M. Dahalan (B) · A. F. K. Firdaus · N. M. Salleh
Marine and Electrical Engineering Technology Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian
Institute of Marine Engineering Technology, Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: wardiah@unikl.edu.my
A. F. K. Firdaus
e-mail: areffikri95@gmail.com
N. M. Salleh
e-mail: noorazlinams@unikl.edu.my
M. K. Puteri Zarina
Students Development & Campus Lifestyle Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian
Institute of Marine Engineering Technology, Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: puteri.zarina@fbk.upsi.edu.my
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Ismail et al. (eds.), Advanced Engineering for Processes and Technologies II,
Advanced Structured Materials 147,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67307-9_14
141