Hi guys Im new, and a hobbyist. I have been away from electronics about 30 years I’m 61
Im looking for any circuit Ideas for a Solar tracker tester. I’m hoping the combined braintrust of the EEV forum can help out a grateful old guy.
Objective:
Design a programmable digital rheostat to test my Solar Panel Tracker designs
(I also have an audio auto-level circuit and a pick and place CNC project I could use this for too. lol)
Environment:
I live in an area which is a flight path for airplanes large and small and some overcast.
I am using CDS cells and may use phototransistors to track the sun’s position. When It gets overcast or cloudy the resistance changes When a bird or plane flys over it is short duration resistance swing.
Specs:
The circuit can sense at 1 vdc to 9 vdc The resistance range needs to be from 1.5k to 50k, so its low current.
Form factor:
About the size of an Arduino and protoboard plus battery
Old TTL chip size is best for me I’m not quite ready for SMD microsoldering LOL.
Investigation:
I have a Arduino and have been looking at Analog Devices Digital Potentiometers
http://www.analog.com/en/digital-to-analog-converters/digital-potentiometers/products/index.htmlFor me the spec sheets have my head swimming. I’m used to Guitar amps and CNC stepper controllers Simpler stuff. I can sort of program in C for Arduino control, but the interface to the variable Potentiometer is where I’m stuck. It could be a stand alone chip too I just need a start stop button.
Creeping elegance might include computer interface or LCD screen and/or maybe 5 or 6 buttons for small test segments, like bird, airplane, overcast.
Cost factor:
I would like to keep it under $150.
Any Ideas are gratefully received.