Week 7 – Identify problem

Objective for this week :

• To test the communication between the hardware and the software.

Description:

• This week, I tried to run the project to see if the software can connect to the hardware. For the first test attempt:

1. Micro controller able to communicate with all sensors, limit switches, switches, LCD  and motor.
2. Micro controller are able to detect the signal that trigger by the switches (2 limit switches, mode button and reset button).
3. Sensors are able to send data to the micro controller.
4. Motor able to rotate in the direction controlled by the micro controller.

• However, after a number of tests conducted, the motor can not stand the weight of the solar panel. The motor makes noise when it tries to rotate the solar panel. So I had to stop this test and find a solution to this problem.

Week 6 – Install all the parts to body frame

Objective for this week :

• To assembles circuit, motor and solar panel on the body frame.

Description:

Figure 1 : Wiring for Main circuit and
 Battery charger circuit

• This week I tried to assemble the circuits (main circuit and battery charger circuit), motor (for solar tracking system), sensors, limit switches and solar panel on the body frame.

• All wires should be connected at the right place and need to tighten all screws to prevent the connection from the dislodged.
• Test will be conducted next week.

Figure 2 : Project wiring

Week 5 – Testing MPLab coding !!

Objective for this week :

• To test the MPLab coding with the main circuit

Description:

• In this week, I test the measurement of the voltmeter and ampere meter  on the battery charger circuit. In theoretical, if we supply the battery charger circuit with 20V power supply, the main circuit must read the value of 20V, then display on LCD as 20V.
• The first attempts are fails. When I supplied the battery charger with 20V power supply, the main circuit did not read the value as 20V, but 19V and 15.51A!! (as shown in FIGURE 1). The maximum current I set on power supply is 1A but the main circuit read as 15.51A.

FIGURE 1 : Result from the test 1

FIGURE 2 : Result from the test 2

FIGURE 3 : Power supply

Solution

• For the solution, I need to do some coding adjustment so the main circuit can read a value and display the exact same value on the LCD.

Week 4 – Design Circuit

Objective for this week :

•   To build the circuit of this project

Description:

• For this week, I build the circuit of this project. Firstly, I need to designs 2 separates circuit consists on main circuit (PIC) and circuit battery charger + motor controller. To avoid wrongly connection, the circuits are constructed on bread board. After a few adjustments to the circuit, the circuit is tested and working properly then I sticks the design with the PCB board.

1.       Sketch the design on the PCB board.
2.     Drill and solder all the components.
3.      Test running the circuit with the program.

•  The hardware circuit is design by using PCB board. The circuit construct with follow the step above. Step starting from design circuit until test the circuit with the program development.
• Here I attached some pictures of the etching process :

FIGURE 1 :
 i) Sketch design on PCB ,
ii) etching using ferric chloride chemical ,
iii) Final product

• After etching process done, we need to drill holes so that we can assemble the components on the PCB. In this part, we need to soldering all of the component at the right place according to the circuit.
•  The assemble process are shown on FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 :
i) Assemble components (main circuit)
ii) Assemble components (battery charger circuit)
iii) Finish products