Abstract
A photovoltaic panel (PVP) incorporating a sun-tracking system was designed, built and tested. The performance improvement obtained due to the two-axis tracking system justifies the additional cost, which is minimized by using off-the-shelf components in a compact and reliable configuration. The PVP charges two 6-V batteries which in turn are used to feed the control system using only a small proportion of the converted solar energy. Thus the entire system works autonomously and independent of geographic location. Its convenience is therefore suggested for isolated and remote low-power applications. In particular it is intended for use in desertic locations in northern Chile and, by extension, in geographically similar locations in other developing countries.
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