Controls – 1220-800
High Resolution 8 Relay Outputs – 2 Axis
Warning
It is very important to install limit switches that prevent over travel of the motors before enabling automatic controls.
The Controls page in GRIDview provides an easy overview to all user controls to see current positions. The drop down to the left allow focus by category described below. All commands and data can be performed the the IO Toolkit with the appropriate registers also shown below.
GRIDview Master Controls
External Auto/Manual Switch: Enables field personnel to put the Tracker into Manual without movement except through local toggle switches. Note when the Auto/Manual Switch is returned to Auto the unit will begin to track.
Master Enable: Master Enablement which permits all Control Processes both Auto & Manual.
Enable Tracking: Enables NREL SPA to calculate solar position and write outputs to all relays. Disabled by Local Auto/Manual switch located on DI X8
Go to Stow: This is a command input for the tracker to go to the preset safe position
Tag Registers
Toolkit Tag Register |
Map | ||
DI | D IN | ||
X | 8 | autoManualSW | << External Auto/Manual Switch |
X | 20 | masterEnable | << Master Enable |
X | 21 | Track | << Enable Tracking |
X | 22 | stow | << Go to Stow |
Over ride Auto/Manual Switch
External Auto/Manual Switch can temporarily over ridden for a configurable amount of time. This is for testing and debugging and should be avoided after installation as it can be a hazardous to field personnel believing they have put the unit into Manual and begin to work on equipment.
Disable Minutes are limited to 4 hours.
Tag Registers
Toolkit Tag Register |
Map | ||
DI | D IN | ||
X | 65 | disableManualSW | << Disable Manual Switch – timed released |
AI | A IN | ||
AX | 40 | disableManSWtime | << Minutes to disable Manual Switch – 4 hour max. |
GRIDview Altitude Control
Position (Pv): Shows the Present Value or Altitude Position in degrees above the Horizon (90 – Zenith Angle)
Set Point (Sp): Shows the Present control set point for tracking. When in Auto this is Altitude of the sun otherwise either the user’s Manual Command or Stow Position.
Data Button: Shows Pv data points logged that can be down loaded to a .csv file.
Trend Button: Shows a trend line of Pv, Sp & deviation. Limit generally 2 weeks.
Soft Manual: When enabled the square button will be green indicating the user is allowed to enter Manual Control Commands to move the tracker otherwise controller is in Automatic tracking and the square button will be gray.
Auto / Soft Command: If in Manual (Soft Command) the Command buttons will become operable and be gray when OFF and green when ON. If in Auto (Auto Command), the Dir / Rev input buttons will be inoperable but indicating green when the control logic dictates. The user may not see this change due to the ON period may be shorter than the data update cycle to GRIDview.
Permissive: This shows that the tracker logic will allow movement when green. No permissive is caused by one of several internal alarms or reaching limits.
Motor Relay: Indicators Dir / Rev which show relay outputs are ON or OFF.
Total Hall Counts: This is used as the indicator that Motor Halls are fuctional and that there is motor movement.
Tag Registers
Toolkit Tag Register |
Map | ||
DI | D IN | ||
X | 26 | softManual_AL | Enable AL Remote Manual Control |
X | 27 | motorRunSoft_01 | Move AL motor Up #1 |
X | 28 | motorRevSoft_01 | Move AL motor Down #1 |
DO | D OUT | ||
Y | 0 | DO_01 | AL Relay Move Up |
Y | 1 | DO_02 | AL Relay Move Down |
Y | 20 | motorPerm_01 | Run motor permissive #1 |
AX | A IN | ||
AX | 908 | counter_AL | AL Total Pulse Counter |
GRIDview Azimuth Control
Position (Pv): Shows the Present Value or Azimuth Position (0 – 360 degrees) 0 = due North.
Set Point (Sp): Shows the Present control set point for tracking. When in Auto this is Azimuth of the sun otherwise either the user’s Manual Command or Stow Position.
Data Button: Shows Pv data points logged that can be down loaded to a .csv file.
Trend Button: Shows a trend line of Pv, Sp & deviation. Limit generally 2 weeks.
Soft Manual: When enabled the square button will be green indicating the user is allowed to enter Manual Control Commands to move the tracker otherwise controller is in Automatic tracking and the square button will be gray.
Auto / Soft Command: If in Manual (Soft Command) the Command buttons will become operable and be gray when OFF and green when ON. If in Auto (Auto Command), the Dir / Rev input buttons will be inoperable but indicating green when the control logic dictates. The user may not see this change due to the ON period may be shorter than the data update cycle to GRIDview.
Permissive: This shows that the tracker logic will allow movement when green. No permissive is caused by one of several internal alarms or reaching limits.
Motor Relay: Indicators Dir / Rev which show relay outputs are ON or OFF.
Total Hall Counts: This is used as the indicator that Motor Halls are functional and that there is motor movement.
Tag Registers
Toolkit Tag Register |
Map | ||
DI | D IN | ||
X | 30 | softManual_AZ | Enable AZ Remote Manual Control |
X | 31 | motorRunSoft_02 | Move AZ motor West |
X | 32 | motorRevSoft_02 | Move AZ motor East |
DO | D OUT | ||
Y | 2 | DO_03 | AZ Relay Move West |
Y | 3 | DO_04 | AZ Relay Move East |
Y | 21 | motorPerm_02 | Run motor permissive #2 |
AX | A IN | ||
AX | 911 | counter_AZ | AL Total Pulse Counter |

Sun

Blue Sight Line
This indicates the tracker is on sun.

Yellow Sight Line
This indicates the tracker is within acceptable limits.

Red Sight Line
This indicates the tracker is outside acceptable limits.

Soft Limits (Min / Max)

Limit Switch (Min / Max)

Sun

Blue Sight Line
This indicates the tracker is on sun.

Yellow Sight Line
This indicates the tracker is within acceptable limits.

Red Sight Line
This indicates the tracker is outside acceptable limits.

Limit Switch (Min / Max)

Soft Limits (Min / Max)
Trouble Shooting 1200 / 2032 Series
GRIDview Azimuth Control
Local Auto/Manual Switch: Shows the position of the local switch hard wired to the controller.When a circuit is made to Terminal 5 (switch is ON), the controller is in Auto (Green) and allows automatic tracking and soft manual which enables manual control from GRIDview. When the switch is OFF (Blue) the controller responds only to the 2 (3 position) toggle switches which will move the tracker Up/Down – East/West using 4 analog inputs listed below.
Note toggling the Auto/Manual Switch from OFF to ON will turn ON the Master Enable and Track bits so the motors will begin to track.
Analog Inputs
01: Inclinometer 4-20mA input.
02: Inclinometer 0-5V input.
03: Switch – Move tracker Up
04: Switch – Move tracker Down
05: Switch – Move tracker West
06: Switch – Move tracker East
07: 113 series (Spare)
08: 113 series (Spare)
Tag Registers
Toolkit Tag Register |
Map | ||
AI | A IN | ||
AX | 0 | AI_01 | 01 Inclinometer 4-20mA input. |
AX | 1 | AI_02 | 02 Inclinometer 0-5V input. |
AX | 2 | AI_03 | 03 Switch – Move tracker Up |
AX | 3 | AI_04 | 04 Switch – Move tracker Down |
AX | 4 | AI_05 | 05 Switch – Move tracker West |
AX | 5 | AI_06 | 06 Switch – Move tracker East |
AX | 6 | AI_07 | Spare 113 |
AX | 7 | AI_08 | Spare 113 |