Advanced Configuration
Tracker Configuration
pvnode supports fixed, single-axis, and dual-axis tracker systems. Set tracker_system_type to choose:
| Value | System |
|---|---|
0 | No tracking (fixed mount, default) |
1 | Single-axis tracker |
2 | Dual-axis tracker |
Tracking only applies to the first PV array.
Single-Axis Tracker
When tracker_system_type=1, use single_axis_tracker_config to define the tracker geometry. The format is four values separated by colons:
Code
| Value | Description | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Axis azimuth | Compass direction of the rotation axis | 0–360° (180 = south) |
| Axis tilt | Tilt of the rotation axis from horizontal | 0–90° |
| Max rotation | Maximum rotation angle from center | 0–90° |
| Backward tracking | Enable backward tracking to prevent row shading | T or F |
Example:
Code
This configures a tracker with:
- Axis oriented south (180°)
- No axis tilt (0°)
- Full rotation range (±90°)
- Backward tracking enabled to reduce row shading at low sun angles
Dual-Axis Tracker
Set tracker_system_type=2. No additional configuration needed — the system automatically optimizes for maximum irradiance at every timestep.
Comparing Fixed vs. Tracked
To quantify the yield gain from tracking, run two requests for the same location — one with tracker_system_type=0 and one with your desired tracker configuration. Compare the spec_watts or pv_watts output.
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