SunTrack

SunTrack provides two sets of parameters for tracking the sun with an Equatorial (Polar) or Altazimuth mounted apparatus such as solar panels.

The Equatorial mount parameters include and tilt and elevation while the Altazimuth include azimuth and elevation. For accurate tracking, the Equatorial mount is assumed to be pointed due true south.

The program determines the elevation and tilt of the surface of the iPhone or iTouch by accessing the output of the internal accelerometer.  The calculated elevation and tilt of the sun are variable by the location latitude and time of day. The latitude is user entered while the time can be hand set to test while if left running, the application will read the internal time of the iPhone or iTouch.  The error or difference between the calculated elevation and tilt and elevation and tilt of the surface of the iPhone or iTouch is also provided. All parameters (elevation, tilt and azimuth) are referenced to the face of the iPod or iTouch laying on the surface of the solar collecting device with the home button at the bottom.

Both Displays, the Altazimuth and Equatorial, support automatic updates from the respective location services (Latitude and Longitude) dependent upon the hardware of the iPhone or iTouch host. The iTouch derives the location from the internet Wi-Fi connection while the iPhone can use the Wi-Fi as well as the internal GPS as well as the telephony service provider location. The result of the automatic update is available to the right of the latitude or longitude entry.

The Altazimuth Display provides sun direction in terms of elevation and azimuth parameters for an altazimuth mount. For the Altazimuth measured parameters to work, the device must be an iPhone 3GS or 4 as only these devices support the measured azimuth records from the magnetometer. Any other device such as an iTouch will still support the old Polar or Equatorial parameters (Elevation and Tilt).