Kipp&Zonen 2AP Sun Tracker - Manual (Page 18)

INSTALLATION AND SETUP
17
Important: Altitude restriction
According to the EC guideline (Electrical safety of electric equipment) the 115/230V AC versions of
the 2AP are not aproved for use at altitudes higher than 2000 m. This restriction is related to
clearance (air) and creepage (surface) insulation distances on the power board. Factors such as
humidity, temperature and dry pollution are of great influence.
The 2AP 24 VDC version is not restricted to 2000 m due to the lower voltage.
3.4 SUNTRACKER AND POSITIONER
Attention! Combined Suntracker and Positioner usage of the 2AP Gear Drive
When it is the intention to use the 2AP for both the Suntracker and Positioner purposes it is
recommended to set up the 2AP as a Suntracker. As Suntracker the 2AP must be mounted in a
specific way, with the arrow on the 2AP bottom flange aligned due East. As Positioner, according to
your needs, the 2AP may be mounted in any direction. Setting up the 2AP as Suntracker first will
save having to repeat the set up twice. Read section 4.7 for more information on the possibilities of
the 2AP set up as Positioner.
Important: Information for 2AP Gear Drive users who have used their 2AP for an
extended period of time for Suntracker purposes only and want to
change over to Positioner operation.
The 2AP is designed for Suntracker purposes. Therefore Win2AP provides all the relevant
information to set up, commission and operate a 2AP as a Suntracker.
With the Win2AP software the 2AP can also be used for Positioner purposes. The 2AP can be
programmed to cycle through a list of targets (positions) determined by the user.
However, some problems might occur when changing over from Suntracker to Positioner operation
with an older 2AP Gear Drive. The problem might occur with older Gear Drive units that have been
running for an extended period of time with limited positioning movement, due to repeated sun
cycling.
Technical explanation: If a 2AP Gear Drive has been used as a Suntracker for an extended
period of time the gears on both the axes become worn in a particular area and deformation of the
worm final gears and the spur primary gears takes place. When changing over to Positioner
operation the 2AP Gear Drive can come to a standstill, because of the transition from the worn part
of the metal gears to the area where the gears have never been used. In the worst case the spur
gears or the nylon gears of the stepper motors will experience the main forces and may get
damaged.
The gear wear as described above produces no effect on the Suntracker accuracy of a 2AP Gear
Drive that is used for Suntracker operation only.