Hello all,
After finding this site about a month ago, I'm definitely itching to build a CNC machine, but before I can do that, I need power in my new shop. I'm installing solar panels, and while initially, I'll probably just statically mount them on poles, the dual axis trackers you can buy for big bucks actually do make quite alot more power by semi-intelligently tracking the sun. I'm thinking they would be pretty easy to build yourself and control using CNC type servo/stepper motors and software.
My newbie question regards planning for the future with the wiring. I'm running underground conduit from the PV combiner box and PV poles back to the shop in the next couple of days, and would like to include enough wire to control the two axis motors on each pole at some point in the future when I have time/funds/understanding to add them. In addition to the wiring for the PVs, what might be needed going to each pole? Would running just one additional #10 hot wire for 48v power to the motors, and then maybe two cat5 wires (one for each axis) for control be sufficient?
I don't have the advantage of knowing alot about how the control circuitry for servos or steppers works - but I'm hoping it isn't more than 8 wires and the currents involved in control are small enough that the 8 #24 wires in cat5 would work. Would this work?