Solar Logic Circuits Guide

Disclaimer

Due to the frequency of game updates, all solutions are subject to change and may or may not be functional.

The designs on this page are valid as of v0.2.5906.26015 (2025-09-16)

Guides in this section calls out the sensor and Solar Panel being placed in a specific orientation, but not all guides use the same orientation. When follow a a guide please be sure to place your sensor and solar panel as described in the guide.

Types of Tracking

There are two components to solar tracking, Horizontal position and Vertical position. A solar panel can be positioned using only one of these factors (single axis tracking) or both of these factors (dual axis tracking). Depending on the geometry of sun's sky tack on a particular planet single axis tracking can be very efficient. The solar inclination on The Moon is 0° so single axis solar tracking can be 100% efficient.

Geometry Of Solar Panels and Daylight Sensors

• 
  Geometry of values measured by daylight sensor in horizontal (yaw) mode
• 
  Geometry of values measured by daylight sensor in vertical (pitch) mode
• 
  Effect of setting horizontal rotation of a solar panel

Solar tracking using Logic Chips

Six-chip dual-axis tracking

To get a "100%" accurate solar tracker on planets with an offset solar arc, you need to include the Horizontal component to the solar angle.

What do you need:

• Kit (Logic I/O) x4
• Kit (Logic Processor)
• Kit (Logic Memory)
• Kit (Sensor) > Daylight Sensor

Place the Daylight Sensor facing up, with the Data Port facing north (0 degrees).

Horizontal
Chip	Chip label	IN	VAR	OUT
Logic Reader	Horizontal Reader	Daylight Sensor	Horizontal
Batch Writer	Horizontal Writer	Horizontal Reader	Horizontal	Solar Panel
Vertical
Chip	Chip label	IN	VAR	OUT
Logic Reader	Vertical Reader	Daylight Sensor	Vertical
Batch Writer	Vertical Writer	Vertical Correction Math	Vertical	Solar Panel
Chip	Chip label	Value
Logic Memory	Vertical Correction Memory	90
Chip	Chip label	IN 1	IN 2	OUT
Logic Math	Vertical Correction Math	Vertical Reader	Vertical Correction Memory	Add

The panels should align themselves to the sun, you make sure to put the Power Port on the panels facing east (east - 90 degrees). If you've already built the panels and logic with the Power Port facing west, swapping the direction of the sensor so that its Data Port faces south will allow the setup to work with no additional changes.

Solar tracking using Integrated Circuits

This is the most powerful way to track the sun, but the implementation might be a bit daunting at first.

What you need:

• Integrated Circuit (IC10)
• Kit (IC Housing)
• Kit (Sensor) > Daylight Sensor

And if you don't already have one set up:

• Kit (Computer)
• IC Editor Motherboard

Place the Daylight Sensor facing up, note which direction the Data Port is facing, and which direction the solar panel Power Port is facing. These two directions are needed in the code. The Daylight Sensor is connected to the d0 screw, that's all you need.

A simple code example can be found here: https://stationeering.com/tools/ic/_2FpmwojGnBq
This code is considered "inefficient" since it's hard-coded to spam all types of solar panels, even if you don't have them.

A better code example can be found here: https://stationeering.com/tools/ic/_2FpoBEcd3QK
It targets the solar-panel types on d2 and (optionally) d3, so it's less spammy. It also has an option for a display (Kit (Console)) on d1 that shows the sum of power output from both types of panels

duality of orientation

Due to the coordinate system used by solar panels, it is actually possible to capture peak sunlight using two different (but related) H,V coordinates.

This screenshot shows two sets of solar panels, each with its own daylight sensor. Each sensor is oriented differently to properly match its panel and formulas. The panel on the right uses panel.horizontal = daysensor.horizontal; panel.vertical = 90-daysensor.vertical; while the panel on the left uses panel.horizontal = daysensor.horizontal; panel.vertical = daysensor.vertical + 90. They both achieve the same orientation.