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Alternative to the tracker manufacturer's controls

The large tracker manufacturers supply their controls and software together with their trackers. That is convenient as long as the manufacturer looks after the plant. Here is what these systems are, according to public information, and when an independent controller can be an alternative.

What the manufacturer systems are

  • Nextpower (formerly Nextracker, renamed in November 2025): TrueCapture for control and NX Navigator for monitoring and control; upgrades are documented for existing Nextracker fleets.
  • Array Technologies: SmarTrack; the Hail Alert Response service works with existing Array trackers and requires the on-site SmarTrack controller.
  • Soltec: the TeamTrack algorithm with its own control box; PVH: the DBOX controller and the DeepTrack platform for existing PVH trackers.
  • According to our research these controls are described only with the makers' own trackers, not for trackers of other brands.

When an independent controller is an alternative

  • When a manufacturer no longer supports its controls, restructures or the plant no longer has a service contract.
  • When you source mechanics and controls separately and want to keep the data through an open interface.
  • When a tracker manufacturer offers no controls of its own at all.

What Feldmelder does here

  • The box computes the sun position and points the trackers; with backtracking it flattens the rows when the sun is low so that no row shades the next.
  • The box works without the cloud – it decides on safety positions in the field and buffers its data for up to 72 hours.
  • Wind stow from the wind sensor in the field; while it is active the box refuses the "automatic" command.
  • On an official hail or storm warning of the German Weather Service (DWD) for the site the box moves the trackers to the safety position (off until it is set up).
  • On a DWD snow or ice warning the trackers move to the snow position so that the snow slides off.
  • REST API with tokens and scopes (read only or acknowledge alarms) and CSV export of the measurements.
  • The protocol between box and portal (TTP v1) is openly documented, with JSON schemas to validate every message.

What Feldmelder does not do

  • Feldmelder does not talk to these manufacturers' controls and does not take over their functions; switching means replacing the control units – as a pilot project.
  • No manufacturer approval and no statement on the warranties of your trackers – clarify that with the manufacturer before any conversion.
  • The first installation with you starts as a pilot project with agreed acceptance criteria.

How we work: every function of the box, the tracker control unit (TCU) and the portal is covered by automated tests. Field installations start with a pilot project and acceptance criteria agreed beforehand. The live demo shows an example plant with example data.

Product and company names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners. Feldmelder is not affiliated with any of these companies. Information on other vendors comes from their public pages (as of 1 November 2026, sources in our market research).