How to Set-Up a REI DART Controller for the First time !

How to Set-Up a REI DART Controller for the First time !

1) MOUNTING the REI Controller:

Assuming you have already mounted the Weatherproof S/Steel Control Housing onto the DART Mast, just above the lower mast Cable hole that hole should be Facing South, and have 240V AC Powering the Transformer in the Control Housing, that in-turn has the 24V DC Output wires that need to be connected to the REI Controller 24V DC input plug !

Please Note: The Green Cable Tabs on the REI Controller are able to be pulled out, to allow easer connection of all the Wires, and we recommend putting Bootlace ends on all the Wires, especially the Light sensor & fine wires.

2) TESTING the Slew Drive Rotation Directions:

With Slew Drive Motors wired into the REI Controller, you now need to Press the Power Button on the REI Controller, and then Press the M button for 1 second to enter Manual Mode.

Now if wired correctly, press the East Button the Racking will start rotating towards the East direction, if it Turns to the West, simply swap the Two Motor Wires over on the REI controller.

The Same goes for the North & South rotation, note that in the Southern Hemisphere, South Rotation lays the Racking towards the Horizontal Hi-Wind Stow Position, and the North rotation Tilts the Racking steeper.

3) TESTING the Magnetic Stop Switches:

The 2x Aluminium Magnetic Switch Boxes have a Sensor on both narrow sides, these boxes need to be fitted onto the Bolts on the rear of each Slew Drive Motor, you may have to Bend the S/Steel mounting Bracket, so that the Boxes fit firmly against the Slew Drive when bolted on, the wired are passed into the Centre of the Main Mast, and then connected into the pre-wired S/Steel Control Housing that then needs to be wired into REI Controller.

4) FITTING & Positioning the Magnetic Arms:

Each of the 4x Magnetic Arms with Magnets, are designed to be fitted under a Slew Drive Bolt.

The East magnetic arm need to be bolted 120° East side of North, and the West magnetic arm need to be bolted 120° on the West side of North, as that covers the Maximum Position of the Sun at Sunrise too Sunset in Summer, Leave the South Magnet Arms until last, and use it for Testing as follows.

Testing STOP Sensors in Manual Mode;

Press East Button for a 1~2 seconds, will cause the Racking Start Rotating towards the EAST.
Whilst the racking is Rotating Eastward, put the Magnet approx. 15~20mm from the Bottom of the narrow side of the Magnetic Switch Box.
Then, as the Magnet in your hand at the position shown in this image, the Racking should Stop rotating in that Direction, when the Magnet is approx. 10mm away from touching the side of the Box !

NB: If the Rotation does NOT Stop, try the Magnet on the other side of that Switch Box, if it Stops rotating when placed on the opposite side, you may have it wired backwards, simply swap the Wires around, note the 2 Black Wires should be Connected to the No. 5 GND tab.

Now Test the other three Directions the same way !

5) TESTING the Light Sensor:

When Mounting the Light Sensor, we find it better to use a 80mm x 40mm piece of Aluminium Angle, that the Light Sensor is Tech Screwed to, with the Angle Tech Screwed to the Top of the middle Solar Panel, making sure the Tech Screw in on the Lower half of the side of the panel, to avoid the Glass.

Feed the Cable down the inside of the Mast, and backup, and into the Control Box.

If you follow the Colour Coding, the Tracker will Automatically rotate the Racking to Face the Solar Panels directly at the Sun.

6) Installing the Wind Sensor: (Anemometer)

To work properly the Wind Sensor should be Mounted Clear of the Solar Panels when Tilted, and Horizontal Stow Position, this is done with a long Beam & Tilt Pole that is connected to the Top main Solar Panel Racking Beam, the Tilt Pole has a Pivot Point at the Top, so that the weight of the weighted Pole Swings Freely to the Vertical Position as the Racking Tilts Backwards & Forwards.

We recommend you first Test the Wind sensor in your Hand, using a Leaf blower to Trigger the Racking to start tilting backwards towards the Horizontal Stow position, as it is a Lot easier to Test before fitting the Wind sensor to the very Top of the Solar Racking !

We supply a Digital Wind sensor with our REI DART control unit, so make sure you wire the Digital sensor to the + - B terminals on the REI controller, where an Analogue Wind Sensor usually only come with Two wires, to connect to either - A terminals.

After wiring the Sensor, use a Lief Blower to Test & Set the Wind Speed you want the Racking to start laying Horizontal, to avoid Damage.

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Page Last Updated: 16 August, 2026 .