A device built by a Massachusetts teenager took over adjusting his family's solar-powered Christmas lights — a chore that had left him frustrated.

Built for less than $25, his motor-free solar tracker could have uses well beyond holiday decorations.

Here's what to know

Jason Chang, a 13-year-old seventh grader at Worcester Academy, earned the National STEM Champion title after building a prototype that produced roughly 20% higher solar panel voltage than a stationary panel during outdoor testing, ZME Science reported.

The idea grew out of the cold-weather chore of repeatedly repositioning the decorations at his mother's request.

"I got kind of frustrated," Chang told CBS Boston. "What if I could fix this problem?"

He built a seesaw-like structure from recycled, low-cost supplies. It works by pulling a stopper that releases water from an upper reservoir into a hanging bucket. As the bucket fills, its increasing weight gradually tilts the panel to follow the sun.

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More background

Morning and late-afternoon sunlight reaches fixed solar panels at steeper angles, limiting how much they can capture. Chang's invention addresses that mismatch.

Motorized trackers offer commercial solar farms a way to reposition their panels. But these systems can increase installation costs by hundreds or thousands of dollars and consume some of the electricity the panels generate, according to ZME Science.

Chang's water-driven mechanism needs no electricity. Motorized trackers, meanwhile, depend on gears and electronics that must withstand outdoor conditions.

Getting the simpler design to move at the right speed took over a year of experimentation.

"The hardest part was the fluid control frame," Chang told CBS Boston. "It has to be very precise. … The measurements have to be exact for the panel to move correctly."

What's being done?

Chang is developing an all-weather version before he presents his project at Washington, D.C.'s National STEM Festival, ZME Science reported. The water in his prototype can freeze during New England winters, stopping the mechanism.

Beyond holiday lights, the inexpensive design could benefit off-grid communities where individual panels provide electricity for phone charging, LED lighting, and medical refrigeration.

Disaster-relief teams could also benefit from equipment made with everyday components that can be repaired in the field.

"I hope my project can help people around the world to provide more electricity," Chang said,  per CBS Boston. "Since it's very low cost … I believe that it can be made anywhere around the world."

For homeowners exploring other home energy upgrades, EasyHome can also help with backup battery storage. Pairing solar with a battery allows homeowners to maximize savings and power their homes with solar when the grid goes down.

Where can I learn more?

Other DIY builders are also experimenting with solar panel positioning and costs.

• After installing dual-axis solar trackers, a DIY owner said stationary panels were the better choice.

• A DIYer built a $317 solar panel cart, then sought ways to cut costs without sacrificing strength.

• A Massachusetts resident compared north- and south-facing solar panels over one year.

• A solar user overcame autumn shade with portable solar panels, topping 90% efficiency.

• A DIYer used scrap wood and carabiners to mount solar panels on a fence.

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