Optimum Solar Panel Orientation?

1 Posts

Jul 10, 2001 08:39 pm

Optimum Solar Panel Orientation?

Hi Everyone!

I've searched the web to no avail for some kind of software that will help calculate the ideal orientation of a solar panel array.

My roof has four separate faces. What I'd like to know is given 24 100W solar panels, my lattitude/longitude, and roof geometry, what would be the optimum configuration (ie: all facing one direction, or a combination of different angles)to maximize the annual averaged sunshine.

Anybody familiar with an online calculator or software designed for this type of calculation?

If there's no software, I be willing to place a single miniature solar collector on each of the four roof faces, and measure the energy outputs throughout the day, but I'm not sure how to continuiously monitor and record such data.

Thanks!

Chris

3 Posts

Aug 5, 2001 03:00 pm

Re: Optimum Solar Panel Orientation?

Everything I have read says that fixed mounting each panel should face South. They should be tiled to Latitude + 15 degrees. I live in Texas at 30 degrees Lat, so my tilt angle is 45 degrees. It can vary from -15 to + 15 over Lat. to account for winter. Here is good site to find more information http://www.sandia.gov/pv/main.html

2 Posts

Feb 28, 2002 05:56 pm

Re: Optimum Solar Panel Orientation?

Chris,

There is a tool called a pathfinder which is used by most pv installers to find the 'best' (most sun, free of shadows) area(s) for installing your panels. It's a dome instrument which has calibrated graphs/charts showing the sun's trajection for different months and times throughout the year. You position this tool at different locations, where you are considering mounting the panel array and observe on the graph the reflections and shadows and determine which site gives you the most sun and least shadowing. I recently attended a 3 day 'installing code compliant pv systems' class and learned about this tool. I bought one. They cost around $225.00.

George I

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