Check Solar Panel Orientation

In general solar panels that are oriented directly east or directly west will produce about 20 percent less electricity than if they were facing south.

Check solar panel orientation.

Orientation of the panels. Panels mounted on a standard pitch roof facing east or west will produce approximately 15 less output than panels mounted on a south facing roof of a standard pitch. In fact all southern hemisphere locations should ideally position panels in a northerly direction. Even with this decrease in performance solar panels will produce enough electricity to save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. The pull or magnetic declination will vary in direction and strength depending on your location.

Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. System losses cabling loses about 2 of power while the inverter can lose 3 4 of power in the conversion from dc to ac power. The effect of orientation on solar output the direction solar panels should ideally face for optimum sun exposure varies depending on location. A well designed and installed system will minimise these losses.

Another consideration is shading which can also affect the productivity of your system. How to determine the best solar panel orientation for your property orientation. Solar panel orientation and tilting panels facing due north will generate more than those facing east or west and they should be optimally tilted. However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.

This solar angle calculator tells you by location the optimum angle to get the best out of your system. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. Solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation. For australia solar power yields are higher when panels face north.

Solar panels should always face true south in the northern hemisphere north in the southern hemisphere tilted from the hoizontal at a degree equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer. You can also improve your solar panels performance by adjusting the tilt of your panels downward. While the angle of your solar panels is important a more important factor in your energy production is going to be the direction your panels face. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a.

The earth has a fluid outer core made of iron and nickel which pulls the needle of your compass slightly away from true south. An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully. If you don t have any north facing roof space available but you do have two sides that face east and west. Solar south or geographic south.