Purchasing a permanent solar panel system requires proper installation. Panel kits to power your entire home are expensive these days, so we hope they perform optimally. One of the important factors in ensuring that investments in an energy independence system pay off as quickly as possible is to correctly position the solar panels during installation. In this article, we will talk about just this.
Which direction is best for solar panels
The ideal direction of solar panels is not universal and depends on your geographic location. If you are installing panels in the northern hemisphere, then the best direction will be south to get maximum sunlight during the day. Accordingly, for residents of the southern hemisphere of our planet, the opposite is true: they need to place the panels to the north.
It is not advisable to choose an eastern or western location, because the sun moves exactly from east to west, which means that for half of the daylight hours, the panels will produce less energy. It’s great if you can rotate the panels throughout the day. For example, in the morning they will look to the southeast, and in the afternoon – to the southwest.
Many experts advise choosing the southwest direction if it is not possible to vary the direction of installation of the panels. This is explained by the fact that it is at the end of the day that the whole family is at home and energy consumption increases in the afternoon and evening.
Determining the most optimal angle for installing solar panels
The direction of the panels during installation is not the only thing to consider when installing rigid solar panels. To optimize the power of the panels, you should also consider the degree of their inclination.
To determine the best installation angle, consider several factors that can affect the panel’s ability to collect sunlight. In general, the angle of inclination is important, but this aspect is still not as decisive as the direction in which the panels “face”. First, determine the direction, and after that, think about the installation angle.
Calculating the best angle of inclination of solar panels will allow you to generate electricity at maximum capacity. To determine the angle, it is important to know the exact latitude of the place where you live. Just remember your school geography lessons. The closer to the equator, the less important the angle of inclination is. United States latitudes are characterized by a strong distance from the equator; this affects the amount of sunlight that will reach the panels. Natural processes, such as the change of seasons and the height of the sun above the horizon, are felt throughout the United States.
On a summer afternoon, your panels should be aimed exactly at the sun. But in order not to get confused about what angle of inclination will be optimal, there is one piece of advice: be guided by the latitude of your place of residence. Whatever latitude you live at, set the angle of inclination. Or it could be a little bigger. For example, if you live at 50° north latitude, install rigid solar panels at an angle of 50°.
But it should be remembered that in winter the situation will be somewhat different because the sun will be lower above the horizon in winter. It is for this reason that experts often advise choosing a tilt angle in the range between the latitude of your location and latitude + 15°. Then the average annual indicators will be the most optimal. In our example with a place of residence on the 50th parallel, the angle of inclination of the panels will be somewhere in the region of 50-65°.
Other factors affecting the installation direction of solar panels
Other nuances should be taken into account when installing rigid solar panels.
We are talking, first of all, about the design of the roof of your house. If you decide to install panels on a roof, the shape and design of the roof as the base on which the panels will be fixed will influence their further performance. Before purchasing and installing panels, it is best to consult with a specialist who will tell you whether you need to build any additional structures to install the panels.
If the roof of the house is steep enough, then installing the panels at an angle may not be necessary. Instead, you simply place the panels on the roof slopes. Where the roof slope is very small or there are trees around the house, there is a high probability that the solar panels will not work at full capacity. If no area on the roof will remain shade-free all day, a special installation design may help, but it limits the number of panels that can be installed in such conditions.
If you are installing solar panels on the ground, the slope of the surface and terrain will also play an important role in terms of the electricity the panels produce. But such a location undoubtedly has several advantages. Maintaining and regularly cleaning panels on the ground is much easier. Well, if you use portable folding panels, you can, if necessary, manually change their angle of inclination, catching the active sun during the day.
Time of year and weather conditions are two other determining factors. We have already written that solar panels can generate electricity even in cloudy weather, but in areas where there are not many sunny days a year, the efficiency of solar panels will, of course, not be as high as in the southern regions of our country.
It will be very good if you have the opportunity to change the angle of the panels depending on the time of year. We already talked about this a little higher. If the panels do not lie too flat, then in winter the snow itself will easily roll off their smooth surface. However, remember that too large an installation angle will reduce the amount of light captured by the panel cells, and will also increase the area of shadow cast by the trees on the panel. It is safest to first consult with specialists in installing such equipment.
As you can see, many aspects can influence the success of solar panels. Installing panels in the right direction and at the right angle will reduce the payback period of your equipment and maximize your investment in a secure future.
