Direction To Point Solar Panels

Build a simple solar pointer and at solar noon you can point your panel t.

Direction to point solar panels. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. This is the simplest and fastest way to position a solar panel for the best output. When you point your solar panels west you are not maximizing the total amount of energy that is produced.

The traditional advice is to position solar panels to be south facing. If your roof does not face the right direction then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be your best bet. What you are doing is optimizing your energy production for maximum savings with your utility company. This is because for those of us living in the northern hemisphere the sun is always along the southern part of the sky as we complete our yearly orbit around it.

True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. Solar south or geographic south.

Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. This means that your solar panels will be put in a unique direction specifically to maximize energy production between this time range. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. You could use tools if you wanted to but you can just as quickly figure it out with none at all.

In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. 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. To do this you should point your solar panel west. The rule is that if you live in the southern hemisphere you should point your panels true north and if you live in the northern hemisphere you should point them true south.