Direction To Point Solar Panels

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.

Direction to point solar panels.

If your roof does not face the right direction then surface mounted panels or pole mounted panels may be your best bet. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. 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. When you point your solar panels west you are not maximizing the total amount of energy that is produced.

The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west. Solar south or geographic south. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered.

Build a simple solar pointer and at solar noon you can point your panel t. It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north.

You could use tools if you wanted to but you can just as quickly figure it out with none at all. To do this you should point your solar panel west. This is the simplest and fastest way to position a solar panel for the best output. This means that your solar panels will be put in a unique direction specifically to maximize energy production between this time range.

True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. The traditional advice is to position solar panels to be south facing. To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. Locating the best direction to point your solar panels can be accomplished very quickly.