Best Direction For Solar Panels In Southern California

For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.

Best direction for solar panels in southern california.

This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. Latitude in san francisco. 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. 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 correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. To install a solar energy system. If you live in the southern hemisphere face them north. Latitude in san diego.

True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. To understand this rationale consider the alternatives. An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully. This is a simple tried and true way to find the perfect direction and like i said you can do it with no tools.

The conventional wisdom in the northern hemisphere is that the best direction to face solar panels is south since that is generally where they d receive the most sunlight. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. Latitude in los angeles. Since we re an american company the following example assumes you ll point your system to the south.

Solar south or geographic south. Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day. Consequently the direction that a solar panel faces determines how much energy it can produce. Thanks to a combination of good average sun exposure expensive electricity rates and favorable state solar policies the solar industry in california is booming and the state is one of the best places in the u s.

On the other hand if you live in the southern hemisphere you can use this same technique. If you live in the northern hemisphere face them south. However the electricity system is not as simple as it sometimes seems and the best direction to face solar panels may actually be west. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a.

Calculating the best solar angle for california. For the last few decades conventional wisdom among solar experts has held that south is the best direction to face solar panels for installations in the northern hemisphere. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered.