Which Way Should Solar Panels Face In California

In order to collect energy more efficiently solar panels should be angled to face as close to the sun as possible.

Which way should solar panels face in california. This means that your solar panels will be put in a unique direction specifically to maximize energy production between this time range. That ratio improves to 82 for homes in los angeles california. However the electricity system is not as simple as it sometimes seems and the best direction to face solar panels may actually be west. Therefore directions like southwest or southeast are fine.

Consequently the direction that a solar panel faces determines how much energy it can produce. To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. It is at this location that your panels will receive the maximum sunlight throughout the day. Face panels west for tou ratepayers for solar panel owners that are under a tou payment system the best way to save money on your electric bill is to produce more energy during peak hours than during off hours.

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. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. According to the concord consortium makers of energy3d solar energy modeling software a home in boston ma with panels that face west would get 80 of the electricity that a house with south facing panels would. However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered.

Updated may 18 2020 solar panels should face south for any home in america to obtain maximum power generation. 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. Photovoltaics produce power when the angle at which the sun s rays hit the panel surface the angle of incidence is small or when light strikes the panel as close to perpendicular as possible. Solar south or geographic south.

True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. The most optimum direction to face your solar panels is somewhere between south and west. To understand this rationale consider the alternatives. However solar panels can be orientated on any roof that faces south of either east or west.

In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day.