Best Direction For Solar Panels In Southern California

To install a solar energy system.

Best direction for solar panels in southern california.

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. If you live in the southern hemisphere face them north. Latitude in san francisco.

On the other hand if you live in the southern hemisphere you can use this same technique. Consequently the direction that a solar panel faces determines how much energy it can produce. True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north 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 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. 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. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere. If you live in the northern hemisphere face them south.

This is a simple tried and true way to find the perfect direction and like i said you can do it with no tools. Since we re an american company the following example assumes you ll point your system to the south. 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. However you would want to face your solar panels in the opposite direction of where your shadows face.

To understand this rationale consider the alternatives. 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. To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. For best results your solar panels should face toward the equator.

However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. Latitude in san jose. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.

Calculating the best solar angle for california. An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully. Latitude in san diego.