As of right now it is more economically viable to buy more solar panels than buy a solar tracking system that automatically aligns solar panel solar thermal heaters.
Solar panel alignment find true south app.
For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.
The edges of the shadows of things that are perpendicular to the earth standing straight up line up with true south north.
Simplysolar is a solar panel alignment app designed to increase the viability of solar energy and positively change the lifestyles of people in developing countries.
Build a simple solar pointer and at solar noon you can point your panel t.
You could then adjust your solar panels to align with this direction.
For help finding the right orientation and tilt angle download the free simplysolar app for ios or android.
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.
Mount your solar panel facing true south in the northern hemisphere or true north in the southern hemisphere and tilt it to the appropriate angle for your latitude.
The solar south calculator is an easy external tool that allows you to quickly determine what direction solar south really is for your location.
But when you hold up a compass you aren t really finding true north or south you can only find magnetic south which is the direction towards the south pole of our earth s geomagnetic field.
However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered.
Perhaps the simplest way to find true south is to wait until noon and then look at your shadows.
In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north.
This is the simplest and fastest way to position a solar panel for the best output.
Believe it or not this point actually moves a few miles each year because the molten metal in the earth sloshes around.
Solar south calculator determine where true solar south is for your specific location.
Using a shadow at solar noon.
Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day.
This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.
