Best Direction For Solar Panels In Southern California

Calculating the best solar angle for california.

Best direction for solar panels in southern california.

Solar south or geographic south. In the northern hemisphere the general rule for solar panel placement is solar panels should face true south and in the southern true north. An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully. However the electricity system is not as simple as it sometimes seems and the best direction to face solar panels may actually be west.

However you would want to face your solar panels in the opposite direction of where your shadows face. If you live in the northern hemisphere face them south. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. 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.

To correct the compass reading your solar installer will calculate the magnetic declination of your site. 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. Latitude in los angeles. On the other hand if you live in the southern hemisphere you can use this same technique.

For best results your solar panels should face toward the equator. To understand this rationale consider the alternatives. 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.

To install a solar energy system. 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. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a. 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.

However there is a difference between magnetic south and true south that must be considered. Since we re an american company the following example assumes you ll point your system to the south. Consequently the direction that a solar panel faces determines how much energy it can produce. This is a simple tried and true way to find the perfect direction and like i said you can do it with no tools.

True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south. 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. Latitude in san diego.