Your solar panel orientation is very important when it comes to maximising the amount of electricity that your solar panels will produce.
Best solar panel alignment.
In the northern hemisphere the sun is due south at solar noon.
If you are using a compass to orient your panels you need to correct for the difference which varies from place to place.
Overall the angle of your rooftop has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your roof faces.
For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south.
If your solar panel contractor advises you that horizontal solar panels are the best choice for your solar needs you do not need a special inverter.
But that task is complicated by the fact that the sun moves across the sky throughout the day.
True north is not the same as magnetic north.
However pitch angles between 30 and 45 degrees will work well in most situations.
The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during 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.
It also changes angle in the sky as the seasons change.
The horizontal orientation of your panels in relation to the equator in this case.
Solar panels work best when they face directly into the sun.
Therefore to get the very best out of your photovoltaic panels you would typically face them due south at the optimum angle so that the panel is receiving as much sunlight as possible at this time.
Solar panel inverters work the same regardless of the solar panel s orientation.
However if you live in an urban area in the united states you might just be able to find the best angle for the photovoltaic panels with your zip code.
Ideally a fixed roof mounted solar energy system should be at an angle that is equal to the latitude of the location where it is installed.
For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49.
Solar panels should always face true south if you are in the northern hemisphere or true north if you are in the southern hemisphere.
As we re in the northern hemisphere the best solar panel orientation is obviously south but.