11/19/2022 0 Comments Solar path finder price
Jerry is a Wisconsin Master Electrician and a NABCEP Certified solar installer. In the next article we'll look at options to make you solar electric system more affordable. So now we know we have a decent location time to take the next step. In fact, the large tree to the south does not even block the array in winter. We have an open solar window from 8am to 3:30 pm, and longer in summer. SOLAR PATH FINDER PRICE SOFTWAREThe software report tells me that my location has 8% shading, but looking at the picture we see that it is early morning or late afternoon. Shading analysis of solar pathfinder data Below is a shading analysis of the first picture. If you look closely, you can see the trees on the horizon. The photo is taken facing directly down onto the reflective bubble. I also have the Pathfinder Assistant software to analyze the shading and generate a report showing how much shading there is month-by-month (Solmetric does the same).Īt the top of the post is an image taken of the Solar Pathfinder. Both tools show the necessary shading information. There also is an I-phone app by Solmetric. SOLAR PATH FINDER PRICE UPGRADEI have a Pathfinder and have not had a need to upgrade and spend the extra $2000. A high tech tool used by many professionals is the Solmetric SunEye. It is a low tech device that works really well. The basic tool for determining shading of a site is a Solar Pathfinder. Young trees that are closer are more a concern. This tree is mature and will grow vertically very little. It may affect winter production, but summer is what we are most concerned with. If the shading is low enough on the horizon, it isn’t much of a factor. That may not seem like a lot, but it can still be productive. The lower edge is only 17’ and there is 11’ of vertical space. The main ridge of the roof is north-south, but the house had a 3-season porch off the back that has a south-facing roof. I will use my old house as the example for this article. A roof that is greater than 45° would not be ideal. Even a flat roof can be a good location for P-V. It also means more roof penetrations and potential leaks. The extra cost exceeds the production gains. More wind load means more structural stress and more supports. Raising the back edge to increase the tilt angle will only gain you a few extra percent of production at the expense of higher wind loading. If your roof is a 4-12 pitch, it converts to 18.5°. The idea is to maximize output during the longer days in summer. In Madison, where I am, we are at 43° north, so my system should aim for 33° tilt. The ideal system will also have a tilt angle of your latitude (minus) 10°. Second Solar Site Check – Find the Right Roof Pitch In California, they are from 12° to 17° off. Along the Mississippi River, True North and Magnetic North are close enough to ignore. The US Geological Survey has a map showing the declination lines. More on placing panels for our Australian readers at Australian Sun Energy.) Remember that true south can be widely different than magnetic south. (In the southern hemisphere, you want to be within 10 degrees of true north. A good site for a PV array in the northern hemisphere has a location that is within 10° of true south. First Solar Site Check – Find True Southīefore you hire a site assessor, there are some basics you can check yourself. Don’t hesitate to ask the site assessor those types of questions over the phone or via email. SOLAR PATH FINDER PRICE INSTALLSome site assessors are also installers and if you hire them to design and install the system they will credit you the cost of the assessment into the overall system cost. SOLAR PATH FINDER PRICE PROFESSIONALIf you do call for a professional site assessor, check with them to see if there is a local rebate program. Site assessor will often have specialized tools such as a Solar Pathfinder, Solmetric SunEye or Smartflower. While it may sound unnecessary in some cases, this policy prevents unscrupulous installers from selling you a bad system that will never produce what you were told it would. Some renewable energy rewards programs insist that you hire a professional site assessor before you can collect rewards. The MREA has a list, by state, of licensed site assessors for Solar Electric (PV), solar hot water, and small wind. What is a Professional Solar Site Assessor?Ī professional solar site assessor is someone who has been trained to evaluate locations to determine whether they are a good fit for renewable energy projects. Third Solar Site Check – Check for Shading.Second Solar Site Check – Find the Right Roof Pitch.First Solar Site Check – Find True South.What is a Professional Solar Site Assessor?.
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