- Aug 28, 2009
- 188
I've been running my panels on the ground for the last several seasons, and they seem to do just fine. However, I'm now getting my new system ready, which will be "permanent." I'm wondering if I need to worry about the angle that the panel is installed?
Is it okay to just leave them on the ground, or should I frame them up so they sit at a certain angle? Does it make a big enough difference to worry about it? I have free materials (left over trusses) to get them to 40-50 degrees (relative to the ground,) so that's not a big deal, but if I put them on the ground, it would be easier to mount them with racks around them and with plastic covers (limit wind).
ALSO - is there an "optimum" facing direction? I mean, are these things like setting up DSS satellite systems where I can maximize the exposure? I've seen a "follow the sun" system, but that seems like overkill. Or, is Southwest Adequate enough? It stays light here until 10:30pm (of course, low solar heating that late), but we get full (burn your face off) Western sun even as late as 7pm.
Thanks in advance!
Is it okay to just leave them on the ground, or should I frame them up so they sit at a certain angle? Does it make a big enough difference to worry about it? I have free materials (left over trusses) to get them to 40-50 degrees (relative to the ground,) so that's not a big deal, but if I put them on the ground, it would be easier to mount them with racks around them and with plastic covers (limit wind).
ALSO - is there an "optimum" facing direction? I mean, are these things like setting up DSS satellite systems where I can maximize the exposure? I've seen a "follow the sun" system, but that seems like overkill. Or, is Southwest Adequate enough? It stays light here until 10:30pm (of course, low solar heating that late), but we get full (burn your face off) Western sun even as late as 7pm.
Thanks in advance!