After you purchase your solar panels, you will be faced with some decisions about their installation. How will your solar panels be mounted? What parts will you need? If you are like me, then no matter which direction you choose the system should be reliable and secure.
A common mounting method for solar panels uses frames attached to the roof of a building. This is often preferred because of its simplicity, with the roof structure already in place. Simplicity can be good ammo to win any argument.
We would like to point out a couple issues with mounting solar panels on the roof, however. They are things to keep in mind for folks who live in northern climates, or who desire more optimal performance.
The first issue we encountered was dealing with snow. Snow storms are common in my neck of the woods, and sometimes there is snow pack all Winter long. Whenever there is the slightest amount of snow fall, the solar panels must be cleaned. Snow covered glass will severely inhibit their ability to produce electricity.
Those of us with this problem, then, might consider other ways to mount our solar panels. We have come up with one such design called the Rotek system. It was developed on homesteads in the mountains of Idaho and Colorado, where we receive plenty of sun and plenty of snow.
In a Rotek installation, the solar panels are mounted on a ground based structure instead of the roof. This provides the clearances for adjustability, so that we can rotate the solar panels in any way. With this in place we can make seasonal adjustments to match the Sun.
A second advantage comes in Winter when the solar panels can be rotated toward the ground, and operated at steeply sloped or negative tilt. This prevents the buildup of snow on the photovoltaic surface. It is also good for periodic glass cleaning, maintenance, or for dumping a load of snow if the panels were left up in a storm.
Many of us know that orienting the panel with a negative tilt is not the best thing for tracking the Sun. But keep in mind the snow pack’s high reflectivity. As long as the ground has snow cover, the panels will receive this reflected radiation. The losses, therefore, are not that great. Whether after a snow storm, or after the worst weeks of Winter are done, the solar panels can be oriented back to the normal tracking angle whenever desired.
The second big issue to consider is heat. As our roofs accumulate heat, they will increase the operating temperature of a roof mounted solar panel. Performance tests have shown that higher operating temperatures will reduce the solar panel’s discharge current. This lost current output can be as high as 2 or 3 amps depending on the unit, which correlates to better than 20% energy lost against baseline operation.
Remotely installed solar panels will run cooler, and the electrical output will be better for this. There is fresh air to circulate on the back end (instead of a hot roof), and they can be located closer to the ground. The Rotek system, if used, would provide this additional advantage to your solar panel system.
You will have to come up with a way to install your solar panels. It should be simple, reliable, and mounting them on your roof may be the best option. For those who have to deal with the snow, or who would like to fine tune their performance, they should consider a remote installation like the Rotek system. The Rotek system is a simple to use and easy to install system designed for the home enthusiast.
Walter Hull is a recognized expert in solar power systems. For a short time you can get his free guide to solar power from your own yard.
Pages:
Comments are closed.