Mounting your solar panels can be an afterthought when considering your first solar power installation. It is an important element of your design, however, and should perform reliably for the life of the solar panels.
Solar panels are often mounted on roof tops, because the roof structure is strong and already exists. If your roof is sloped in the right direction, then how convenient this is. And convenience is a legitimate player in any decision making process.
The roof mount method is not perfect, however. For those of us who want the best performance from our solar panels, or who live in northern climates (as do the writers), there are some alternatives to think about.
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.
With this design, the solar panels are installed remotely rather than on the roof. This provides additional space beneath the panels which Rotek puts to use. The panels can be rotated to almost any angle with a simple move. This feature is good for making seasonal adjustments based on 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.
Whether for one snow storm or for a period of weeks, as long as there is snow on the ground you can leave your solar panels at negative tilt. As we have all witnessed, snow pack is highly reflective. Your system will continue to receive lots of beam radiation despite this abnormal tracking angle.
A second big issue with solar panels is their operating temperature. The cooler the panels, the more we maximize their discharge current. Roof mounted solar panels acquire much more heat, and the amount of energy lost at these higher temperatures can be as high as 20%.
Remotely mounted solar panels with Rotek system will dissipate heat, run cooler, and give you better performance. This is because of fresh air circulating on the back end, instead of a warm insulated roof. This reduced operating temperature will also decrease wear and tear and help increase the longevity of your system.
Sooner or later the time will come to install your solar panels. The roof installed units will make a lot of sense, but those who want improved performance and adjustability should consider other options. The Rotek system is one such option, easy to install and simple to use without the extravagant cost.
Walter Hull is a recognized expert in solar energy power systems. For a limited time you can get his free checklist to solar energy from your own land.
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