Install Solar Panels To Maximize Output

There's a great opportunity for economic payback when you build a homemade solar panel.

Remember, though, that no matter how well your panel is made, you need to have enough solar light

to power it. So take a few minutes to think about available sunlight before you install your solar panel.

Look for an installation location that makes the most of sunlight, and you will enjoy increased power.

Maximize these few factors, and you will ensure greater success:

DIRECT SUNLIGHT - Position the panel so that the sun's rays come straight down onto the panel

face. To have sun rays hit directly, you would have to live at the equator. For those of us who do not

live at the equator, we'll have to deal with less than direct rays. The sun rays are more direct in the

summer and more indirect in the winter. Because the earth is round, the sun's rays are direct at the

equator, and become more and more indirect as you move away from the equator. Maximize the

electricity output from your panel by positioning it to receive the most direct sunlight at noon.

The good news is that once you install your solar panel at the best angle for direct sunlight, you don't

need to make seasonal adjustments. Seasonal adjustments to the angle of your panel have been

shown to improve the panel's efficiency by only about 5 percent. It is unlikely that the amount effort

that it would take to reposition your panel would make such a small improvement worthwhile.

LOTS OF SUNLIGHT - a panel should receive 4 to 6 hours of midday sunlight. If you are in daylight

savings time, you'll need to adjust for that, but in general, your panel should receive 2 to 3 hours of

sunlight before solar noon, and 2 or 3 hours after. Of course, if you are fortunate enough to receive

more than 4 to 6 hours of sunlight, your panel will be able to generate somewhat greater output.

Install your solar panel so that it tilts toward the equator (if you are in the northern hemisphere, this

would be southern facing) to optimize its efficiency.

NO SHADE - To ensure the efficiency of the entire panel, make sure that no cell is blocked by shade

or other obstruction. Periodic maintenance to ensure that leaves, bird droppings and general dirt do

not reduce your panel's output over time. It's a good idea to add panel cleaning to your spring and fall

home maintenance checklist.

Your homemade panel will produce more usable energy if you attend to these details. But don't give

up if you can't install your solar panel under absolutely perfect conditions. A panel will do its job --

collecting what sunlight it can and producing electricity -- even in far lesser conditions that outlined

here. Solar Lights