Hey all, 

 

I'm about to go ahead with my solar system, but am concerned about the direction my solar panels will face. 12kw ss, 550w panels. 

My roof details below:

- Tiled roof about 25 angle on each side

- 2 Orientations: 1 side is NE and opposite side is SW

- NE Side has space but is impacted by shading due to trees both early morning and late afternoon 

-SW side has lots of space, is not impacted by the morning or afternoon tree shading 

 

Some options I have thought of but really unsure: 

Option 1: Put 10 Panels on NE and 10 Panels on SW in separate strings, but I'm not sure if SW will produce much, am I wasting money? 

Option 2: I could put one string of 10 with 5 facing NE and other 5 facing SW to minimise afternoon shading on NE string

And

another string of 10 facing SW or NE (shading again applies) 

I am in Durban, so load shedding is minimal, but trying to utilise as much solar generation as possible without heavy investment in batteries until needed. 

 

Any advice would be appreciated. 

 

Pic attached, orange are trees which are not in my control. 

 

 

Edited February 5, 20233 yr by CocoPops

SW isn't an option, will be bad in Summer and very bad in Winter.

I'd say that it is time to have a conversation with your neighbour about trimming trees (make sure that they are sufficiently trimmed to cover winter).

The NE roof is ideal for the bigger string, put 14 panels (roughly) on it;

The NW roof on the left is an option, just put it on the other MPPT string, the remaining 6 panels. 

You will still have 4600W to spare, that's another 8 panels for phase II, maybe get rid of the geyser? Also consider the ridge of the smaller building to the South (but check it for Winter shading).   

 

Thank you, appreciated. 

Neighbours: They are great but due to topography would essentially be asking them to remove trees as I am a level lower. They also serve as privacy for my family and theirs so realistically not an option. 

When you say NW where are you referring to? Will look into it this afternoon. Also the Ridge you refer to, not sure exactly where you are referring to? 

I also have 2 small East facing portions which can hold a few panels and will gt early morning sun. However as it gets later in the afternoon, they will be no be ideal. Am I able to connect east and north east on one string? Will this impact performance of NE panels when East is not producing ideal? 

 

 

11 hours ago, YellowTapemeasure said:

SW isn't an option, will be bad in Summer and very bad in Winter.

I'd say that it is time to have a conversation with your neighbour about trimming trees (make sure that they are sufficiently trimmed to cover winter).

The NE roof is ideal for the bigger string, put 14 panels (roughly) on it;

The NW roof on the left is an option, just put it on the other MPPT string, the remaining 6 panels. 

You will still have 4600W to spare, that's another 8 panels for phase II, maybe get rid of the geyser? Also consider the ridge of the smaller building to the South (but check it for Winter shading).   

 

Have a look at www.suncalc.org. It's a great tool to help you decide. Set the dates to 21 June or 21 December for winter and Summer sun position.

57 minutes ago, CocoPops said:

Thank you, appreciated. 

Neighbours: They are great but due to topography would essentially be asking them to remove trees as I am a level lower. They also serve as privacy for my family and theirs so realistically not an option. 

When you say NW where are you referring to? Will look into it this afternoon. Also the Ridge you refer to, not sure exactly where you are referring to? 

I also have 2 small East facing portions which can hold a few panels and will gt early morning sun. However as it gets later in the afternoon, they will be no be ideal. Am I able to connect east and north east on one string? Will this impact performance of NE panels when East is not producing ideal? 

 

 

Here, I updated your diagram:

Connecting East and North East on one string will have consequences, the lower panels will always bring the higher ones down.

Thank you, much appreciated! 

Tell me, when you say Ridge is there a way to mount panels on the actual Ridge? Have any pics? 

3 hours ago, GordonB said:

Have a look at www.suncalc.org. It's a great tool to help you decide. Set the dates to 21 June or 21 December for winter and Summer sun position.

Great App, Im actually pretty much facing North (Not NE, More like NNNE). 

I see the issue is not so much summer, but Winter, having South panels will be a big waste as in winter angle will be all wrong.

This actually works in my favour now, I will have to sacrifice Summer Late afternoon Sunshine for Early Start to production in Summer and good coverage in Winter. 

 

3 hours ago, YellowTapemeasure said:

Here, I updated your diagram:

Connecting East and North East on one string will have consequences, the lower panels will always bring the higher ones down.

You actually gave me a good idea, Why not use the Awning to support the Solar panels (I will prioritize NE on Geyser roof - and sacrifice late summer PV for better winter production) and then as phase 2, get a re-enforced structure for the awning to support solar panels at an angle and use that, I suspect around 12 panels could fit on there. 

 

I might approach the one neighbour as well and see if he will be open to the idea of removing one of his rees, on the North of this image, which will help Winter Production. Summer the Sun is pretty high already by then. 

 

Really helpful ideas, thank you! 

40 minutes ago, CocoPops said:

Great App, Im actually pretty much facing North (Not NE, More like NNNE). 

I see the issue is not so much summer, but Winter, having South panels will be a big waste as in winter angle will be all wrong.

This actually works in my favour now, I will have to sacrifice Summer Late afternoon Sunshine for Early Start to production in Summer and good coverage in Winter. 

 

Where in Durban are you?

29 minutes ago, Nicholas Strachan said:

Where in Durban are you?

In the North, howcome? 

27 minutes ago, CocoPops said:

In the North, howcome? 

I am in Hillcrest and thought if you were close by I could pop over and have a look.I have an 8kw sunsynk,14x 425w panels and 2 hubble am2.i had to do some juggling on my panels due to roof not being ideal

That would be cool if you happen to be on this side? 

Had another look and think my neighbours need to either cut their trees or I need another solution. Will be a waste in winter as the shading will be pretty much all day by my calculations. 

6 hours ago, CocoPops said:

Thank you, much appreciated! 

Tell me, when you say Ridge is there a way to mount panels on the actual Ridge? Have any pics? 

Not panels on the ridge, I meant North of the roof's ridge (the NE section).

Ah. so the white bit is an awning!  Yes, I suppose that it could be used, if strong enough.

1 hour ago, CocoPops said:

That would be cool if you happen to be on this side? 

Had another look and think my neighbours need to either cut their trees or I need another solution. Will be a waste in winter as the shading will be pretty much all day by my calculations. 

Try not to use the word "cut" or "dig out" or "get rid of", or anything negative. Consider using "trim", and other positive words, it will have has far more positive connotations (and hopefully outcomes) with the neighbours 😁

7 minutes ago, YellowTapemeasure said:

Try not to use the word "cut" or "dig out" or "get rid of", or anything negative. Consider using "trim", and other positive words, it will have has far more positive connotations (and hopefully outcomes) with the neighbours 😁

Haha good idea for Life in general,

Although having looked at it, I think redoing the awning is going to be the best solution. Could get 12 panels there and potentially phase 2 is the lower south awning as well. 

Will get some awning guys to cost It out, won't be able to support as is and angle is incorrect.