Magnetic Declination Solar Panels

If a magnetic compass alone is used to determine where to point the array you may not capture the maximum amount of solar radiation.

Magnetic declination solar panels. Figure the magnetic declination the angle between. Magnetic declination the angle difference between magnetic south and true solar south must also be taken into account when determining proper solar array or solar panel orientation. Using magnetic declination information on the solar pathfinder. Calculate the exact southern orientation for positioning your panels.

If you live in san diego california your magnetic declination is about 11 east. The next question is at what angle from horizontal should the panels be tilted. Search the web for magnetic declination to find the correction for your location. If the declination is west of the magnetic south then you add the declination value to the magnetic south to get the true south â let us say you have your solar power system in new york city.

The solar pathfinder has an adjustment feature to compensate for magnetic declination. If your magnetic declination is east positive rotate your panels west. If your magnetic declination is west negative rotate your panels east. After finding it on the internet the magnetic declination 13 0 and 28 minutes east.

Two examples to demonstrate the difference. Click on the map to find the magnetic declination at your location. Gently pull out the brass tab located to the outside of the compass about to release the magnetic declination dial the center triangle and black disk. In any pv system related project we tend to set up solar panels to face the solar south rather than the magnetic south.

Although doing this only brings about a 3 improvement in energy collection it will be a big deal if your solar array is huge or your extreme condition requires getting as much energy conversion as possible. Books and articles on solar energy often give the advice that the tilt should be equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer. Some compasses allow the declination to be set if yours does then just set your local declination and you are good to go.