Determining Shading

jcheil
jcheil Solar Expert Posts: 722 ✭✭✭
in Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum #1
When I built my solar (ground) mount, I was lucky enough to have done it at the winter solstice (literally that week) so I was able to place my mount in a perfect place, maximizing the remainder of my yard but not too close to my 40ft storage container on the south end of the property that casts a shadow on the yard.

I need to add two more "rows" of panels to the north of the existing mount (directly behind the existing one). What is the best way (software?) to determine where to place the mount so I will not have shadows on the back two racks? I'd like to have them as close as possible so I don't lose any more yard space than I have to. I also cannot make the back rows any TALLER than the front row.

Thanks,
Jay
Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html
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  • jcheil
    jcheil Solar Expert Posts: 722 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Determining Shading

    After a lot of research I found this, which is an awesome, easy to use online calculator:

    http://www.rbisolar.com/solar-calculator/
    Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html
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  • SolarPowered
    SolarPowered Solar Expert Posts: 626 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Determining Shading

    Google maps satellite imagery can give you a 365 day a year, day by day shading scenario, exactly how the sun passes over.
    I use it for building all my systems.
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  • SolarPowered
    SolarPowered Solar Expert Posts: 626 ✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Determining Shading

    Also basic math. If you don't know shading there is a conservative method solar construction managers use in the field. Any objects due south measure the height, then multiply X 2 to get your distance from grade. From East and West coordinates, take the height of object then multiply X 1.5 to get distance from grade. south west and south east coordinates take the height of object then multiply X 1.75 to get distance from grade.

    Hope that helps
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