How To Mount Solar Panels
A popular method is to mount one's solar panels on top of their roof. It is a simple and convenient solution, and so most folks attach their solar panels this way. Most often these mounting parts can be purchased right off the shelf.
As natives of northern and higher altitude climates, we discovered a couple issues that pushed our solar panel installation in a different way. We've been working on ideas to improve the convenience, flexibility, and performance of a basic solar power system.
The first issue is the snow. When snow builds up on your solar panels, this will drastically reduce your electricity. And if your solar panels are on the roof, then cleaning them can be a little tricky.
As machine designers, we decided to tackle this problem common for us in the mountain regions. We don't mind the snow, but the last thing on our minds is climbing the roof in Winter. So we developed the Rotek system, a simple mechanism for mounting solar panels that will improve performance and take on the snow.
In a Rotek installation, the solar panels are mounted on a ground based structure instead of the roof. This provides the clearances for adjustability, so that we can rotate the solar panels in any way. With this in place we can make seasonal adjustments to match the Sun.
The true advantage of this can be tapped during the Winter months. The solar panels can be steeply pitched or angled toward the ground, a negative tilt, so the snow cannot build on the photovoltaic surface. This rotational capability is also good for polishing the glass and general maintenance.
Many of us know that orienting the panel with a negative tilt is not the best thing for tracking the Sun. But keep in mind the snow pack's high reflectivity. As long as the ground has snow cover, the panels will receive this reflected radiation. The losses, therefore, are not that great. Whether after a snow storm, or after the worst weeks of Winter are done, the solar panels can be oriented back to the normal tracking angle whenever desired.
A second important consideration with solar panels is heat. Roof top structures will accumulate heat, and so roof mounted photovoltaics will tend to run warm. This is a disadvantage, at higher operating temperatures solar panels create less electricity. The ideal environment for a solar panel is something cool.
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.
