What direction should solar panels face if built in the Southern Hemisphere?
April 7th, 2009 | by Michael |
Patrick B asked:
If solar panels were on a solar home in the developed of the South, should face the north, south, east or west? and why?
MOSES
If solar panels were on a solar home in the developed of the South, should face the north, south, east or west? and why?
MOSES
6 Responses to “What direction should solar panels face if built in the Southern Hemisphere?”
By The Lazy Astronomer on Apr 8, 2009 | Reply
Depends where you are. If you are South of 23 south then North. If you are near the equator then East or West.
By Green Eyes on Apr 10, 2009 | Reply
depending on how far south but yes they should face to the north
Idealy they should be able to track the sun from north east to north west
By campbelp2002 on Apr 12, 2009 | Reply
You probably want them facing north by the same angle as your latitude. So at 40 degrees south latitude they face 40 degrees north of laying flat and from 20 degrees south latitude they face 20 degrees north of laying flat. At the equator they should lay flat, parallel to the ground.
By cyborg2587410 on Apr 12, 2009 | Reply
during the summer north
during the winter south but facing up
this is because the directoln the earth is facing during the diffrent season. the southern hemispere faces south of the sun during the summer. so u should put it north, and the same thing for the other seasons.
By 404_error on Apr 14, 2009 | Reply
If you built in on Antarctica - specifically: right on the south pole - then you’d need to angle it toward the horizon, since that’s where the sun would be, and have it rotate once per day (thus tracking the sun). This of course means that it will always be facing north no matter which direction it faces.
Oh, and this would only work in SH summer, since in SH winter the sun would be below the horizon.
Of course, relying on solar energy at either of the Earth’s poles is largely futile … I was just trying to add a different answer…
By johnbonnechappe on Apr 17, 2009 | Reply
I have mine facing North. They work fine. I’m at 38deg South.