Magnetic Declination Solar Panels

If not then on each compass reading you must offset the compass needle from the true north mark on the compass by the declination angle.

Magnetic declination solar panels.

If your magnetic declination is east positive rotate your panels west. 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. 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. Calculate the exact southern orientation for positioning your panels.

Find the magnetic declination in mexico. Using magnetic declination information on the solar pathfinder. 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. After finding it on the internet the magnetic declination 13 0 and 28 minutes east.

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. In any pv system related project we tend to set up solar panels to face the solar south rather than the magnetic south. Some compasses allow the declination to be set if yours does then just set your local declination and you are good to go. Search the web for magnetic declination to find the correction for your location.

The next question is at what angle from horizontal should the panels be tilted. If a magnetic compass alone is used to determine where to point the array you may not capture the maximum amount of solar radiation. Two examples to demonstrate the difference. Begin with a compass to find magnetic north and accordingly south.

If you live in san diego california your magnetic declination is about 11 east. The solar pathfinder has an adjustment feature to compensate for magnetic declination. Figure the magnetic declination the angle between.