Solar Panel Mounting Systems

Once the decision is made to install solar panels, one must determine how to mount them effectively. The mounting system should be simple, reliable, and provide for all your performance needs.

Solar panels are often mounted on roof tops, because the roof structure is strong and already exists. If your roof is sloped in the right direction, then how convenient this is. And convenience is a legitimate player in any decision making process.

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 thing to think about is snow. Every time snow gets on the solar panels, they have to be cleaned or they won't put out much electricity. If your solar panels are mounted to your roof then you can imagine this difficulty.

Those of us with this problem, then, might consider other ways to mount our solar panels. We have come up with one such design called the Rotek system. It was developed on homesteads in the mountains of Idaho and Colorado, where we receive plenty of sun and plenty of 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.

In the Winter is when this adjustability can be a big help. The solar panels can be pitched more steeply or rotated toward the ground (negative tilt) to keep the snow off the surface. It is also good for giving the glass an occasional cleaning.

The solar panels can be left in negative tilt so long as there is snow on the ground. We all know how well snow reflects sunlight, so the panels will still receive their beam radiation. A simple adjustment is all it takes to restore the solar panels to their original tracking angle when desired.

A second big issue with solar panels is their operating temperature. The cooler the panels, the more we maximize their discharge current. Roof mounted solar panels acquire much more heat, and the amount of energy lost at these higher temperatures can be as high as 20%.

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.

You will have to come up with a way to install your solar panels. It should be simple, reliable, and mounting them on your roof may be the best option. For those who have to deal with the snow, or who would like to fine tune their performance, they should consider a remote installation like the Rotek system. The Rotek system is a simple to use and easy to install system designed for the home enthusiast.