Important issues for mounting of panels
- Credit Jonathan Thwaites UWA
Direction
Angle of mounting
Shadowing effects of nearby buildings and
trees
Mechanical integrity
Natural connective cooling
Collection of dirt on panel surfaces and
frames
Compatibility of roofing, panel, screws and
framing materials
Panel temperature has a large effect on efficiency.
A 20 oC increase in panel temperature can reduce
efficiency by as much as 40%. atural convective air
cooling around the panels is essential to ensure
efficiency losses are minimised. Shown below is how
not to mount solar panels.
The old mounting system shown above and below left,
provided inadequate ventillation for cooling and
also lacked mechanical integrity. The mounting system
was replaced with the Unistrut framing on the right
below with the panels being 10 cmm off the roof surface.
Old mounting - SEIA accredited
New Mounting DIY
Temperature data collected off the panels for the
old mounting system is shown below together with
weather data from the Murdoch University weather
station some 15 km from the power station.
Another Example of bad panel mounting:-
How NOT to mount
your Solar Panel.
Notice shading issues.
(This example is the 'before photo', there is an 'after photo' which resolves the shading issues.)
Panel temperature has a large effect on efficiency.
A 20 oC increase in panel temperature can reduce
efficiency by as much as 40%. atural convective air
cooling around the panels is essential to ensure
efficiency losses are minimised. Shown below is how
not to mount solar panels.
