Use and Care Manual

2
STEP 1: PLACEMENT
The first step of installation will require you to examine
several things before any actual work can begin. The
first aspect that will need to be decided on is
PLACE-
MENT
. For the higest efficiency, solar PV modules
should ideally be
under direct sunlight during all
daylight hours and all times of year
. Shade or indirect
covering will lower the power output. Physical obstructions that interfere
with sunlight will also lower output. If you will be installing the module in
the
northern hemisphere, your panel should face directly south;
alternatively, if in the
southern hemisphere, the module should face
directly north
. This is to maximize the amount of direct sunlight that will
strike the module’s solar cells; power loss due to incorrect orientation
can be as high as -30% if the module is faced 60° away from true
north/south. Also, this placement is especially important during winter
months because sunlight will not be as direct and the module’s efficiency
will be lower. As a rule, if exposure is adequate during winter, it will be
adequate year-round.
Once the best general location is chosen, the
ideal
elevation angle
must be found. Solar PV modules
should be tilted at an angle to maximize sunlight
exposure. This angle is measured between a horizontal
ground surface & the module’s surface. Once again, in
winter months, sunlight exposure will be more indirect,
so if the elevation angle is set correctly during winter, it should be
sufficient during the rest of the year. Generally speaking,
the ideal angle
to set your panel at is the same as the latitude of the chosen location
(e.g. if latitude using a GPS system is 45°N, the module should be set at
a 45° angle facing directly south). Once the ideal angle is found and set,
the most complicated aspects of finding the correct placement is
complete.
The other general considerations of placement are
more obvious: the module
must not be installed near
any sources of flammable gases
whatsoever. Electricity
produced can ignite and create a serious fire hazard.
Also to avoid a risk of fire, there must be adequate
space left around the front and back of the module for
air to circulate. If there is not enough space, heat caused by the
module’s normal operation can create a fire hazard.
The minimum
space required from the back of the module to the nearest flat,
non-ventilated surface is 4 in. (about 10cm)
.
The solar module
should not be exposed to excessively
heavy wind, snow, or cold
. Too much snow or wind can
break the glass ecasements if too much load is placed
on the surface of the module. Ramsond Solar Panels
have been UL evaluated to carry a maximum positive or
negative load of 2400Pa (50.12 lb/ft.²), but more
pressure than this is not advised. Additionally, since the modules will be
tilted at an angle for optimum sunlight exposure,
excessive weight will
exert drag force
, pulling the panels toward the ground. Secondary
clamps or a lower-edge support system (e.g. a rack system or support
rail) is highly advised to avoid this.
Lastly, the module
should not be subjected to frequent
freezing/thawing cycles
or continuous water exposure,
whether fresh water or salt water
, up to and including
immersion. Freezing and thawing, when combined with
collected moisture,
can warp or damage the anodized
aluminum frame
. Drainage holes are a standard
feature of all Ramsond solar panels, but excessive heat/cold cycles are
not advised. Too much exposure to water, whether freshwater or salt
water, can cause what is known as Electrolysis Corrosion that occurs
when one type of metal is in direct contact with a different type of metal
and exposed to any water over time. This can be remedied by using
either
PVC or stainless steel washers between different metals when
bolting the module’s frame to the support system below the module.
~45°?
N
S
PLACEMENT NOTES