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A Step-by-Step Guide To Conducting Your Own Rooftop Solar Site Survey

Jan 25

Before you invest any money on your solar project, you should determine whether your rooftop is suitable for the installation and operation of a solar energy system.

A site assessment is an excellent place to start when evaluating the roof's condition and addressing any concerns that might damage the intended solar power installation.

The information acquired during the rooftop survey and your energy use are used to create the system's design, estimates, and installation plan.

Surveying the site and gathering important roof information can assist you in planning and installing your solar panels in a timely and cost-effective way.

When completing a solar site survey, you must examine a variety of factors, including:

  • The solar panels should be placed in a suitable area
  • Structure and Condition of the Roof
  • During the vital solar window, the roof is shaded
  • The mounting mechanism for solar panels
  • All of the electrical components' locations

 

A ideal site for the solar panels to be installed

Begin by determining a suitable roof area, which will determine the maximum number of solar panels that may be put (the power rating).

Determine whether the area of the roof is sufficient for the installation of appropriate solar panels to power the home after choosing the placement for the solar panels.

For spaces that are not rectangular, determining the amount of usable roof area might be difficult.

When arranging the arrangement of the panels on the roof, keep in mind that access to the solar panels is required. Simply construct a walkway between rows of modules for easy access.

When identifying an appropriate position to put the solar panels, take into account the structural mounting, electrical layout, and cable routing.

The following are the most important things to consider when deciding where to put (locate) rooftop solar panels:

  • The roof's total surface area
  • The roof's direction in order to maximize the amount of solar energy generated
  • The shade of the region during the day
  • The ability of the roof structure to support the solar panels and mounting frames
  • The mounting, installation, and maintenance of solar panels
  • The distance between the roof-mounted solar panels and the inverter (s)
  • The possibility of solar panels being damaged by falling items, strangers, or the weather (wind or heavy hailstones)
  • Local fire regulations

Given panel and roof dimensions, a competent solar PV design can assist in evaluating various acceptable array configurations.

 

Structure and Condition of the Roof

The condition of the complete roof system is the most significant issue to examine (age, surface, type, and strength). You must first determine whether the roof structure can sustain the additional weight of the solar panels and mounting equipment.

TIP: Before placing anything on your roof, visit a certified roofing contractor if you have any doubts regarding the age, surface, kind, or strength of the roof.

Solar panels, mounting structures, installation workers and equipment, winds, and other climatic loads such as hurricane and earthquake shakings all add to the additional loads from the solar energy system on the roof.

Roofs constructed during the early 1980s are more likely to have good roof systems that can bear the additional weight of 3 to 5 pounds per square foot on the roof.

To select the appropriate mounting structure for the solar panels, personally evaluate the kind of roof construction from the attic.

Some roof mounting manufacturers give a loading analysis for their mounting structures, which can assist you in selecting which mounting is best for your roof.

TIP: Don't try to make your own mounting frames or imitate a mounting system's design. This will wind up costing far more than purchasing a pre-engineered building, and it will almost always fail to fulfill the mechanical and technical criteria.

To channel and ground any external surges, the solar panel mountings must be electrically linked to the building's grounding system. To maintain electrical continuity throughout the mounting, special jumpers and connections are employed.

 

During the vital solar window, the roof is shaded

You should be aware that any shade on the solar panels has a significant influence on their production.

Shading occurs when the sun shines on any section of the panels during the solar window and is blocked.


Trees, towers, power lines, and other structures, as well as nearby items such as antennas, chimneys, plumbing vents, and windows, can all generate shadowing on solar panels.

The accumulation of dust or water on the surface of solar panels can also produce shading.

Solar panels should be placed in an un-shaded area of the roof for optimal energy output, especially between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. year-round. During this solar window, the majority of solar radiation and peak system output occur.

If an un-shaded spot cannot be located, then essential concessions, such as tree pruning or removal, may be required.

Even a small amount of shadowing on solar panels during the peak sun window can drastically reduce the solar panels' overall output.

For optimal system output, a suitable solar PV design comprises a shading analysis and selects the ideal roof position for solar panels.

 

The array's mounting technique

Rooftop solar panels cannot simply be mounted on top of your roof without the support and protection of mounting infrastructure. The roof type and site location you pick define the ideal mounting system placement and approach.

The following are the most prevalent solar panel mounting systems:

  • Building Integrated mounting - solar panels are built into the roof or the outside of the building
  • Solar panels are attached to support rails, which are then mounted to the roof. Standoff/Flush mounting — solar panels are attached to support rails, which are then fixed to the roof
  • Ballasted mounting - to reinforce the structure, solar panels are fastened to the roof with a ballast weight. This shields the solar panels from being blown away by high winds, hurricanes, or earthquakes
  • Solar panels are stacked in a racking system with enough space between them to allow for spacing between the racks
  • Solar panels are often installed on a steel pole that is customarily attached to the ground
  • Solar panels are mounted on tracking mounts that follow the sun for optimal production

The optimal mounting mechanism and installation strategy are typically determined by the roof's age, kind, and condition.

The following are the primary benefits or uses of rooftop solar panel mounting structures:

  • To keep the solar panels on the roof safe from the elements
  • To give the solar panels suitable physical protection and support
  • For safety reasons, access to the solar panels should be restricted

The mounting technique and configuration of solar panels have a considerable impact on the operating temperatures of the panels and how they naturally cool.

Because the panels cool more equally in a horizontal configuration, a landscape (horizontal) installation is somewhat better than a portrait (vertical) mounting.

After a thorough examination of the following factors, the best solar mounting methods and structures are determined:

  • The kind of roof surface, its condition, and its structural strength
  • Size, slant, and orientation of the roof
  • The height of the roof, the risk of falling, and the procedures for preventing falls are all factors to consider
  • During installation and maintenance, access to the roof is required
  • All of the electrical components' locations

 

The site survey must pinpoint the locations of all other system components

Inverters, solar charge controllers, storage batteries, dc combiners, raceways, and wiring are among the additional components that make up a solar power system (DC and AC cables). You must plan and set aside a suitable spot for all of these components to be put.

When deciding where to put the solar inverters, charge controllers, and batteries, keep the following variables in mind:

  • Installation and maintenance access to the equipment
  • Surrounding Temperature
  • Dust, rain, and dampness, as well as toxins and other environmental conditions, pose a threat
  • Reduce the quantity of cabling, voltage loss, and installation expenses by being close to the main electrical board

In weather-resistant or rain-proof rooms or inside, solar inverters, charge controllers, and batteries should be installed.

TIP: Avoid placing electrical equipment in direct sunlight or in regions where temperatures are extreme. Make sure the power room has enough ventilation and cooling.

You should also make sure that pets, insects, rats, and other pests do not cause harm to the electrical equipment.