Favorite tool [RE-wrenches] - pathfinder

[Randy Sadewic]

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Hi Wrenches,
We did the same as William and developed a spreadsheet that we use but
then, I use my judgement to derate the shaded portion. Typically, I do a
pathfinder on the boundary area of the array which will have the
greatest shading.  I derate it 60 to 80% depending on the type of
shading ie trees vs. solid objects and type of module.  

Randy



Randy Sadewic
randy at positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Positive Energy, Inc.
3225A Richards Lane
Santa Fe, NM  87507
Phone 505 424-1112
Fax     505 424-1113
 
Enjoy the Sun!
 

-----Original Message-----
From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at charter.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 6:34 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Favorite tool [RE-wrenches]

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Friends:

This can be done easily with a spreadsheet.  I make a quick table with
the 
little numbers you find on  the Pathfinder.  I delete those numbers that

are shaded.  The sum of the remaining numbers is your percent output for

that month.  Multiply this by the anticipated PV watts output expected
for 
that month and you have a realistic anticipated output.

I almost went blind(er) typing out those leetle numbers.  If requested,
I 
can put the template up on the old web site.

William Miller





>Hi Ray and crew. I've been playing with the yet-to-be-released Solar
>Pathfinder software, I think folks will find it handy for working with
>clients on siting and getting a solid estimate of system output.
>
>Set up the Pathfinder as usual, take a photo of the dome, import the
photo
>into the software (Windows only at this point), mouse click around the
>obstacles, and generate a report that is very similar to PVWATTS, plus
the
>original plot graphic.
>
>The S.P. folks are planning on unveiling it at the Michigan energy
fair, and
>will have it at MREF the next week.
>
>Ray Walters wrote at 07:16 PM 05/08/2006:
>
> >>My siting tool's compass is pretty bad, but I like the tool
otherwise.
> >>For tricky situations, I go back to the solar data, take angle
> >>measurements, and work it out on paper.( I remember someone here
> >>mentioning software for this?)

--
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