[RE-wrenches] layout software

[Darryl Thayer]

Hi Nic
sorry I have been so busy not had time to follow posts.  However years ago a program called Maui Solar attempted to do power calculations for any orientation.  My program is old but they may still exist. I use RetScreen which will give an answer  as to power production.  I have found that for systems that look south any program will work, for off angle things, a more sophisticated program is required.  \

As for sketching,  Maui Solar had a sun tracker/ shadow tracker kind of thing may be all you need.  The Google sketch up may be the architect ideal.  

Darryl


--- On Tue, 8/5/08, Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind <kelly at whidbeysunwind.com> wrote:

> From: Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind <kelly at whidbeysunwind.com>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] layout software
> To: "RE Wrenches listserve" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 12:37 PM
> Hi Nik,
> We recently started using Google¹s 3-D program
> ³Sketchup² for our layouts.
> The basic program is free and fairly fast to get started
> with. It allows us
> to give prospective customers a simple perspective drawing
> showing how it
> will look. It has a shading feature that allows you to move
> the sun through
> the day to see what effect shading has. Definitely a good
> tool for more the
> less-conventional layouts like you describe.
> -Kelly
> 
> 
> On 8/3/08 6:13 PM, "Nicholas Ponzio"
> <nponzio at buildingenergyus.com> wrote:
> 
> > Wrenches,
> > 
> > I've got several PV prospects with east-facing
> roofs. Does anyone have
> > suggestions about easy calculations for inter-row
> spacing? It's more
> > complicated than the flat-roof or low pitch
> south-facing roofs. Seems like
> > there ought to be some fancy 3D modeling software for
> PV designers that could
> > do this in a few key strokes...
> > 
> > Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
> > 
> > -Nik Ponzio
> > 
> > 
> > --
> > Nicholas Ponzio
> > Building Energy
> > 1570 South Brownell Road
> > Williston, VT 05495
> > 
> > t: 802-859-3384
> > f: 802-658-3982
> > www.BuildingEnergyVT.com
> <http://www.BuildingEnergyVT.com>
> > nponzio at buildingenergyus.com
> > 
> > "Building Solutions for a Sustainable
> Future"
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> 
> Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
> Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC
> Renewable Energy Systems
> NABCEP Certified PV Installer
> 987 Wanamaker Rd, 
> Coupeville, WA 98239
> PH & FAX 360-678-7131
> sunwind at whidbeysunwind.com
>  
> 
> 
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