Experiment: Solar Path Finder

Aim : To demonstrate the shading effect of a solar panel at a given location with the
Solar Path Finder equipment
Procedure :

1. Set up solar path finder

2. Correctly read and record path finder data
3. Interpret path finder data

The demonstrator will set up the pathfinder in a location for each group.

Understand how to interpret what you see in the instrument.

Draw a sketch of the area and mark the locations of where the solar path finder was positioned.

For the locations:

1. Mark on the sunpath diagram any obstacles that will shade the site during the different months of
the year.
2. Estimate the percentage loss of sunshine for each month and put it in the table below.
3. Estimate the average PSH for each month, after the loss due to shading
4. Estimate the average PSH for the year

Fill the table with estimated percentage loss, average PSH for each month and over the year

Assume the following is the Solar Data for the site

Irradiation at 5
Month
degrees(PSH)

January 5.36

February 5.45

March 5.37

April 5.30

May 4.94

June 4.41

July 4.56

1
 August 4.39

September 4.42

October 4.96

November 5.10

December 5.16

Yearly Average 4.95

Sketch of training area and the location of your two solar pathfinder sites: (does not have to be to scale)

Total Percentage
Month PSH (no shading) PSH Available
loss

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Average monthly PSH

Now assume the site is shaded during the following hours and complete the table:

2
 Total Percentage PSH at Site PSH Available
Month Time shaded loss
(no shading) at Site

January 8-11am

February 9-11am

March 9-11am

April 9-11am

May 8-12am

June 8-12am

July 8-12am

August 8-12am

September 8-12am

October 8-11am

November 8-11am

December 8-11am

Average monthly PSH

Conclusion& Recommendation

Make conclusions and recommendations based on path finder data