Are Solar Trackers Worth the Investment?
There’s much more to solar setups than just laying out the panel and calling it done. Depending on the location and orientation of the installation, there are many ways you can go about it. For instance, there are additional gadgets that can bring in a noticeably larger percentage of power than if you were to install your solar power system without them. Today, the experts at Solar Bear Houston will tell you about all the wonderful advantages of solar trackers.
What Is a Solar Tracker?
A solar tracker acts as a base for your solar panel to sit on which has the ability to direct and position the panel to be always facing the sun. With the sun rising and setting in completely opposite directions, you can see why solar trackers are a very nifty tool. You’ll also be surprised to find out that solar trackers come in a great range of styles and varieties to help you reach full efficiency for your solar needs.
Single-Axis vs Dual-Axis
When it comes to the orientation in which the panel swivels, there are two different kinds of solar trackers that offer this function. The simpler option is the single-axis tracker, which points back and forth from one line of reference. It is typically placed so that it can face the east and west in order to catch UV rays during both sunrise and sunset. Dual-axis trackers, on the other hand, have two opposing swivel points so that they can face any direction. That way, the solar panel can directly face the sun, no matter its location in the sky.
Active, Passive, and Manual Setups for Solar Trackers
As far as how the tracker moves, there are three separate ways
to orient the solar panel. Each has its pros and cons, so it’s entirely up to you on which kind you would rather use.
The three types of solar trackers include:
- Active trackers, which are hooked up to a power source in order to precisely and automatically point in the direction of the sun. This is the most commonly-used style.
- Passive trackers, which are designed to follow the heat from the sun without the need for an additional power source. While this may seem ideal, passive trackers can take a long time to respond, which causes inaccuracies.
- Manual trackers, which require you to position the panel yourself at varying times of the day. Since many people aren’t always home at every hour of the day, this style can seem impractical.
Are Solar Trackers Worth It?
Without a tracker, your solar panel is only getting half of the UV rays that it could be getting because it’s only capturing the sun for half of the day. Solar panels with trackers see an increase of 25%-40% more generated power each day, which can add up to quite a lot! Needless to say, that solar trackers definitely give you your money’s worth.
Contact Solar Bear Houston Today!
Not sure which kind of solar tracker to get for your solar panels? Reach out to the friendly Solar Bear Houston team and we’ll evaluate your situation to give you a personalized recommendation. Call (727) 471-7442 today!
