Path-Q Solar
How should solar be designed when the house and garage have different roof orientations?
Answer
Design the arrays according to each roof's usable sunlight rather than forcing both roofs into one orientation. Different orientations can be combined, but the design may need separate electrical tracking or separate inverters so one roof does not reduce the performance of the other.
Key points
- Each roof should be evaluated for annual sunlight, shading, tilt, usable area, and expected production.
- Separate power-point-tracking inputs or appropriately designed microinverters can help manage different orientations.
- A single combined system can still work when the orientations have compatible production profiles and the equipment supports them.
- The best layout may use only the stronger roof if the second roof adds little production or significant complexity.
What it depends on
- Roof orientation, tilt, and shading
- Array size available on each roof
- Inverter architecture and electrical design
- Annual and seasonal electricity demand
Risks and trade-offs
- More complex equipment or wiring can increase cost and maintenance considerations.
- A roof with poor orientation or shading may contribute less than expected.
- Optimizing annual production may not optimize production during the hours when the property uses the most electricity.
Information you may need
- Roof plans, dimensions, orientations, and tilt
- Shade analysis for both structures
- Current and expected electricity use by time of day
- Proposed inverter and wiring options
Your next step
What to do next
Request a design comparison showing expected production, equipment configuration, and installed cost for using both roofs versus the better roof alone.
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