On your arrival at your proposed site, you should first check the site layout to confirm its accessibility to sunlight. Before using a more scientific approach for evaluating shade, a quick visual examination will highlight any obvious problems. Whether from the east, west or south, there should not be any obvious obstructions to sunlight reaching your solar system. (This is assuming that you are located in the Northern Hemisphere. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, check the east, north and west for obstructions. At the equator, only the west and east sections are important, as the sun travels across the middle of the sky).

Check your site for the best position for the solar array. For a planned roof-mounted array, you will get a different viewpoint if you view your surroundings from the position of the roof-top. An apparent obstruction at ground level may not necessarily be the same from vantage of the roof.

A sketch of the proposed site for the solar system is very useful in site surveys and system designs. There is no need for complete accuracy or professional design; you just need to have a clear idea of your site. Include in your sketch all of the buildings and trees that can be found near your site, noting their direction with special regard to the south.

It is crucial to determine the best solar array location. Solar arrays work best when mounted at an optimum angle, facing the sun for maximum sunlight. Though the best angle may change in the course of a year, the general rule of thumb is to install the array at an angle that matches the sun’s angle in March and September.

This ideal angle can be easily calculated. At the moment, the optimum angle is estimated to be at 40°-64° in the U.S and 20°-40° in Canada, all from a vertical position.

For installation on a building, it is usually preferable to roof-mount the array, as part of the roof typically will be facing the south. If the roof is flat, angled mount solar arrays can be used. Solar panels can also be mounted on walls, provided the panels are longer and slimmer, and their angled mountings do not protrude from the wall too much. Ground-mounted or pole-mounted solar panels are also excellent alternatives.

Another factor to consider for the installation is accessibility and ease of maintenance for the solar panels. They will need to be cleaned of grime and dirt to avoid reduced efficiency. Therefore, the appropriate mounting solution should also take into consideration the need for accessibility to the panels every few months for these purposes.