diy solar

diy solar

iPhone fail-compass

marionw said:
Also consider magnetic declination https://www.magnetic-declination.com/ to correct magnetic south to true south.
But ultimately for most it is what gives you based on horizons and other obstacles the largest solar window.
Click to expand...

This is what we do. Use military compass and adjust for magnetic declination based on location to get true south.
After a bit of testing, we found the phone apps aren't very reliable.
 
I used my iPhone compass as a guide to grade a spot for a 80x120 pad on my property
Then I looked at the aerial view and realized something was off.
Same thing as OP, my compass was wildly inaccurate and I was unsuccessful in “calibrating”

Good news is I now have another clean garden plot now, unfortunately I’ll have to continue expanding as I have an issue lacking symmetry
 
I've also noticed that if you put two phones side by side, they throw each other off. Even my Apple watch seems to have an effect, as do metal tools in my pockets, to some degree.
 

Use the compass on iPhone

Use the Compass on iPhone to see your latitude, longitude, direction, and elevation.
support.apple.com
Important: The accuracy of the compass can be affected by magnetic or environmental interference; even the magnets in the iPhone EarPods can cause a deviation. Use the digital compass only for basic navigation assistance. Don’t rely on it to determine precise location, proximity, distance, or direction.
 
It's much easier to resolve a shadow to within a degree or two than most compasses, and the location of the sun isn't affected by that magnetic clasp on your coat.

It doesn't have to be at noon. Once you find any direction it's easy to find the rest.

Shove in a six foot long stick and level it.
 
At times I have installed a post (around 6 to 8 ft). Ensure it is vertical/level. Using it as a sort of sundial, mark the ground every hour or so on the shadow using the same distance from the post; i.e. 10 or 15 ft (rope marked with tape or knot). At the end of the day find the center of the arch. From the arch center to the post is the direction you want the array facing.
 
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