Help in the 406 Montana

[Mtnsonshine]

Hi, I'm an absolute beginner novice and looking for a little help/advice I live in Helena Montana 46°N where it can get to -40F straight in the winter and snowy (usually dry snow) but the sun shines most days. But of course limited daylight hours in winter. Summer it is usually in the 90'sF. What are the best kind of panels and mounting for my home offgrid. Also looking for an God honest doc brown diy'er in my area (406) that might be able to help me with an offgrid project. TIA

 

[HighDesertOffgrid]

What are the best kind of panels and mounting for my home offgrid.

In your environment, I would be tempted to mount bifacials on end in a East/West fence configuration if there will be little shading from trees and such.

 

[Mtnsonshine]

In your environment, I would be tempted to mount bifacials on end in a East/West fence configuration if there will be little shading from trees and such.

Thanks for the info! Are all brands of panels fairly equal in cold weather, or any recommended? My dad has a neighbor who seems to have his mounted on an apparatus that tracks the sun. Any advantage to that? Thanks!

 

[sunshine_eggo]

In your environment, I would be tempted to mount bifacials on end in a East/West fence configuration if there will be little shading from trees and such.

Curious... wouldn't Winter production be awful?

Thanks for the info! Are all brands of panels fairly equal in cold weather, or any recommended? My dad has a neighbor who seems to have his mounted on an apparatus that tracks the sun. Any advantage to that? Thanks!

Trackers tend to be very expensive with a risk of mechanical failure. If you have the room, it is better to just spend that additional $ on more PV.

 

[HighDesertOffgrid]

Curious... wouldn't Winter production be awful?

Perhaps so. The geometry is too much for me. Consider it a conversation starter. Seems like someone in the forum from higher latitudes has a vertical array. But maybe theirs faces south.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Perhaps so. The geometry is too much for me. Consider it a conversation starter. Seems like someone in the forum from higher latitudes has a vertical array. But maybe theirs faces south.

I think I know who you're thinking of... scandinavian country. Vertical on big wooden poles - Pretty sure they're South facing.

 

[Mtnsonshine]

Curious... wouldn't Winter production be awful?



Trackers tend to be very expensive with a risk of mechanical failure. If you have the room, it is better to just spend that additional $ on more PV.

Thanks!

 

[wpns]

God honest doc brown diy'er in my area

I suspect you are going to have to develop those skills yourself.