Efficient solar panel placing strategy
I've built a Mun-orbiting science station to process all the experiments that I've gathered from surface and space around. Basically this is simple final-stage rocket with four 3x2 solar panels attached symmetrically around the lab.
When I got to actual processing, to the enormously slow data processing per se, a lack of solar power generation is added. Batteries are not a bottleneck of this design, as they don't charge to the max during sunny-time.
My small question is how much electricity do I need to keep a science lab up and running with full data & 2 scientist sciencing on it?
My bigger question is how to optimally place solar panels & which (3x2 or 1x6 or just cover the fuel tank with 1x1 panels?) so that they could be conveniently deployed and get the most suntime i.e. maximize electricity per panel per day and provide enough of so needed electricity for the lab?
Best Answer
Of course the more solar panels you have, the more electric charge you will generate, but all of the panels in the world won't help if your ship drifts out of alignment with the sun. If you don't check on it frequently, it's much better to have a variety of placements that will allow your ship to get sunlight in any orientation, but as I check on my surface and orbiting base almost daily, I made corrections to my orientation to maximize the sun exposure. That being said, I have two bases on Minmus (linked together into one base) with a total of 8 of the 3x2 panels, and enough batteries to keep 7200 units of charge, and even when the surface is in darkness with two science labs working, I never run out of charge.
I would think for an orbiting base, you should have even more sun exposure than my surface base, so that number of panels/batteries should be sufficient.
Pictures about "Efficient solar panel placing strategy"
What is the most efficient way to arrange solar panels?
Face the Sun: Solar panels produce their highest output when they're directly facing the sun. According to Solar Reviews, panels facing due south will receive the most direct sunlight throughout the day and potential output is highest. A more westerly orientation produces more power in the afternoon and early evening.How solar panels should be placed?
The best direction to face solar panels is south, since here they receive the maximum sunlight. East and West directions also work well. North is the only direction that we should not want to put our panels on. Since India lies in Northern Hemisphere, south direction works best here.What is the best angle to position a solar panel?
Most solar arrays are installed at an angle that best optimizes sunlight exposure for that location. For the vast majority of U.S. property owners, the ideal angle for a solar panel installation is close or equal to the latitude of your home (on a south-facing roof), somewhere between 30 degrees and 45 degrees.Is it better to run solar panels in series or parallel?
Each panel in a series connection is critical. Solar panels in series are also best if you need a low-amperage system. To calculate the output power of a solar system, multiply the voltage by the current. If you have a higher voltage system, your amperage will be lower.Large Solar Panels Used Correctly | RUST | Placement Guide
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.