Kodiak X2 User Guide
9
Ideal Time of Day
As a general rule of thumb, the brighter the sun is shining, the better your solar panels will
work. Panels operate at peak efficiency when the sun is most direct— typically around midday.
Solar panels run off of light, not heat. In fact, solar panels produce the most during cold, clear
days rather than in extremely hot conditions. Even on a windy day, solar panels can still op-
erate at peak output. Cloud cover will significantly reduce the efficiency of the panels, though
they will still continue to generate some electricity.
Time of Year
The amount of daylight changes with the seasons, as the sun moves closer and farther away
from you. During summer months, overall solar production is generally higher due to more
daylight hours. Although the winter months have fewer daylight hours, cold temperatures pos-
itively affect a panel’s performance. In fact, cold temperatures in clear conditions can generate
the most solar production overall.
Panel Placement
Place your solar panel where it will get as much direct sunlight as possible. Shade on one or
more panels can reduce the performance of the whole string. Take care to avoid trees and other
shade that may move with the sun throughout the day.
Peak Your Panels
Pointing your panels directly at the sun and adjusting them throughout the day will yield the
best results. The angle will vary from month to month, but an angle of 30-60 degrees from flat
is generally considered ideal. As long as you point your panels at the sun, you should get good
results.
Safety Tips
The Kodiak X2 is designed for use with and rated for Inergy-brand solar panels, but you can
use third-party solar panels if you have them. In general, you should not mix different types
and ratings of panels; always use identical panels in a string. As a hard rule, any string of solar
panels must not exceed the open circuit voltage (VOC) rating of the Kodiak X2 (see Tech Specs).
If you have any questions or doubts about your solar panels’ open circuit voltage, please call
us. (See Contact Us.)
Clean Your Panels
Solar panels function through the interaction of many individual cells (see right). Output can
be greatly affected by even the slightest obstruction to a single cell of the panel. Make sure the
panel is free of any dirt, debris, or other objects like stickers and decals. Aftermarket protective
coatings, including clear films, plastic sheet/ paneling, and even glass, can also greatly reduce
panel performance.
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