Solar Design Software

[ridgeline]

I'd be interested in knowing what designers and installers use for PV design software for grid tied and stand alone systems.

[Jason]

Hi ridgeline,

Here are a couple links that may be of help:

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildin...bjects_sub.cfm

http://sketchup.google.com/

[ridgeline]

Thanks for the info!

[rodge13]

You can download RETScreen for free at www.retscreen.net. You have to sign up but it's free from the Canadian government.

It can be cumbersome to use, but the weather data is useful, and you can cut and paste easily into Excel to manipulate data.

Enjoy!

[Off Grid Solar]

Auto Cad. That is the one we use here.

[dmpolvo]

For solar design software, I'd recommend www.solardesigntool.com. It's easy to use and works really well.

[Solar_UK]

Have you tried Solar Panel Designer?
You can get a Free trial here http://www.visualbuilder.co.uk/solarpanel.htm
Really easy to use and has some great tools designed specifically for Solar installers.

Some features below:

Worldwide graphical database
Design of PV and Solar in any grid
Automatic calculation of income


I hope this helps

[dmpolvo]

SolarDesignTool now offers the capability to design systems remotely using 3D models. You just order a model and design the system, complete with an array layout. No site visit needed in order to create a preliminary design that you can use to close a deal. Super quick. The tool has come a long way in the last 3 years.

[russ]

SolarDesignTool now offers the capability to design systems remotely using 3D models. You just order a model and design the system, complete with an array layout. No site visit needed. Super quick. The tool has come a long way in the last 3 years.

That is true office engineering! Sit in the chair, drive AutoCad or similar and declare what a wonderful job has been done while assigning the blame for screwups on others.

No site visit needed my aching butt!

[Naptown]

That is true office engineering! Sit in the chair, drive AutoCad or similar and declare what a wonderful job has been done while assigning the blame for screwups on others.

No site visit needed my aching butt!

Actually that's how I start a proposal to get to a ball park figure to qualify a potential customer.
It's just not green to be driving all over to come up with a ballpark (+/- 5%)
I've done enough of these to be able to get very close.
Of course a site visit is necessary to nail the cost down to the penny and make sure the system fits. (Google Earth is close but not dead on.)