what is the best direction or orientation to install solar panles

[fopoku2k2]

what is the best direction or orientation to install solar panels. there seem to be lots of different information about this online.

also are there any good android apps or compasses out there to to use??

Thank you

[Silver_Is_Money]

Due south is best if it is unhindered. A compass will likely be as much as 8-12 degrees off. Best to determine your local noon (time) and place a stake in the ground. The shadow it casts at local noon will point due north, and the opposite of that is due south.

Local noon is exactly half way between local sunrise and local sunset.

[Ian S]

Generally, for maximum production with no shading, you'd want panels to be south facing in the northern hemisphere and north facing in the southern hemisphere. But local conditions can also influence what's "best." Some locations on the west coast, for example, might have a lot of mist/cloud before noon so a southwest facing array might be "best.' Also, rate structures can be a factor. An example would be SRP's new rate in Arizona that makes late afternoon production more valuable so a southwest or western orientation might prove "best" under those circumstances.

[Sunking]

Solar South orientation which can be different than Magnetic South in the northern hemisphere . Second piece is tilt angle. If you are on the Equator straight up with no tilt or orientation.

[J.P.M.]

Start at due south (or north in the southern hemisphere) with tilt at latitude.

For many areas, local conditions like predominantly cloudy morning/afternoons can shift that azimuth off due south (north). For PV, up to about 10 deg. or so less than local lat. is probably OK - for solar thermal about 10 deg. greater may result in slightly better year round performance w/less summer overheating and heat dumping.

[ButchDeal]

Solar South orientation which can be different than Magnetic South in the northern hemisphere . Second piece is tilt angle. If you are on the Equator straight up with no tilt or orientation.

GPS and apps would normally refer to this as polar or true north ( south in this case). The three coordinates are "true", grid and magnetic.
True is the reference point you want which is based on the north/south point upon which the earth rotates.
Make sure your gps system is set to show "true" directions not magnetic.
On an iPhone for example under settings/compass you can turn on "use true north".

[organic farmer]

When I laid-out the orientation for our house foundation. I started by making a small sun-dial, to accurately determine True North and South.

I recommend you do the same.