The Solar Pathfinder™ can give an entire year’s solar potential for a given site in just seconds. This non-electronic instrument is ready-to-use upon receipt of shipment, and is packed in a sturdy, reusable cardboard box. The unit also includes: • Printed Manual (online version also available) • 20 Sunpath Diagrams (latitude & application specific – you specify) • angle estimator (for determining altitude and azimuth)• white marking pen with extra leads (for marking on the Sunpath diagrams to create permanent records)
The Pathfinders being shipped to USA addresses will be "prepackaged" having: 5 - 25-31 degrees N. Latitude Southfacing 5 - 31-37 degrees N. Latitude Southfacing 5 - 37-43 degrees N. Latitude Southfacing 5 - 43-49 degrees N. Latitude Southfacing
This Feedback Forum is to give you the opportunity to inform others of different ways you use the Solar Pathfinder or to share comments or suggestions concerning the Solar Pathfinder.
Use for locating greenhouse or sunroom by Ron P on Nov 3, 2006
By using the Pathfinder this afternoon I see I have 2 good sites in my backyard for a greenhouse, and I also see I could add a workable sunroom to my house. I feel that the Pathfinder paid for itself already. If my backyard turned out to have too little winter light, then I would have taken the Pathfinder and my camera with me when I went house hunting!
"Must have" piece of gear for solar installers! by Joe Schwartz -- CEO & Tech Editor of HomePower Magazine on Nov 3, 2006
The Solar Pathfinder is a must have piece of gear for every installer's tool kit!
Graphic display by Dean Moffatt -- Architect, Sundesigns Architects on Nov 3, 2006
Unsurpassed for the professional analysis of solar characteristics at any proposed site and for a graphic display to clients.
Great tool for certified solar site assessors by Clay Sterling -- MREA on Nov 3, 2006
We have found the Solar Pathfinder to be a simple, straight forward tool for training certified solar site assessors. The Solar Pathfinder provides all the answers for the people in the field and the home owner.
Clever engineering! by Ron Thornton -- Physics Dept., Tufts Univ. on Nov 3, 2006
Clever engineering for functional low cost!
Emergency Management Tool by Randall D. Dunning on Nov 16, 2006
As an emergency communicator and a volunteer first responder specializing in disaster recovery communications, I would not be without a Solar Pathfinder. This is the only tool that can produce fast and accurate siting information for solar powered emergency equipment. During Katrina and Rita, there were adequate engine powered generators to meet need but fuel was inadequate causing most of these generators to be idled due to lack of fuel. One of the lessons learned from these events is the importance of using solar and wind to augment and stretch scarce emergency fuel reserves. The Solar Pathfinder makes it possible to site solar assets quickly and provides an accurate means of predicting solar power availability. I would not consider an emergency managers inventory complete that does not have access to a Solar Pathfinder. The Solar Pathfinder is part of my deployment kit for the EMCOM/EMPOWER Trailer my wife and I designed and built to support our volunteer activities.
Randall D. Dunning - KC5QHHMember Scientific Staff, NortelMayor Pro Tem, City of Garland, TexasMember: NCTCoG EPPC, Garland RACES/ARES
DISCLAIMER: This endorsement is my personal endorsement of the Solar Pathfinder and does not constitute an endorsement of the product by Nortel, the City of Garland, the Garland City Council, North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Garland Radio Amateur Civil Emergecy Service, or the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
Calculating tree height for wind apps. by Craig Tarr on Nov 17, 2006
i pulled out my SP at a recent MREA wind site assessor workshop and created a buzz when i used it for calculating tree height for wind applications.
Cool device by J. Thomas on Nov 29, 2006
Cool Device. After overlaying the angle estimator onto the sun map and comparing data to the PVWATTS tool, it looks to me that ideal array tilt is about 5-10 degrees less than the angle at solar noon for each month. I guess that makes sense as I've read ideal azimuth is within 10 degrees of solar noon. So aligning panels within 10 degrees below solar noon at 180 deg azimulth means the panels may be in a better position as the sun's angle decends from solar noon.
Does that sound right?
Tool choice for value! by Chris on Mar 23, 2007
As a startup business trying to fund my own expenses this is truly the choice for value. Thank you for providing the tried and true, dependable, and accurate solar shade analysis tool!
Bee hive placement!! by Living off the grid on May 23, 2007
Once again, I used my trusty Pathfinder. This time, I needed to find a place for my bee hives. Being in a warmer climate, I wanted them to have noon and early afternoon shade. I wanted them to spend their time making honey, not trying to keep their hive cool! Thanks for such a great instrument!
Ways I use the Pathfinder by Brown Consulting on Oct 25, 2007
I was the vender (Brown Consulting) that made friends with you at the kempton festival. I just found another use for the pathfinder. I was hired to locate a positon for a light tube on top of a house. The owners wanted to know where to put the light tube and how high to put it. I gave them the spot and we ended up installing it 4 ft. above the house for best results. Just thought you might want to know. I remember you asking me what I used it for. I have now used it for windows, Direct TV, overhangs, PV, house placement, garden placement and now light tubes.
