True South and the PoleV2

True south is the ideal direction to face solar panels for maximum performance in the northern hemisphere.  True south may also stand for truly appreciating the energy that flows into our environment from the southern sky.  Mounting solar panels on a single pole is the easiest way to accomplish a true south orientation.  The benefits gained from finding this True South is so great we had to develop our own poles (and a company by the same name) and provide them for our customers.

The True South Story

In the beginning, a good gentleman, Mr. Harv Roehling of Oxford, Ohio, retired teacher of math and grower of organic lettuce and other fine vegetables, was kind enough to pay us for the opportunity to provide him with a new solar electric system on his farm.  Harv wanted a 5kW PV system.  A ground array was the most logical choice as the roof of his house faces east and west and his barn roof was a bit far from the main electric panel.

Harv also said that he would like to be able to adjust the array seasonally for ideal tilt.  First we looked for something on the market that would accomplish that.  When we couldn’t find what we were envisioning, we began drafting our ideas and testing them.   Manually tilting twenty 40” X 65” panels on a ground mount didn’t sketch out well for us.  Tilting 10 – 15 panels on a single pole seemed a lot more doable.

We built the poles, had them powder coated, and installed them in March.  Harv said he couldn’t be happier!  We are grateful to have had the opportunity to help make his vision real.

The Pole V2

We continue to manufacture the PoleV2 under the True South brand. It can also be adjusted with ease from ground level to maintain a tilt appropriate for each month of the year.  Avoiding shade, facing true south, and adjusting the tilt monthly is a fine way to ensure a very productive solar array.

Want to see the PoleV2 up close? We’ve got one on display at the Darke County Fair (Aug. 19-27). We’d love to see you there!