SunEyed Walkthrough

How SunEyed works

From your electricity bill to your break-even year — a step-by-step look at what the app does and why each input matters.

1

Enter your electricity usage

Start by telling SunEyed how much electricity you use. You can enter a single yearly total (in kWh) or go month-by-month for a more accurate picture — SunEyed will compare your actual seasonal usage against your monthly solar production.

Then enter your electricity rate in cents per kWh. This is the number that turns your production estimate into a dollar savings figure. You can find both numbers on any electricity bill.

Tip: Use your real monthly numbers if you have them. Summer air conditioning and winter heating create seasonal swings that significantly affect how much net metering helps you.
2

Set your location

Tap "Use My Location" or enter your latitude and longitude manually. SunEyed finds the nearest of 40,000+ weather stations in its database and loads the monthly average solar radiation for your area.

This is the key difference between SunEyed and a generic online calculator: your production estimate is based on how much sun actually reaches the ground at your specific location — not a state-level average.

Data source: NASA Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE) / NOAA integrated into a database of ~40,000 global stations. The app stores this database locally — it works without a network connection after the first launch.
3

Configure your roof and panels

Add one or more panel groups — one for each distinct roof face. For each group, set:

  • Panel count — how many panels you're modeling
  • Azimuth (direction) — which compass direction the panels face (south = most production in the northern hemisphere)
  • Roof slope (tilt) — the pitch of the roof in degrees
  • Panel efficiency & system losses — defaults match standard residential equipment

You can use the phone's compass sensor to measure the azimuth by pointing the phone along the panel surface — no guessing required.

4

Map obstructions (optional but powerful)

Trees, chimneys, neighboring rooftops, and dormers can silently cut production by 10–30%. SunEyed's obstruction tool lets you trace the skyline silhouette of any obstruction and plots it directly on the sun path chart for your location.

Two modes:

  • Sensor mode — point the top edge of your iPhone at the obstruction and sweep slowly. The gyroscope tracks the outline in real time.
  • Camera mode — use the rear camera viewfinder as a sight, align the crosshair with the treetop or roofline, and sweep. The live video helps with precision.

The result is a "Solar Access" percentage — the fraction of available sun that reaches your panels. A tree that blocks 15% of your sun path cuts your annual production by roughly 15%.

Note: The camera is never recorded or transmitted. It's used only as a live viewfinder while you're actively mapping.
5

See your savings and payback period

The Savings screen shows your full ROI breakdown:

  • Annual savings ($) — how much your electricity bill goes down per year
  • Break-even (years) — installation cost ÷ annual savings
  • Annual production (kWh) — total electricity your system generates
  • Monthly bar chart — usage vs. production for each month, color-coded for over/under-production
  • Net metering calculation — choose monthly or annual settlement to match your utility's policy
What the number means: A break-even of 8 years means after 8 years the system has paid for itself through bill savings. Solar panels typically last 25–30 years, so most systems return 3–4x their cost over their lifetime.
6

Talk to an installer — on your terms

With your numbers in hand, you can request quotes from local solar installers directly in the app. Your system size, estimated production, and savings figure go with you — so your first conversation is about confirming details, not starting from zero.

Copy your summary to the clipboard and paste it into any email or message to share with an installer of your choice.

SunEyed doesn't sell your contact information. You choose which installers to contact and when.

Still have questions?

The support page covers accuracy, net metering, obstruction mapping, and the commercial license in detail.

View FAQ & Support →

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