How To Determine Angle For Solar Panels

The calculator will then show the optimum angle for the solar panel.

How to determine angle for solar panels.

The calculator shows the degrees from vertical. For instance if your latitude. The other half of the equation is finding the vertical. For a precise method use the second formula on this page to calculate tilt angle.

It turns out that you can do better than this about 4 better. There are two methods for calculating the tilt angle for solar panels. The easiest way to do this is to make a search for your location on google maps and then right click on the location and choose what is here. If you have selected america or canada select your state or province.

For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. As you can see you will need to know your current latitude to be able to count out the most ideal angle to position your solar panels in. Select your country from the list. Tilt azimuth angle.

Finding the optimal tilt for your solar panels. Finding the optimal angle to mount your solar panels optimal azimuth angle for solar panels. For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49. Here two simple methods for calculating approximate solar panel angle according to your latitude.

Both of these angles require latitude degrees. On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north. Books and articles on solar energy often give the advice that the tilt should be equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer. Since solar panels are more productive when the sun s rays are perpendicular to their surfaces the certainly best orientation is the one directly true south azimuth angle 180.

Orientation of the panels. For best results your solar panels should face toward the equator. Whatever your latitude is you can subtract 15 from it to calculate the angle for summer. Similarly you can calculate the angle for winter by adding 15.

While the angle of your solar panels is important a more important factor in your energy production is going to be the direction your panels face. Find the best angle for optimizing solar collection during winter when solar energy is most scarce by multiplying your latitude by 0 89 and then adding 24 degrees. The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer. This is because the sun is always in the southern half of the sky in the northern hemisphere.

There s a simple rule of thumb for calculating the best tilt angle for fixed mount solar panels.