kenkoh
Solar Enthusiast
I live in NE PA with about 3.5-4 hrs of peak sun average.
Is there an esy way to know how to angle your solar panels or do you eyeball it?
- Thread starter kenkoh
- Start date
Woggs1
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2019
- Messages
- 78
Stick a plunger to the panel, and tilt until the shadow is gone...
JeepHammer
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2019
- Messages
- 1,149
I buy those cheap protractors and drill a hole at the zero mark,
Put a string in the hole and tie a nut to the other end,
Flat side against panel, string tells angle.
I picked up some metal protractors at the dollar store and screwed them to the panels,
On solstice I wrote down the angle on the side of the panel.
As months progressed I found months overlap, so 6 angles for 12 months.
I wish I'd thought of the plunger idea, beats trying to look at the sun down a protractor edge...
Protractor on a plunger handle would have been MUCH easier on my eyesight!
Put a string in the hole and tie a nut to the other end,
Flat side against panel, string tells angle.
I picked up some metal protractors at the dollar store and screwed them to the panels,
On solstice I wrote down the angle on the side of the panel.
As months progressed I found months overlap, so 6 angles for 12 months.
I wish I'd thought of the plunger idea, beats trying to look at the sun down a protractor edge...
Protractor on a plunger handle would have been MUCH easier on my eyesight!
nosys70
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2020
- Messages
- 839
usually , panel angle is related to latitude, but also to season.
the idea is to get perpendicular light a 12:00 in a summer day (and more inportant, in a winter day)
if you are at equator, or close , you can lay panels flat and there is not much changes between summer and winter.
the more you go away from equator (direction south pole or north pole), the angle will increase and the difference between summer and winter will increase. These places usually require a dual angle setup you can manually adjust once a year.
sinovoltaics.com
the idea is to get perpendicular light a 12:00 in a summer day (and more inportant, in a winter day)
if you are at equator, or close , you can lay panels flat and there is not much changes between summer and winter.
the more you go away from equator (direction south pole or north pole), the angle will increase and the difference between summer and winter will increase. These places usually require a dual angle setup you can manually adjust once a year.
Solar Panel Angle: how to calculate solar panel tilt angle?
Discover how to calculate the optimum solar panel angle for your solar system according to your location and the season. Two calculation methods explained....
sinovoltaics.com
kenkoh
Solar Enthusiast
Thank you all!
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
Those are ideal ! There is a similar model that you can attach with screws as well, ideal for an adjustable rack.
I ended up using a digital protractor, angle finder level, I had on hand similar to the one below. (I use it during construction, quite handy to have in the toolkit)
16" Digital Protractor, Angle Finder & Level 0°-225° #677 : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
16" Digital Protractor, Angle Finder & Level 0°-225° #677 : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement
www.amazon.ca
nosys70
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2020
- Messages
- 839
any smartphone as angle finder today
I am sure there are tons of calculator for sun position, exposure, power calculation, let alonethat you do not need to measure anything since a smartphone can kow you location, date , time , orientation
would be great to open a thread on the forum to post findings and evaluation of these apps
I am sure there are tons of calculator for sun position, exposure, power calculation, let alonethat you do not need to measure anything since a smartphone can kow you location, date , time , orientation
would be great to open a thread on the forum to post findings and evaluation of these apps
