Correct Tilt For Solar Panels

45 x 0 89 40 05 24 64 05.

Correct tilt for solar panels.

If your latitude is between 25 and 50 then the best tilt angles are. The subsequent mathematical operation remains unchanged. To get maximum energy efficiency during the winter solstice the solar panels in chicago must face south and be tilted 65 90 25. For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49.

To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun. The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun height on a month by month basis. For summer take the latitude multiply by 0 92 and subtract 24 3 degrees. For instance if your latitude is 45 degrees.

However even if you lower the tilt of your roof all the way down to 5 production only decreases by about 10 percent. The summer optimum tilt angle on the other hand will be 34 15 19. In this example you would tilt your solar panels at a 64 degree angle from a horizontal level see references 2. Whatever your latitude is you can subtract 15 from it to calculate the angle for summer.

The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer. In this way at noon the panels will be perfectly perpendicular to the sun s rays. For a latitude up to 25 take your latitude and multiply it by 0 87 for a latitude between 25 to 50 take your latitude multiply by 0 87 after that you will add 3 1 degrees for a latitude over 50 the most ideal angle will end up being approximately 45 degrees. The result for chicago is 90 42 23 25.

Optimal electricity production occurs when solar panels face south at a tilt equal to 30. It s not a good idea to install your panels to face a suboptimal direction even if it means the best tilt possible. Similarly you can calculate the angle for winter by adding 15. The angle of your roof actually has less impact on solar panel performance than the direction your solar energy system faces.

For winter take the latitude multiply by 0 89 and add 24. Solar panels should always face true south in the northern hemisphere north in the southern hemisphere tilted from the hoizontal at a degree equal to your latitude plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer. Both of these angles require latitude degrees. The more exact way to count out the best tilt angle is done as follows.

For spring and autumn take the latitude multiply by 0 98 and subtract 2 3 degrees.