Aiming A Solar Panel

To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun.

Aiming a solar panel.

The angle at which the solar panel is elevated plays a vital role in maximizing the production of energy. Solar south or geographic south. Therefore the best angle for your solar panels is the one that allows the panels to get the most direct perpendicular light. With that in mind especially with the goal of doing some space heating optimize your panels for winter when you really need the heat.

Some who install them on their roofs are somewhat limited but if you have the luxury of choosing exactly how you want your system setup there are a few tricks you can use to determine how you should tilt and point your panels. Tilt the panels to your latitude. However every place is different as you have to take seasons and the average position of the sun into account when installing one. Or if you often have clouds in the afternoon but not the morning you might aim your panels slightly to the east.

Determining the best angle can be a tedious task. Choosing the best angle and direction for your solar panels will optimize the amount of sunlight they receive and allow you to get the most out of your solar power system. There is plenty of sun in the summer it shines a lot longer and our demand for heat is much less. True south can also be calculated at noon when shadows from vertical objects run north south.

You may need to make adjustments for your situation. If you are able to adjust the angle of your solar panels a few times per year here is the adjustment schedule we recommend. 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. 1 calculate the exact southern.

Tilt the panels to your latitude. Tilt the panels to your latitude minus 15. For example if you have trees to the east but not the west it may be better for you to aim your solar panels slightly to the west. The direction solar panels should face is true south a k a.

Tilt the panels to your latitude plus 15.