Fixed Solar Panel Tilt Angle

In boston a solar array at 30 degrees south is still going to produce more electricity than tilted at 42 degrees and facing north.

Fixed solar panel tilt angle. The tilt angle or elevation angle describes the vertical angle of your solar panels. To get the maximum energy efficiency during the summer solstice the solar panels in chicago must face south and be tilted 19 90 71. There s a simple rule of thumb for calculating the best tilt angle for fixed mount solar panels. Solar panels with a fixed tilt angle.

Similarly you can calculate the angle for winter by adding 15. Subtract 15 degrees from the latitude at your location during summer and add 15 degrees to your latitude during winter. Whatever your latitude is you can subtract 15 from it to calculate the angle for summer. For fall or spring you can just subtract 2 5 from the latitude.

If your latitude is outside this range see other situationsbelow. If your latitude is between 25 and 50 then the best tilt angle for summer is the latitude times 0 93 minus 21 degrees. Solar panels should face directly into the sun to optimize their output. The best tilt angle for winter is the latitude times 0 875 plus 19 2 degrees.

It s not a good idea to install your panels to face a suboptimal direction even if it means the best tilt possible. For example with this logic in the bay area near san francisco you would want to tilt solar panels at 22 or 23 degrees. On the picture below is a easy to understand map. An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully.

For a precise method use the second formula on this page to calculate tilt angle. There are two methods for calculating the tilt angle for solar panels. Both of these angles require latitude degrees. A solar panel tilt of 19 degrees will work best in los angeles.

Azimuth angle is their horizontal facing in relation to the equator. This table gives some examples. For panels that you will want to use all year and not have to touch once they are installed you will want to install at a solar panel angle optimized for just that. Showing with clear colored lines what your best solar panel angle will be depending on where on earth you live.

Calculating minimum sun height at noon.