Fixed Solar Panel Tilt Angle

For a precise method use the second formula on this page to calculate tilt angle.

Fixed solar panel tilt angle.

On the picture below is a easy to understand map. 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. There s a simple rule of thumb for calculating the best tilt angle for fixed mount solar panels.

In order to collect energy more efficiently solar panels should be angled to face as close to the sun as possible. Similarly you can calculate the angle for winter by adding 15. Both of these angles require latitude degrees. For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49.

Azimuth angle is their horizontal facing in relation to the equator. To get maximum energy efficiency during the winter solstice the solar panels in chicago must face south and be tilted 65 90 25. Subtract 15 degrees from the latitude at your location during summer and add 15 degrees to your latitude during winter. A fixed angle is convenient but note that there are some disadvantages.

There are two methods for calculating the tilt angle for solar panels. 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. This solar angle calculator tells you the optimum angle to get the best out of your system. 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.

The summer optimum tilt angle on the other hand will be 34 15 19. Fixed tilt if your solar panels will have a fixed tilt angle and you want to get the most energy over the whole year then this section is for you. The tilt angle or elevation angle describes the vertical angle of your solar panels. To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun.

As mentioned above you ll get less power than if you adjusted the angle. Solar panels with a fixed tilt angle 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. In this way at noon the panels will be perfectly perpendicular to the sun s rays.