Solar Panel Angle Map

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

Solar panel angle map.

When a solar system is level with the ground it has no tilt. The vertical tilt of your panels. Cosine of solar zenith angle. After finding the best place to install your solar panels your installer will select the ideal tilt.

An additional 3 5 though can be gained by evaluating this more carefully. Photovoltaics produce power when the angle at which the sun s rays hit the panel surface the angle of incidence is small or when light strikes the panel as close to perpendicular as possible. Elevation angle and azimuth angle commonly shortened to angle and azimuth for brevity. The table below features a solar panel angle by zip code for at least one city from every state.

Elevation is measured in degrees up from the horizon. The angle is calculated based on your latitude. If your latitude is above 50 see other situationsbelow. Az el both report dark after astronomical twilight.

The solar panel angle can affect the amount of solar electricity you generate and is based on two factors. If your latitude is between 25 and 50 use the latitude times 0 76 plus 3 1 degrees. Today we re going to explain how to mount your solar panels to get the most energy from them. A simple rule to follow in the united states is to multiply your latitude by 0 76 then add 3 1 degrees.

If it s standing upright perpendicular to the ground it is at a 90 angle. If your latitude is below 25 use the latitude times 0 87. Use one of these formulas to find the best angle from the horizontal at which the panel should be tilted. Let s start with two key terms.

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. However if the panels are turned at an angle greater than 45 compared to true south production begins to decrease significantly. 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 decline is due to the fact that solar panels during most of the day are exposed to weak and not perpendicular sunlight.

Solar panel angle by zip code your life would be much easier if you could just find out what angle is the optimal solar panel angle in your city or county. Azimuth is measured in degrees clockwise from north. This solar angle calculator tells you the optimum angle to get the best out of your system. At 90 from true south therefore east and west production can drop to 30.