Best Angle For Solar Panels In Colorado

Find the right direction and tilt angle for solar panels.

Best angle for solar panels in colorado.

While the angle of your solar panels is important a more important factor in your energy production is going to be the direction your panels face. Watch how to build hom. For the best results solar panels should be oriented towards the south. The sun will be about 15 degrees higher in the sky in summer and 15 degrees lower in the sky in winter.

Both of these angles require latitude degrees. How to find the best angle for solar panels the optimum tilt and direction. 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. If your latitude is outside this range see other situationsbelow.

This table gives some examples. To get the best out of your photovoltaic panels you need to angle them towards the sun. The best tilt angle for winter is the latitude times 0 875 plus 19 2 degrees. Similarly you can calculate the angle for winter by adding 15.

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. Since solar panels are more productive when the sun s rays are perpendicular to their surfaces the certainly best orientation is the one directly true south azimuth angle 180. Orientation of the panels. On the contrary in the countries of the southern hemisphere such as south africa and australia the best orientation is true north.

If your latitude is between 25 and 50 then the best tilt angle for summer is the latitude times 0 93 minus 21 degrees. There are two methods for calculating the tilt angle for solar panels. Because your latitude is the same as the angle of the sun in the sky halfway between midwinter and midsummer. The more exact way to count out the best tilt angle is done as follows.

So tilting your panels to the midway point will maximize the sun captured throughout the year. Whatever your latitude is you can subtract 15 from it to calculate the angle for summer. The optimum angle varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun.