Portable (suitcase) solar "install" question

Turtull wrote:

Hint. for aligning panels put a old toilet paper tube on the panel and orient for no shadow. that's perfect alignment for max output. Do this around noon celestial time with panels facing south and it's a good alignment for all day.

ktmrfs --- OK I'm fascinated by this - can you explain some more? I can't visualize what you mean? Stand the tube perpendicular to the panel?

yes, put the tube on the panel, with the tube perpendicular to the panel hole facing the sun, hold it with one finger on the top and adjust the panel until you get ideally, no shadow on the panel from the tube. Now, given the physics of the system, and how angle affect efficiency, moderate missalignment has minimal effect on output, so don't worry if you can't get the shadow completely gone. If your off by 10 or 15 degrees from optimum, not much impact.

Think of it this way. If you looked through the tube, you'd want to be looking directly at the sun. that's what you want to do with the panel.

Now if your down south in the summer, your going to be close to being flat on the ground. If your up north in the late fall, you could end up being near a 60 degree angle.

and this ideal angle is dependent on time, but again, shoot for optimum near the middle of the time you will have sun, and you'll be close.

Remember, most roof panels are flat all the time and users put up with the loss from misalignment. But with a portable it's IMHO worth some effort to get a near optimum angle.