Simple Solar Question (kinda of a Poll ?)
If I have 200 watts on a polar mount now, and I track the Sun thru the day,....moving at least 3 - 4 times a day,......sometimes every hr if not doing anything any better, about how many watts would I...
Forum Discussion
Ideally, you would adjust your tilt as you track around each day to keep the panel aimed. You need to tilt it higher earlier and later in the day than at noon.
You can work out the correct tilt for noon if you know your latitude and the sun's declination.
I pick an angle tilted up higher than ideal for noon on the tracker, that still gets Isc at noon (you get about a 10 degree allowance anyway), but now it is better for when the sun is lower the rest of the time.
If the panel remains pointed South all day, then leaving it that high for noon will cost you in the shoulder hours. There is an optimum tilt lower than for noon where you get the most AH haul all day.
So: for tracker fixed tilt, tilt it higher than for noon; for tilted only fixed South, tilt it lower than for noon
You can work out the correct tilt for noon if you know your latitude and the sun's declination.
I pick an angle tilted up higher than ideal for noon on the tracker, that still gets Isc at noon (you get about a 10 degree allowance anyway), but now it is better for when the sun is lower the rest of the time.
If the panel remains pointed South all day, then leaving it that high for noon will cost you in the shoulder hours. There is an optimum tilt lower than for noon where you get the most AH haul all day.
So: for tracker fixed tilt, tilt it higher than for noon; for tilted only fixed South, tilt it lower than for noon
