Solar Panel Performance vs Sun Elevation
There are many factors that affect panel performance but one that is predictable is the angle of the sun striking the panel. The literature suggests that the panel watts * sin(sun angle on the panel) ...
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I find that elevation really helps when making solar power. My highest amperage for my pair of 45 watt solar panels happened in November, after running the furnace a lot and watching TV the night before, so the battery was kinda low. Snow on the roof also helped, and it was around 25F.
We where in Phelan CA, at around 4,500' elevation, the panels tilted to the south, snow on the roof reflecting to the panels.
Recently San Diego installed a few dozen acres of solar panels near El Centro CA. That was a BIG mistake, as they could have located them 30 miles closer to San Diego at 3,500' elevation in Boluvard, at a higher elevation where it is 30F cooler, and closer to the sun. I measured the watts per square meter in Boluvard on January 9 at noon, and again in Lakeside CA 45 miles away and 45 minutes later at 800' elevation. I was reading 1,080 watts per square meter at 3,500' and only 965 watts per square meter at 800' elevation.
Also for those thinking of putting a solar panel on their dash, when I measured the solar W/Meter on the dash or inside the window on the way down the hill, I was only getting around 500W/meter on the dash, and 650 with the window closed. Roll it down and I was over 980 W/M.
Thanks for the graph. The elevation at Grand Junction is 4,800' according to google.maps.com and then look at terrain, it gives the elevation.
This is why Colorado is such a great state to have solar panels! They are also far enough inland that they do not get the 'lake effect' moisture like along the coast.
Thanks, it helps to have some additional information about solar panels. Now that the cost is so low, it is really easy to just keep installing more panels.
Have fun camping!
Fred.
We where in Phelan CA, at around 4,500' elevation, the panels tilted to the south, snow on the roof reflecting to the panels.
Recently San Diego installed a few dozen acres of solar panels near El Centro CA. That was a BIG mistake, as they could have located them 30 miles closer to San Diego at 3,500' elevation in Boluvard, at a higher elevation where it is 30F cooler, and closer to the sun. I measured the watts per square meter in Boluvard on January 9 at noon, and again in Lakeside CA 45 miles away and 45 minutes later at 800' elevation. I was reading 1,080 watts per square meter at 3,500' and only 965 watts per square meter at 800' elevation.
Also for those thinking of putting a solar panel on their dash, when I measured the solar W/Meter on the dash or inside the window on the way down the hill, I was only getting around 500W/meter on the dash, and 650 with the window closed. Roll it down and I was over 980 W/M.
Thanks for the graph. The elevation at Grand Junction is 4,800' according to google.maps.com and then look at terrain, it gives the elevation.
This is why Colorado is such a great state to have solar panels! They are also far enough inland that they do not get the 'lake effect' moisture like along the coast.
Thanks, it helps to have some additional information about solar panels. Now that the cost is so low, it is really easy to just keep installing more panels.
Have fun camping!
Fred.
