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) ...
Forum Discussion
Watching the output on the single panel keeping the bank happy over the winter has been mildly disappointing but a good education in what I have to look forward too.
Colorado is a great state to have solar except for the twin monsoons in the summer and daily clouds at noon in between. Sunny days in the winter tend to be cloud free but you need it with the lower sun and shorter hours. That said, going up from 5000 ft to 10,000 ft nets me a amp to a amp and a half as does being in sub freezing temperatures. So a 250w panel that peaks at 18.5a at 5000 ft in the summer should get close to peaking out the eco-w at altitude in the winter.
Colorado is a great state to have solar except for the twin monsoons in the summer and daily clouds at noon in between. Sunny days in the winter tend to be cloud free but you need it with the lower sun and shorter hours. That said, going up from 5000 ft to 10,000 ft nets me a amp to a amp and a half as does being in sub freezing temperatures. So a 250w panel that peaks at 18.5a at 5000 ft in the summer should get close to peaking out the eco-w at altitude in the winter.
