Tilting Solar Panel
I did a little experiment.
I have a new poly 100 watt panel. Before installing
I tilted the panel to face directly into the sun. 19.6 volts.
I tilted it the same angle, but away from the sun, so at a very bad angle to still have sun hit it. 18.4 volts, was not that less of a tilt to be 19.6 (1 volt less).
I tilted it to be in the shade, only ambient light. 17.x volts.
I don't feel so bad that the panels lay flat on the roof. The bad angle was about 5% less volts. Shade was 6.x% less volts.
The controller will drop the voltage down to 14 or so, but amps will still be lower, probably 5% too.
5-6% is not bad for being able to just lay the panels flat. I see RVers with rigs where they can angle the panels perfectly and get that 5%, maybe they need it.
Am I missing something?
I have a new poly 100 watt panel. Before installing
I tilted the panel to face directly into the sun. 19.6 volts.
I tilted it the same angle, but away from the sun, so at a very bad angle to still have sun hit it. 18.4 volts, was not that less of a tilt to be 19.6 (1 volt less).
I tilted it to be in the shade, only ambient light. 17.x volts.
I don't feel so bad that the panels lay flat on the roof. The bad angle was about 5% less volts. Shade was 6.x% less volts.
The controller will drop the voltage down to 14 or so, but amps will still be lower, probably 5% too.
5-6% is not bad for being able to just lay the panels flat. I see RVers with rigs where they can angle the panels perfectly and get that 5%, maybe they need it.
Am I missing something?
