12thgenusa wrote:
A 10C temp loss could mean a recovery of 4-5% of panel power. For folks that are generally concerned about 2 or 3% losses in wiring, I'm rather surprised no one is picking up on this.
From the responses, I gather no one really knows (or cares) what the real panel temps are.
Because no one can change the panel temps :). Not without tilting.
Those who do tilt, are doing this because they are concerned with 30-40% losses comparing to flat panel. While tilting, they also gain a few % on cooler temps.
Those who don't tilt, are not - usually - getting enough power to live solely off the solar, because most RV arrays are under 300W, so they run a generator if staying for long. For them solar is the way to cut down on genny time, and few % don't matter. This may change soon, arrays are getting bigger and cheaper and at some point - say, 600 or 700W - even a spoiled camper could live off the solar, and then few % will matter. But again, due to pains of tilting, most would rather lose 15-20% on flat panel (this includes both temps losses and solar irradiance loss on flat panel in May and August), and save some watts instead on better wiring, lights and furnace.
