Which solar panels to buy?
We've been living exclusively on solar power for over 8 years in trailers and a sailboat, and we've used and installed quite a few different types of solar panels in various configurations. In hope...
Forum Discussion
Just being picky (good article!) --the Voc of a 12v panel is more like 22 volts, not the 18v mentioned (that would be the Vmp) and on tilting, the tilt angle is not the same as your latitude (except twice a year at the equinox)
the tilt angle at high noon is 90 minus sun's altitude.(zenith distance) and ZD +/- Declination = Lat. So your tilt is changing with Declination every day.
EG-at a place on 21 June, Dec is 23N, Alt is 64 degrees, so ZD is 26 Lat is 26 plus 23 = 49N (tilt is 26)
-21 Sep and 21 Mar, Dec is zero, so ZD + 0 = Lat
Then there is "optimum tilt" which is not the high noon tilt :)
the tilt angle at high noon is 90 minus sun's altitude.(zenith distance) and ZD +/- Declination = Lat. So your tilt is changing with Declination every day.
EG-at a place on 21 June, Dec is 23N, Alt is 64 degrees, so ZD is 26 Lat is 26 plus 23 = 49N (tilt is 26)
-21 Sep and 21 Mar, Dec is zero, so ZD + 0 = Lat
Then there is "optimum tilt" which is not the high noon tilt :)
