Solar Panel Inclination Angle Calculator

To calculate the optimal solar panel inclination for winter use your latitude in the following formula.

Solar panel inclination angle calculator.

Once the calculations are complete you may use your browser s print function to obtain a hardcopy of the results. To lean toward more production in the summer tilt your panels at your latitude minus 10 15. There are two methods for calculating the tilt angle for solar panels. For a precise method use the second formula on this page to calculate tilt angle.

To lean toward more production in the winter tilt your panels at your latitude plus 10 15. To optimize overall production year round tilt your panels at your latitude. Here two simple methods for calculating approximate solar panel angle according to your latitude. Whatever your latitude is you can subtract 15 from it to calculate the angle for summer.

A fixed angle is convenient but note that there are some disadvantages. As mentioned above you ll get less power than if you adjusted the angle. Hit the calculate solar position button. Both of these angles require latitude degrees.

For even more precise angling you would need to track the sun as it moves throughout the day on a minute by minute basis. Your north south position on earth. Results are given in the following units. For instance in the san francisco bay area the best solar panel tilt angle is between 22 23 degrees.

To use the solar panel angle calculator for winter effectively adjust your panels to the winter angle on september 10 in the northern hemisphere and on march 12 in the southern hemisphere. Equation of time in minutes of time. Multiply your latitude by 0 875 then add 19 2º. By adjusting solar panel tilt to aim at the sun s average position in the sky you can theoretically maximize your solar production.

The optimal angle for your solar panels varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and your location and this calculator shows the difference in sun height on a month by month basis. For los angeles a solar panel tilt of 19 degrees works the best. Solar angle calculator this solar angle calculator tells you the optimum angle to get the best out of your system. The optimum tilt angle is calculated by adding 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtracting 15 degrees from your latitude during summer.

For instance if your latitude is 34 the optimum tilt angle for your solar panels during winter will be 34 15 49. Azimuth in degrees clockwise from north. Seasonal adjustments to optimal tilt angle. Solar declination in degrees with positive to the north.