How to Calculate Angles for Solar Collectors

Solar energy has been around a lot longer than we have, and people have been using it in one way or another since the very beginning. Recently however, the utilization of the suns rays to power photovoltaic cells, solar thermal water heaters and other devices has increased rapidly. Orienting your panels or generators correctly can mean the difference between getting power, and not.

Map
Protractor
Compass

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the latitude of your site. Check a map or the internet to find this information. Latitude lines are the imaginary horizontal lines used to determine the distance a location is from the equator, measured in degrees.
- 2
  Fix your array to this angle, facing due south in the Northern Hemisphere or due north in the Southern Hemisphere. Use your protractor to help set the correct angle. Measure this angle from a horizontal position with the south-facing edge of the panel acting as a hinge; the zero-degree mark would be horizontal and the 90-degree mark would be perpendicular to the ground.
- 3
  Add 15 degrees to your location's latitude angle in winter, and lower the angle by 15 degrees from latitude in summer, if possible. This is to take advantage of changes in the sun's position to net more power. If you are not able to move the panels, leave them fixed at the same degree as the location's latitude.

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