[canfossi]

How often do you change the angle of your solar panels, i.e. when the sun is lower or higher in the sky according to the seasons? Twice a year or 4 times and when? I am at 44 deg north. Thanks Chris

 

[PD-Riverman]

How often do you change the angle of your solar panels, i.e. when the sun is lower or higher in the sky according to the seasons? Twice a year or 4 times and when? I am at 44 deg north. Thanks Chris

Chris
I been playing with Solar for a few years and Am Learning as I go. I change my angle 2 to 3 times a year, but If I needed All they would produce to keep up with my usage I would change them more often. Mine only takes about one minute to change though. If it took alot of time, twice a year. This is the way I go about it, and realize it Is My Way, not out of a Book. I check my panels to see what time the Morning sun starts hitting them and make a note of that time. Do the same thing for what time the sun stops hitting them in the evening, then I figure out the time during the middle of the day that would be half way between these two times. I then go to my panels at that time the next day and T square the panels (side to Side)with the sun, then T square The angle(top tilted forward or backwards) with the sun. To "T" square I actually use a tall soup/dog food can that I have modified to sit square on a panel and Go by the """Shade""" of the can on the panel. Hope you can Understand "my way"--LOL. I have never wrote down the Times of the year, I just do it when the angle is off a Fair amount(mine are Easy to change). Sure These Guys have Those Times figured out and Will help you. Have Fun!!

 

[12vman]

IMO.. If you have a "Fixed" mount, Keep it simple and set it for the best angle for winter. (Or halfway between) Just make sure that you have your solar south angle set properly. The length of the summer days and the increase of sunny days will cover most of the losses that you'll have if the angle isn't set perfectly..

If I was going to change mine, I'd do it in March and September..
~Don

 

[Shinsan]

Probably the most simple way I've seen was a two position array set for the optimum angles for winter and summer, and controlled by a rod and lever mounted on the side of a house.
The expensive way to go is a 'Solar Tracker' that aligns the panels in two planes. It actually tracks the sun, but is very expensive, and I'm not convinced the extra power gained is worth the expense.

 

[offGridNorthern]

We are at 48 degrees north and we change the angle twice a year.

 

[wy_white_wolf]

I'm At 45d lat and has 3 settings for my panels. 30, 45, and 60. I set them 4 times a year on Feb. 5th, May 5th, Aug. 5th, and Nov. 5th