Your videos are very high quality and satisfying to watch no matter the topic. I know you specialize in solar panels but you're so good that I think you should review other tech, too. For example, I really liked that you use Wh in your calculations for battery capacity at all times :) I'm just so tired of people using mAh...
Thank you for the video and also the website. I've been tinkering with a simple 4x 100 watt panel setup. I have on a frame that can be adjusted for the angle (1-axis) from completely parallel to ground (zero degrees) up to 90 (right angle). I haven't given much thought as it has been a simple setup DIY battery pack charging and its been "good enough". Then I picked up recently bought what is essentially a sun dial for PVs which shows you the shadow to align the panels. Since I got that I've been making adjustments through out the day to essentially start the panels mostly east and rotate them by hand (they are on wheels) towards the west in the afternoon. I have noticed a huge increase in output, hitting 390watts out of 400 at one point. Finally I decided to research what is the optimal angle to set my brackets to and also what direction to face the panels and just leave them that way for the day. I used your site which gave me the title angle(s) by month/season. Awesome. Then I read about the true south vs magnetic south. Well I looked on your spreadsheet and my location which was on there showed that I was one of the states that actually has a negative or loss if you use true south vs magnetic south. However running through your calculator it gave me the difference from a compass reading vs true south. The issue is my state is in the red (loss) so that to me means that true south is any not more efficient than magnetic south, which PV watts confirmed. Your calculator didn't account for states with losses and phrases in a way saying that true south is optimal, when in fact it is not. The exactly language when I entered my location was: "Your optimal azimuth angle is true south, which is: 6.9° west of magnetic south" Incorrect, my optimal angle based on PV watts for July is 110 degrees at a 11° tilt (your website says 16° but that costs a minuscule .01 loss for July). Going from magnetic south (180) to your adjusted calculation (186.9) as "compass" degrees seems wildly off from PV watts telling me that 110 degrees is optimal. Thats a big change in direction. Per PVwatts 110 at 11 degree tilt for July yields 799 kwh (AC Energy column) and Solar Radiation of 653. However using magnetic south or true south result in lower numbers. At 180 degrees you get 775 kwh and 6.36 radiation and using the "optimal azimuth angle" your site calculated (189.6) in PV watts results in 773 kwh and 6.34 radiation. Using 11° tilt: Your website = 186.9° west of magnetic south in PVwatts 634 rad / 773kwh.
Excellent video. I liked how you covered everything with a little cliffhanger, finished the one subject, and then went to the next issue without digressions. Well scripted. If you didn't use a script or outline or something, and your brain is able to deliver that way, good for you! I like the idea of calculating the watt savings for various places around the earth as you have done. Smart. But to compare the North and South as you have done really doesn't mean much? Could it be those major locations in the North are in more ideal locations. I suppose you could normalize that last number. But to little effect, as you have demonstrated. It's insignificant. I've been watching the absolute best sunrises and sunsets in the world. I noticed that the sun rises and sets in quite different locations. I'm off grid. In the desert. My energy requirements go up significantly in the summer. Finding the optimal through that pv watt site is wonderful. Thanks for enlightening, but there is no way it will account for this. Well, take that back, there would be a way to account for it, but it would make those calculations cumbersome, hint, hint. You could probably set up something that asks for optimum tilt and sweep angle per month based upon when you need it most. For me, it's June-July-August Since I am familiar with the astronomy software, "stellarium," I know it will give me precise numbers, I'm hoping it's going to tell me where the best tilt and angle are for those months. I need something that will be optimal in these 115°f days that we've got coming here. When it's that hot, you need AC just to keep your solar system from overheating! It's a rabbit hole I tell 'ya!
I would like you to compare and test 200 watt 24 volt solar panels of the tree top companies there has been some changes with technology. People are now moving forward with both 24 volt or 48 volt systems and because of that people are interested in using 24 volt solar panels! I know I want to start out building a 24 volt system with 1,200 watt inverter. Rich Solar and Newpowa Solar and at one time Rengy had 200 watt 24 volt solar panel!
What should I analyze next?
Your videos are very high quality and satisfying to watch no matter the topic. I know you specialize in solar panels but you're so good that I think you should review other tech, too. For example, I really liked that you use Wh in your calculations for battery capacity at all times :) I'm just so tired of people using mAh...
Also, reviewing solar chargers might be nice :)
Like what do I do with the DC output except measure the short circuit current and voltage?
Thank you! I'll keep that in mind when brainstorming upcoming videos
Ok interesting, noted!
Thank you for the video and also the website. I've been tinkering with a simple 4x 100 watt panel setup. I have on a frame that can be adjusted for the angle (1-axis) from completely parallel to ground (zero degrees) up to 90 (right angle). I haven't given much thought as it has been a simple setup DIY battery pack charging and its been "good enough". Then I picked up recently bought what is essentially a sun dial for PVs which shows you the shadow to align the panels. Since I got that I've been making adjustments through out the day to essentially start the panels mostly east and rotate them by hand (they are on wheels) towards the west in the afternoon. I have noticed a huge increase in output, hitting 390watts out of 400 at one point. Finally I decided to research what is the optimal angle to set my brackets to and also what direction to face the panels and just leave them that way for the day. I used your site which gave me the title angle(s) by month/season. Awesome. Then I read about the true south vs magnetic south. Well I looked on your spreadsheet and my location which was on there showed that I was one of the states that actually has a negative or loss if you use true south vs magnetic south. However running through your calculator it gave me the difference from a compass reading vs true south. The issue is my state is in the red (loss) so that to me means that true south is any not more efficient than magnetic south, which PV watts confirmed. Your calculator didn't account for states with losses and phrases in a way saying that true south is optimal, when in fact it is not. The exactly language when I entered my location was:
"Your optimal azimuth angle is true south, which is:
6.9° west of magnetic south"
Incorrect, my optimal angle based on PV watts for July is 110 degrees at a 11° tilt (your website says 16° but that costs a minuscule .01 loss for July). Going from magnetic south (180) to your adjusted calculation (186.9) as "compass" degrees seems wildly off from PV watts telling me that 110 degrees is optimal. Thats a big change in direction. Per PVwatts 110 at 11 degree tilt for July yields 799 kwh (AC Energy column) and Solar Radiation of 653. However using magnetic south or true south result in lower numbers. At 180 degrees you get 775 kwh and 6.36 radiation and using the "optimal azimuth angle" your site calculated (189.6) in PV watts results in 773 kwh and 6.34 radiation.
Using 11° tilt:
Your website = 186.9° west of magnetic south in PVwatts 634 rad / 773kwh.
Excellent video. I liked how you covered everything with a little cliffhanger, finished the one subject, and then went to the next issue without digressions. Well scripted. If you didn't use a script or outline or something, and your brain is able to deliver that way, good for you!
I like the idea of calculating the watt savings for various places around the earth as you have done. Smart. But to compare the North and South as you have done really doesn't mean much? Could it be those major locations in the North are in more ideal locations. I suppose you could normalize that last number. But to little effect, as you have demonstrated. It's insignificant.
I've been watching the absolute best sunrises and sunsets in the world. I noticed that the sun rises and sets in quite different locations. I'm off grid. In the desert. My energy requirements go up significantly in the summer.
Finding the optimal through that pv watt site is wonderful. Thanks for enlightening, but there is no way it will account for this.
Well, take that back, there would be a way to account for it, but it would make those calculations cumbersome, hint, hint. You could probably set up something that asks for optimum tilt and sweep angle per month based upon when you need it most. For me, it's June-July-August
Since I am familiar with the astronomy software, "stellarium," I know it will give me precise numbers, I'm hoping it's going to tell me where the best tilt and angle are for those months.
I need something that will be optimal in these 115°f days that we've got coming here. When it's that hot, you need AC just to keep your solar system from overheating!
It's a rabbit hole I tell 'ya!
Weird that you didn't mention tracking panels. They are more common at the equator, where I am. :)
If you have adjustable ground mounts, at 12:30 pm, go out and put a soupcan on the panels, adjust them till the shadow disappears, done deal.
Very helpful info! Thank you!
I would like you to compare and test 200 watt 24 volt solar panels of the tree top companies there has been some changes with technology. People are now moving forward with both 24 volt or 48 volt systems and because of that people are interested in using 24 volt solar panels! I know I want to start out building a 24 volt system with 1,200 watt inverter. Rich Solar and Newpowa Solar and at one time Rengy had 200 watt 24 volt solar panel!
I just watch where the sun is highest and point there. If i can't see sun, do i need solar panels?
Sounds like your solar panels aren't mounted in a fixed position? This is for people who are mounting them and trying to decide which way to face them