Looking for a Solar array angle comparision site?

Photowhit
Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
So I use to have the site tabbed, many computers ago, that let you plug in the direction and angle of your array and compare monthly output. I can't find the site now. Anyone have this in their tabbed solar sites?

I finally installed my East, South East array to catch morning sun and would like to compare angles and output, Right now it's leaning against my porch, which is fine but I need to finish and put bracing to the back of the frame. It can and will, somewhat lean over the porch, if I won't lose much I might make the top in line with the porch. About a 20 degree difference from 55 to 75 degrees.
Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • Horsefly
    Horsefly Registered Users Posts: 476 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    PVwatts (http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php) does let you put in an azimuth as well as a tilt. That seems like what you are wanting, but maybe I'm misunderstanding.

    Steve

    Off-grid cabin: 6 x Canadian Solar CSK-280M PV panels, Schneider XW-MPPT60-150 Charge Controller, Schneider CSW4024 Inverter/Charger, Schneider SCP, 8S (25.6V), 230Ah Eve LiFePO4 battery in a custom insulated and heated case.
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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Thank you, not the one I was looking for, but it'll work.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,642 admin
    #4
    The older (and more simple) PV Watts program was taken down (a couple years ago?) and replaced by the link Horsefly gave you.

    This one is pretty simple and has lots of international locations... Although at times, it mixes up the state of Georgia and the Eastern Europe Georgia...

    http://www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-irradiance.html

    Anything specific from a solar calculator you are looking for?

    -Bill

    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2017 #5
    Thanks Bill, nothing specific, guess I would really like an hour by hour breakdown, but seeing that 55 and 75 degree angles are very close in production (at 120 ESE), I can interpolate that I'll not be sacrificing much with a higher angle. The lower angle would accept more charge later in the morning, but my main array will be producing by then. The array hangs over the porch right now, at 70-75 degrees it will be about flush with the porch. I didn't want the base to go farther out into the yard past my steps. I'll grab a photo later.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,642 admin
    #6
    The new PV Watts site does have hourly data too on the last page:
    "PVWatts: Hourly PV Performance Data"
    "Requested Location:","san mateo ca"
    "Location:","SAN FRANCISCO, CA"
    "Lat (deg N):","37.62"
    "Long (deg W):","122.38"
    "Elev (m):","5"
    "DC System Size (kW):","3.5"
    "Module Type:","Standard"
    "Array Type:","Fixed (open rack)"
    "Array Tilt (deg):","20"
    "Array Azimuth (deg):","180"
    "System Losses:","14"
    "Invert Efficiency:","96"
    "DC to AC Size Ratio:","1.1"
    "Average Cost of Electricity Purchased from Utility ($/kWh):","0.16"
    "Capacity Factor (%)","17.7"   

    "Month","Day","Hour","Beam Irradiance (W/m^2)","Diffuse Irradiance (W/m^2)","Ambient Temperature (C)","Wind Speed (m/s)","Plane of Array Irradiance (W/m^2)","Cell Temperature (C)","DC Array Output (W)","AC System Output (W)"
    "1","1","0","0","0","3.9","2.1","0","3.9","0","0"
    "1","1","1","0","0","4.4","3.6","0","4.4","0","0"
    "1","1","2","0","0","2.8","2.1","0","2.8","0","0"
    "1","1","3","0","0","3.9","0","0","3.9","0","0"
    "1","1","4","0","0","1.7","1.5","0","1.7","0","0"
    "1","1","5","0","0","1.7","1.5","0","1.7","0","0"
    "1","1","6","0","0","1.7","1.5","0","1.7","0","0"
    "1","1","7","32","14","2.2","0","22.629","-1.012","69.804","49.045"
    "1","1","8","363","49","2.8","0","206.482","8.825","617.984","585.53"
    "1","1","9","590","73","5.6","0","423.381","21.962","1253.362","1203.692"
    "1","1","10","701","90","6.1","1.5","594.559","23.144","1782.286","1715.285"
    "1","1","11","749","100","6.7","2.1","694.045","25.297","2071.674","1994.039"
    "1","1","12","750","103","7.2","2.1","708.536","26.464","2105.07","2026.154"
    "1","1","13","711","101","7.2","1.5","642.563","26.639","1901.646","1830.357"
    "1","1","14","650","81","7.8","0","506.732","30.192","1457.836","1401.79"
    "1","1","15","483","60","7.2","1.5","304.39","16.229","904.945","865.203"
    "1","1","16","137","28","6.7","1","81.172","8.542","237.9","213.866"
    "1","1","17","0","0","6.1","1.5","0","6.1","0","0"
    "1","1","18","0","0","4.4","2.1","0","4.4","0","0"
    "1","1","19","0","0","3.9","1.5","0","3.9","0","
    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2017 #7
    Non scientific method: Drive a nail or screw into a board at 90°, place the board at the angle of tilt/direction and watch  the length of the shadow. Perform during the solstice, winter or summer depending on what season you want the most production, or adjust 11.5° for average throughout the year. Takes care of directional  orientation without the need of a compass, simple but effective.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Haha, not sure I want to wait until next year and chart the length of a shadow for 3 months over 3 hours during the morning.  Not even sure that would be very accurate since the angle into the panels will vary the reflective and absorbed energy...

    I'm actually capable of doing the math, but it would take some time for me to setup. I'm much too lazy for that...

    I think I have my answer and will check Bills hourly, and see how it works.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Crewzer, one of the Mods about 7 years ago clewed me in....  it's called a GNOMON
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2017 #10
    westbranch said:
    Crewzer, one of the Mods about 7 years ago clewed me in....  it's called a GNOMON
    Yes, a sundial, however in this case you want to minimize the shadow.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #11
    I thought this was a pretty ingenious little item. It clips onto the back of the frame.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #12
    With the nail method, I used a marker to plot where the shadow went during the day, when all the dots were closest to the nail that is the position chosen, same idea as the fancy set up above, but whoever came up with that probably is making money, kind of hard to sell a board and nail for $29.99 plus shipping  :p
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • marissadsilva
    marissadsilva Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭
    #13
    Hello, I think there would be no need to comparison Solar array angle. solar-electric.com is the best site to buy all kind of Solar instruments.

    Jewelry
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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #14
    Some interesting reading on angle of tilt.
    http://www.solarpaneltilt.com/
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
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  • Horsefly
    Horsefly Registered Users Posts: 476 ✭✭✭✭
    #15
    mcgivor said:
    Some interesting reading on angle of tilt.
    http://www.solarpaneltilt.com/
    Yeah, I bookmarked that page last year when  I was looking for anything and everything that might help me.  It really has some good data.  I wish the guy showed more of the math of how he got these angles (he does a little in one paragraph), but I also see that he's offering some consulting service, so it's OK that he doesn't give away all the secret sauce.  Anyway, I'm planning on using some of his data to position our panels up at the cabin.

    Unfortunately, for @Photowhit the site provides info on tilt, but not azimuth. 

    Steve
    Off-grid cabin: 6 x Canadian Solar CSK-280M PV panels, Schneider XW-MPPT60-150 Charge Controller, Schneider CSW4024 Inverter/Charger, Schneider SCP, 8S (25.6V), 230Ah Eve LiFePO4 battery in a custom insulated and heated case.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #16
    In theory the max power should be at solar noon, the tables should get you close but you need to 'localize' the azimuth for your site and for that the gnomone can come in handy, an 8 inch  Carpenters square works great laid on the panel and watching for the peak
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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