OK, I think I misunderstood this great description of optimal tilts for solar panels.
When they said "angles from horizontal" I was thinking angles from facing to the side. No, horizontal is like laying on your back looking straight up. Now it makes sense.
The optimal angles (from horizontal) for various seasons at 30 degrees latitude are:
spring/fall 27.1 (6.14 : 12)
summer 3.3 (0.69 : 12)
winter 50.7 (that's beyond 12:12 roof slope)
full year avg 25.9 (5.83 : 12)
Here's a pitch calculator
The actual formula for full year average is (latitude * 0.76) + 3.1
Plugging San Antonio (29.5) into formula we get 25.52, or 5.73 : 12
6:12 is the closest, but lesser values work better in hotter months, larger values better in colder months.
These values are "flatter" than the usual "use your latitude" value, which is somewhat incorrect according to the link at the top.
When they said "angles from horizontal" I was thinking angles from facing to the side. No, horizontal is like laying on your back looking straight up. Now it makes sense.
The optimal angles (from horizontal) for various seasons at 30 degrees latitude are:
spring/fall 27.1 (6.14 : 12)
summer 3.3 (0.69 : 12)
winter 50.7 (that's beyond 12:12 roof slope)
full year avg 25.9 (5.83 : 12)
Here's a pitch calculator
The actual formula for full year average is (latitude * 0.76) + 3.1
Plugging San Antonio (29.5) into formula we get 25.52, or 5.73 : 12
6:12 is the closest, but lesser values work better in hotter months, larger values better in colder months.
These values are "flatter" than the usual "use your latitude" value, which is somewhat incorrect according to the link at the top.
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