Solar Power Winter Update

I’ve written about my solar charging system here, here, here, and here.

The more time I spend with the system, the more I learn about it. It is interesting to me that just a few months ago I was amazed at how much excess capacity I had. Now, in the winter months and located in Arizona, that excess capacity has disappeared.

My pea brain tells me that there are three reasons behind this. The first is that the furnace is in use and it consumes a good bit of power. Secondly, the sun is low on the horizon. Thirdly, the number of good sun hours per day is significantly reduced.

My observation over the last couple of winter months is that the system produces slightly more than 50% of rated power at peak times (high 50’s on very good days). The same installation during the summer months was producing somewhere around 80% of rated power at peak times.

So, the winter most certainly has an effect on solar energy production!

I can imagine at least two ways to deal with this.

• Tilt the panels. I was initially vehemently opposed to this. It costs more, adds weight, and I don’t like the idea of babysitting solar panels. With my experience to date and a bit of brainstorming, I am of the opinion that a very simple manual tilt mechanism could be constructed. Combine that with the fact that I only move once every 2-3 weeks and I think I could handle tilting them that often. Daily tilting? No, still not interested. It is purely a guess on my part but I would hope that tilting the panels during the winter would increase the 50% number to 60%. Again, purely a guess. Of course, that assumes being parked at the correct angle such that the panels are pointing directly at the sun.
• Add more panels. Some folks simply do not have room so this is not an option. I do have the space and could add another panel. However; I am not inclined to do this as what I have so is very, very close to be sufficient.

At the moment, I am not making any changes – simply gathering data and experience.