We have provided the following charts which show
ratings that reflect the number of hours of full
sunlight available to generate electricity. Your
solar array's power generation capacity is
dependent on the angle of the rays as they hit
the modules. Peak power occurs when the rays are
at the right angles or perpendicular to the
modules. As the rays deviate form perpendicular,
more and more of the energy is reflected rather
than absorbed by the modules. Depending on your
application, sun tracking mounts can be used to
enhanced your power output by automatically
positioning your array.
The chart reflects the difference in sunlight
during spring, summer, autumn and winter. It is
more difficult to produce energy during the
winter because of shorter days, increased
cloudiness and the sun's lower position in the
sky. The chart list the sun hour ratings for
several cities in North America for summer,
winter and year round average. If you use your
system primarily in the summer, use the summer
value, if you are using your system year round,
especially for a critical application, use the
winter value. If you are using the system most of
the year (spring, summer, and fall,) or the
application is not critical, use the average
value. Between the chart and the map, you should
be able to determine a reasonable estimate of the
sun's availability in your area
.
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