2
1.
COLLECTOR LOCATION
Proper location and orientation of the solar
collectors is important for maximum system
efficiency. The collectors should be unshaded for
the middle six hours of the day in each month of the
year and should be located as close to the storage
tank as possible to minimize heat loss in the piping
runs. The best orientation is achieved
when the collectors are facing due south and tilted
at an angle from the horizontal of la 10
0
.
Figure 1 below shows many alternatives for
collector mounting. When roof mounting, placing
the collectors as close as possible to the peak of the
roof will make installation easier due to increased
attic access.
2.
COLLECTOR ORIENTATION
Proper tilt angle for solar collectors is latitude plus
10
0
(see latitude map). This favors the winter sun
because ambient temperatures are lower during the
winter and collector efficiency suffers. This 10
0
additional tilt equalizes year round performance.
Spacing can be determined from Table 1.
When collectors are mounted one behind the other,
they are spaced apart so that in the morning and
afternoon on December 21, when the sun is at its
lowest altitude, the collectors will not shade each
other and cause efficiency loss.
