Adjustable angle frames for PV

[Beau]

Looks like we can get 3 phase so now intend to add some more PV. I would like to have them mounted on some sort of adjustable frames to maximise production, especially in the winter. We live in a windy spot so it needs to be sturdy.

Are there any good off-the-shelf systems or components for DIY?

Thanks

[Stinsy]

1) Adjustable generally isn’t worth the complexity. You’d be better off adding a panel or two to the string.

2) Materials comes down to: wood vs unistrut vs scaffold poles. Whichever you’re most comfortable working with.

[Beau]

Thanks

This is what I have had back from Western Power

"I have carried out the calculations based on upgrading your service to three phase and on top of your existing 3.76kW single phase PV installation an additional 9kW three phase PV/battery installation may be connected balanced over three phases with a total site AC export limited to 7.36kW via a G100 compliant fail safe export limitation scheme."

I am limited to 9kw extra which we are tempted to go for. I suspect in a Dartmoor winter (can go a month without seeing the sun) even that much PV at 36 degrees will struggle to meet our energy use hence being keen to go for adjustable angles.

Wood is my go-to material having spent my whole working life making things with it. Even got a mill for cutting the sections

[sharpener]

How much summer/annual production would you lose if the angle is optimised for winter? I can't immediately find the graphs but AFAIR there is not a great deal of difference.

[nowty]

How much summer/annual production would you lose if the angle is optimised for winter? I can't immediately find the graphs but AFAIR there is not a great deal of difference.

PVGIS is what most of us use and nice to play around with,
https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu

If you can put up south facing unshaded panels, then between 10 degrees and 70 degrees, there is not much overall difference, (about 10%). Obviously the steeper angle the more in winter and shoulder months. However you will find that in winter you will tend to suffer more shading so the steeper angles will suffer more overall.

Around 35 degrees (typical UK roofs) gives the best total yield and I find between 45 and 60 degrees seems about ideal for winter optimisation.

Conversely, completely flat 0 degree slope gives the best in cloudy conditions. So in the UK, best not to over think it and to stick them wherever you can. Avoiding shade is much more important that slope angle and even low slope northerly facing do ok.

Front of Nowty Towers



Back of Nowty Towers



EDIT - Of yeah, forgot about my ESE wall one on a Tigo for that extra early morning generation.

[Thebeeman]

The attached is a link to a EU website which gives a pretty good estimate of output for solar PV in respect of mounting angle etc. My supplier passed it to me when we were sorting whether to raise the panel angle on the 20 deg. roof to 35 deg. by a frame. It wouldn't have been cost effective back then, 2011.

https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/

May be useful for some, in fact I'm surprised it's not more widely known about, or maybe it is and has been dis-counted. I've found the estimates to be very accurate over the years.

[Petertc]

Yes good bit of software. When I was in the solar industry, we used this as well as the MCS output in quotes.
I have used when doing all of my home projects.