Specifications

www.aetsolar.com Open Loop / PV - Page 5
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 latitude + 10°. 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
COLLECTOR ORIENTATION
Proper tilt angle for solar collectors is latitude plus 10° (see latitude map). This favors the winter sun
because ambient temperatures are lower during the winter and collector efficiency suffers. This 10°
additional tilt equalizes year round performance. Spacing can be determined from Table 1. When the
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.