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When trying to calculate your solar power needs there are a variety of factors to consider. Panel type and location, electricity needs, number of panels needed etc. One key to figuring out the math is factoring in the average peak sunlight hours in a day. Unlike total sunlight hours, peak sunlight hours are only when the sun is strong enough to power your solar panel. Using this number can help determine your needs to power your home or business in Smiths Ferry, Idaho.

Sunlight hits the earth directly at the equator. This is why the equator has a latitude of zero degrees. The latitude of Smiths Ferry is 44.3. Knowing the latitude of Smiths Ferry can help you plan for your solar panel setup, as the larger the latitude the more variance you will see throughout the year for total daily sunlight hours.

Since a fixed solar panel is set in one position it is ideal to place it at an angle that will expose the panel to the most sunlight throughout the year. This angle is generally the same angle of your latitude which is 44.3 for Smiths Ferry. You do not need to strategically place a 1-axis or 2-axis panel as much as you do a fixed panel. A 1-axis panel follows the movement of the sun during the day. Additionally, a 2-axis panel also adjusts for the suns various positions in the sky throughout the year.

Looking at latitude, average peak sun hours and various data can obviously help when planning for your solar power needs. The one thing you can never fully account for is changing weather. Storms, rain, cloud coverage all have an impact on solar panel capabilities.

We can use previous years of data to estimate the amount of peak sun hours in Smiths Ferry. A fixed tilt mount for example will receive 5.1 average hours per day. For more efficiency for your system in Smiths Ferry you could use a 1-axis tracking mount and increase your daily peak sun average to 6.4 hours, or even further with a 2-axis panel to get an average of 7.3 hours.