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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 West Branch, Iowa.

Sunlight hits the earth directly at the equator. This is why the equator has a latitude of zero degrees. The latitude of West Branch is 41.7. Knowing the latitude of West Branch 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.

You will notice that the average peak sun hours for West Branch change based on the type of panel being used. The reason for this is quite simple. A fixed panel does exactly what it sounds like, remains fixed in one position at all times. A 1-axis and 2-axis panels have axis that allow them to rotate. The 1-axis rotates with the sun's daily east to west movement while a 2-axis also adjusts for seasonal changes.

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.

The average daily peak sunlight hours in West Branch, Iowa is 4.8 hours. Use this number when trying to calculate your solar needs in West Branch. As you can see above, if you were to use a 1-Axis or 2-Axis panel then the daily average would increase to 6.9 hour and 7.1 hours, respectively.