The guy who mocked my solar panel angle calc at the county fair

Guy walked up to my booth at the Tarrant County fair last month, saw my tilt angle chart for October, and laughed saying I'd lose 12% yield by not accounting for dust buildup. He was right, I checked his math against my meter readings for three straight weeks, dropped the angle 4 degrees and gained more than he predicted. Anyone else had a stranger's offhand jab actually improve their setup?

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cora_martinez2mo ago

Oh wow, that's wild! I actually read a study once about how dust on panels can mess with yield way more than people think, especially in dry areas like Texas. It said something like a 5-7% loss is normal, but if you're near farmland or construction, it jumps up. Kinda makes me wonder if that guy just had a lucky guess or if he's done this before, but either way, it's funny how strangers can spot stuff you miss.

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sean_martin442mo ago

Four degrees seems like a lot of work for a guess that could've gone either way.

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