Independent tilt allows the placement of tilted modules on a slanted surface where the tilt angle and the azimuth can be set independently for both the modules and the surface.
Use Cases
Rooftops (Fixed tilt on sloped roof)
When designing a system on a slanted roof HelioScope users can determine the Surface Azimuth and the Surface Tilt as separate inputs from the Module Azimuth and Module Tilt. This can be used to model sloped roofs more accurately or design an array that faces a different direction from the slope of the roof.
Ground-Mount (Fixed-tilt on sloped ground)
For ground-mount systems where the ground is sloped, HelioScope users can determine the Surface Azimuth and the Surface Tilt as separate inputs from the Module Azimuth and Module Tilt.
How to Access Independent Tilt?
Independent Tilt is available to customers in our Pro and Custom Plans, to learn more about our different Plans and Features please visit our pricing page.
To model Designs where the tilt of the surface is different from the tilt of the Modules, follow these instructions:
- Go to the Designer
- Select a Field Segment
- On the Mechanical tab, select “Fixed Tilt” as the Racking Type
- Set your Module inputs: Module Height, Module Azimuth, and Module Tilt
- Click “+ Add Independent Tilt” to set the variables related to the Surface: Surface Azimuth and Surface Tilt
To align the module azimuth to a side of a Field Segment, right-click the grey circle at the middle of the Field Segment line, and click "Set Module Azimuth to __".
To set the surface azimuth based on the highest or lowest edge for the slope of a roof/surface, right-click the grey circle at the middle of the Field Segment line, and choose "Set to Top Edge" or "Set to Bottom Edge".
Additionally, if it is available for your Project location, you can use LIDAR to configure your Independent Tilt Design. To use LIDAR, right-click on a field segment and select one of the following options:
- Fit to LIDAR - This option sets module height, surface tilt, and surface azimuth to match LIDAR.
- Fit to LIDAR (Surface Tilt) - This option only sets surface tilt to match LIDAR, it does not fit the module height or the azimuth.
- Fit to LIDAR (Height and Surface Tilt) - This sets module height and surface tilt only.
NOTES:
- While using Independent Tilt, the Module Tilt will be relative to the Surface Tilt.
- When using "Fit to LIDAR (Surface Tilt)" or "Fit to LIDAR (Height and Surface Tilt)", you need to set the "Surface Azimuth" first for the "Surface Tilt" to set properly based on LIDAR data. To set the "Surface Azimuth" you can add the value of the azimuth angle in the input or you can right-click the grey circle at the middle of the Field Segment line, and choose "Set to Top Edge" or "Set to Bottom Edge".