Row spacing without the black box.

Estimate solar-array clear row gap, front-to-front pitch, geometric ground coverage ratio and field depth from latitude, tilt and a chosen no-shade time.

Project inputs

Defaults are examples, not recommendations. Replace them with traceable project assumptions.

North positive; south negative. Limited to ±66°.
Use the local winter design date for the hemisphere.
Solar time, not necessarily clock time.
Angle above horizontal.
Full table length measured along the tilted plane.
Used only to estimate total field depth.

Screening result

Updated from the inputs at left.

Preliminary decision support only. Confirm inputs, governing standards and final conclusions with the responsible qualified professional before design, procurement or construction.

Method and assumptions

The calculator determines solar altitude from latitude, day of year and local solar time, then applies simple section geometry. Array rise is L × sin(tilt); horizontal projection is L × cos(tilt); clear gap is rise ÷ tan(solar altitude).

  • Use solar time rather than civil clock time.
  • The result treats the site as level and rows as parallel.
  • Check the result in a terrain-aware shading model before design.