In the tropics the sun comes up fast and goes straight down after passing directly overhead. In the US and New Zealand the sun is always to ...
In the tropics the sun comes up fast and goes straight down after passing directly overhead. In the US and New Zealand the sun is always to the side and hitting the hives at a distinct angle. For most of the daylight hours the sun is beating down on the side of the hive. In the Philippines the sun hits the side of the hive only in the morning and later in the afternoon. During the hottest time of the day the sun hits the roof almost exclusively. Therefore...
The angle of the sun in Subic varies 29 degrees from directly vertical overhead to 5 degrees from the vertical in summer. The average angle is around 13 degrees from vertical which is the optimal angle for Solar Panel placement.
The saving grace is the 5 degree angle in mid summer at midday. Very little direct light will strike the side of the hive. Almost all will impact the roof unlike in New Zealand or other subtropical climates.
A little Junior High School math... The maximum angle is 29 degrees. The Tangent of 29 degrees will equal the ratio of the necessary eave over the height of the hive. So for a 244 high deep the eave of 135mm will provide shade for a deep box at midday in winter.
My advice is orient your hives at the rising sun and provide a polystyrene ( Styrofoam ) roof with an all around eave of 135mm.
- The roof in the Philippines should be made of polystyrene
- Crown board should be netting 7mm above the frame top bars
- An air space of at least 100mm should be between the netting and the roof
- A top entrance provides better ventilation
- A screened bottom board provides a chimney effect allow air to leave the top and enter at the bottom
A standard Langstroth configuration will mean many of the forager bees remaining in the hive to fan the brood during the day. With the bullet points above I have been able to reduce fanning to almost nothing.
The angle of the sun in Subic varies 29 degrees from directly vertical overhead to 5 degrees from the vertical in summer. The average angle is around 13 degrees from vertical which is the optimal angle for Solar Panel placement.
The saving grace is the 5 degree angle in mid summer at midday. Very little direct light will strike the side of the hive. Almost all will impact the roof unlike in New Zealand or other subtropical climates.
A little Junior High School math... The maximum angle is 29 degrees. The Tangent of 29 degrees will equal the ratio of the necessary eave over the height of the hive. So for a 244 high deep the eave of 135mm will provide shade for a deep box at midday in winter.
My advice is orient your hives at the rising sun and provide a polystyrene ( Styrofoam ) roof with an all around eave of 135mm.
