Campbell PS150, Product Manual

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PS150/CH150 12 V Charging Regulators
14
other high-current DC sources. Polarity definitely matters on the DC only
SOLAR – G input terminals, with positive connected to SOLAR and the
return or negative connected to G , with reversal protection included. The
SOLAR – G input terminals have an input current limit of approximately 3.6
amps, making the PS150/CH150 well suited for 70 watt or smaller solar panels.
The PS150/CH150 can be simultaneously powered from both the CHARGE –
CHARGE and SOLAR – G input terminals, as the internal diodes will route
power from the source with the highest input voltage. This allows for an AC
mains powered application with a solar panel for back-up. If the reverse is
needed – solar power as the primary supply and AC as the secondary supply –
then a solar panel should be used with a 24 VDC output and an AC, or AC to
DC, source with a voltage output less than the solar panel voltage.
An AC/DC converter charge source could be connected to either the
CHARGE – CHARGE input terminals or the SOLAR – G input terminals.
The best input terminals to use with a given AC/DC converter should be based
on the converter output current capability. For example, the CHARGE –
CHARGE input terminals provide a current limit of 1.1 A on the charging
source. Whereas the SOLAR – G input terminals have a fixed 3.6 A typical
current limit, providing faster battery charging for a charge source that can
deliver up to 3.6 A current without damage.
The SOLAR – G terminals are optimal for solar panels because of the high-
current charging capability when solar resources are available. A Maximum
Power Point Tracking algorithm is also utilized when the PS150/CH150 detects
the charging source is connected to the SOLAR input.
The
+12V
output terminals are intended to power a data logger and any
peripherals. Power to these output terminals is controlled by a toggle switch,
with the total output current limited by a 4.65 A solid-state circuit breaker (see
Section 4.1 , Specifications
(p. 10)
). The A105 Additional 12 V Terminals
Adapter may be used to provide extra 12 V and ground terminals where the
power supply is used to power several devices, noting that the hold current
limit on the 4.65 A solid-state circuit breaker still applies (see Section 8 , A105
Additional 12 V Terminals Adapter
(p. 17)
).
6. Charging Details
6.1 Charging Algorithm
The PS150/CH150 offers both Continuous and Solar charging inputs. The
Continuous charging input has a maximum value of 1.1 A to help protect
AC/AC transformers and AC/DC converters. The 3.6 A typical current limit of
the PS150/CH150 Solar charging input is well suited for 70 W solar panels.
Typical Continuous charging inputs would be AC/AC transformers or AC/DC
converters in which a charge voltage is continuously applied except for line
power outages.
The PS150/CH150 uses a float charging algorithm for either the Continuous or
Solar charging inputs. This charging method can charge a battery indefinitely
without overcharging a battery.