Campbell SP10, Instruction Manual

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SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Solar Panels
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FIGURE 4. Solar Panel Orientation
The minimum battery size and solar panel output required depends on 1) the
average current drain of the system, 2) the maximum time the battery must supply
power to the system without being charged, and 3) the location of the site. When
some batteries are discharged below a specified voltage, the battery becomes
damaged and cannot be recharged.
The battery supplies power directly to the operating system, the solar panel
supplies power to recharge the battery. Therefore, on the average, the solar panel
must provide at least as much power to the battery as is being used by the system.
The battery must have enough capacity to power the system during times of no
charging (night) or low charging (stormy winter days).
5.2 Voltage Regulator
The solar panel must be regulated either with a Campbell Scientific regulator or an
attached regulator. The regulator has two basic functions: 1) blocks any current
flow from the battery to the solar panel, and 2) limits the source current to the
battery.
The SP10 and SP20 must be connected to a Campbell Scientific voltage regulator.
Campbell Scientific voltage regulators include the PS100, CH100, and the voltage
regulator integrated in the base of our CR3000, CR5000, CR7, and CR9000(X)
dataloggers.
The SP10R and SP20R have an on-board voltage regulator that connects directly
to a user-supplied flooded lead-acid battery such as a deep-cycle marine or RV
battery.