Güralp Certimus Technical Manual Download Page 15

Portable Power Module for Güralp Certimus

Operation

6 V, at which point it will automatically shut itself off in order to protect the cells 
from damage.

Note:

  If the PPM is operated until it has shut itself down due to low 

battery voltage, it must then be recharged to at least 6.4 V before the 
output power is turned on again.

The initial charge on the battery limits the duration of the deployment so it is 
important to fully charge the PPM prior to installation.  This maximises the "up-
time" of the system.  Monitor the supplied current when charging the PPM: this will 
fall to zero and charging will automatically stop when the battery voltage reaches 
approximately 8.4 V.

Provided that the PPM has sufficient charge and has been woken up (see section 4.1.1
on page 7), it is only necessary to connect the PPM’s Power Out to the Certimus’ 
Power Input (using the supplied cable).  The PPM will then immediately output 
power to the Certimus  without requiring further action.

4.3.2 Charging

The PPM can be charged using an DC power supply capable of providing a voltage 
between approximately 10 and 32 volts.  The PPM is fitted with over-voltage 
protections so, if the input voltage exceeds 36 V, charging will be disabled in order to 
protect the cells.

Note:

  Because of the MPPT function (see section 4.2.3.2 on page 14), if the 

input voltage is suddenly reduced, the input current may drop to zero for a
short period while the MPPT controller adjusts the input impedance to 
suit.

Caution:

  If the PPM has been left totally discharged for a very long time, it

will need to be reconditioned in order to avoid damaging the cells.  The 
reconditioning process involves structured charging with a very low 
initial current.  Please seek advice in this situation.

MAN-CER-1000

15

Issue A - May 2021

Summary of Contents for Certimus

Page 1: ...able Power Module for G ralp Certimus Technical Manual Document No MAN CER 1000 Issue A May 2021 Designed and manufactured by G ralp Systems Limited 3 Midas House Calleva Park Aldermaston RG7 8EA Engl...

Page 2: ...ation 7 4 1 2 Putting the PPM into hibernation mode 8 4 1 3 Using the web interface 8 4 1 4 Using a diagnostic cable not supplied 9 4 2 Working with solar panels 9 4 2 1 Connections and polarities 9 4...

Page 3: ...9 6 1 Understanding Li ion batteries 19 6 1 1 Charge characteristics 19 6 1 2 Temperature issues 20 6 2 Connector pin outs 21 6 2 1 Charge input 21 6 2 2 Power output 22 6 2 3 Charge cable connectors...

Page 4: ...e for any incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use of this document 1 2 Warnings Cautions and Notes Warnings cautions and notes are displayed and defined as follows Warning A black c...

Page 5: ...gate the risks of over charging and short circuits It is nevertheless essential that the following warnings are observed at all times Never puncture crush or burn a PPM in any condition Do not discard...

Page 6: ...adjust its input impedance to draw the maximum power from the connected solar panel regardless of changes in light conditions The Portable Power Module is a single rugged sealed unit and is supplied w...

Page 7: ...ended before shipping or storage in order to prolong the battery life 4 1 1 Waking the PPM from hibernation The PPM will wake from hibernation when it senses a DC voltage on its charge input The volta...

Page 8: ...page 19 for more details The PPM can be put into hibernation mode in two ways using the web interface of a connected Certimus or using an RS232 diagnostic cable and a PC with a terminal emulator These...

Page 9: ...the diagnostic cable is designed to also provide power the PPM will continue to function until the charge input voltage drops below 1 Volt 4 2 Working with solar panels 4 2 1 Connections and polariti...

Page 10: ...right contains the matching socket contact and this is officially the female connector The illustration below shows the contacts above their corresponding connector bodies male on the left and female...

Page 11: ...Even strikes some distance from the installation can cause serious damage in two ways induced currents in electrical connections and voltage differences between ground points caused by high currents f...

Page 12: ...ignment will change A compromise alignment needs to be chosen to maximise the total energy captured across the deployment duration There are many on line Solar Panel orientation calculators available...

Page 13: ...This is proportional to the amount of energy stored and is shown by the blue curve below It can be seen that in this example the second day has not provided enough energy to fully charge the battery...

Page 14: ...matically For this reason the PPM has an integrated MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracking charge controller and will automatically track the panel s optimum operating point to ensure that it harvests ener...

Page 15: ...ary to connect the PPM s Power Out to the Certimus Power Input using the supplied cable The PPM will then immediately output power to the Certimus without requiring further action 4 3 2 Charging The P...

Page 16: ...imate will restrict the operational possibilities for any given rating of solar panel If in doubt seek local advice where possible The operation of the PPM can be monitored using the web interface of...

Page 17: ...battery to give an approximate running state of charge of the battery Subsequent to power on the value gets re initialised whenever the battery becomes fully charged BattChargeI The current flowing i...

Page 18: ...l output voltage measured in volts Instantaneous charging current measured in amps Instantaneous solar power the amount of power which the panel is currently providing measured in watts The meter show...

Page 19: ...for a lead acid battery for example The terminal voltage varies by less than 0 3 V between 20 and 80 charge Each cell provides a terminal voltage in the range 2 5 V to 4 2 V Only the useful part of th...

Page 20: ...ce of charge between the two banks 6 1 2 Temperature issues It is important to understand the operational limits of Li ion cells with regard to the temperature conditions at the intended installation...

Page 21: ...t Negative and RS232 Ground B Charge input Positive C Diagnostic RS232 TxD output D Diagnostic RS232 RxD input E Accessory power output Negative and RS232 Ground F Accessory power output Positive 12 V...

Page 22: ...ction A Instrument communications RS232 RxD input B Instrument communications RS232 TxD output C Instrument power output Negative D Instrument power output Positive If more than 1 9 amps is drawn this...

Page 23: ...Portable Power Module for G ralp Certimus Revision History 7 Revision History A 2021 05 24 Initial release MAN CER 1000 23 Issue A May 2021...

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