36
S
ECTION
13
13
P
S
I
13.1
S
The RCF 2.4 has one (1) 100 Watt solar panel. The solar panel is regulated with a 10 amp regulator. The
solar panel provides only supplemental charge to the battery bank and does not allow for in
fi
nite opera-
tion. Charging an operating battery bank (4 batteries) by means of 120VAC source may be required every
7 days (temperature will have an in
fl
uence on this. Refer to Section 13.2 Batteries).
Importance of Sun Exposure
Shade and even dust has a signi
fi
cant impact on solar collection. Roughly 5% coverage almost completely
negates the solar panel’s current output. Steps should be taken to minimize shading of the panel, if
possible.
Cleaning
The accumulation of dirt, debris, and snow will signi
fi
cantly hinder the solar arrays capability to provide
charge to the batteries. It is recommended that the solar array be inspected on a daily basis to ensure it
is free of dirt and debris. Should the array require cleaning, use water and a mild soap and wipe clean.
Do not use harsh chemicals on the solar array. Do not use shovels, rakes, or any other metal tool to clean
debris from the solar array as damage to the glass may occur. Use a car snow brush or broom to remove
snow or other large debris from the solar array.
13.2
B
The RCF 2.4 battery bank is comprised of wet cell (lead acid), 6 volt batteries, wired for a 24 volt power
supply. This model comes equipped with a 4 battery con
fi
guration. As an option, sealed lead acid (AGM)
batteries are available.
Autonomy
The autonomy of the battery bank is de
fi
ned as how many hours the units will operate the signal lamps
and controller hardware for without receiving any recharge aid from the solar array (in the absence of
sunlight). The autonomy for the battery con
fi
guration is:
Flooded Lead Acid (FLA):
4 batteries: 168 hours
Sealed Lead Acid (AGM):
4 batteries: 162 hours
Note: The above autonomy ratings are based on fully charged, maintained batteries (as per the manufac-
turer’s guidelines), operating at a temperature of 21° Celsius or 72° Fahrenheit.
Factors that affect battery autonomy are:
Temperature
Extreme temperatures (both high and low) can dramatically affect battery autonomy and charging.
High
Heat increases water usage and can result in overcharging and depletion of water, leading to damage.
Batteries naturally discharge at temperatures above 49° Celsius (120° Fahrenheit). Batteries require
less time to charge in high temperatures, which can result in rapid over-charging and damage to the
batteries.
Low
Discharging batteries at low temperatures makes the batteries susceptible to freezing due to the
