Solar Stik USAF G-BOSS, Setup And Operation

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| 15 December 2020 | Solar Stik ® , Inc.
SYSTEM SETUP AND OPERATION GUIDE FOR THE SOLAR STIK USAF G-BOSS MEDIUM AND HEAVY HYBRID POWER SYSTEM
PRELIMINARY DRAFT
All batteries have a cycle life and therefore should be considered the “consumable” part of the HPS.
The health of the battery can directly affect the function of the HPS over time, so proper cycling and
cell-health management practices are strongly encouraged.
See additional information about the Expander Paks in the Energy Storage Modules—Supplemental
Information section.
Minimum Battery Capacity Required for Optimal System Operation
An HPS will function most efficiently when proper balance is achieved within the System’s
architecture (Energy Storage, Power Management, and Power Generation). The central power
management device is the PRO-Verter, so any components connected to it need to be rated for the
amount of power that will be processed by it.
For example, PRO-Verters can require extremely high current (amperage) from the battery bank
when AC loads require power from the inverter, but it can also push high current
into
the bank when
it is in charge mode.
Each Expander Pak has a built-in circuit breaker that will trip at a value less than the maximum rated
current to/from the PRO-Verter. For this reason, multiple Expander Paks must be connected to a
PRO-Verter for the System to function at its rated power. The combined values of the Expander
Pak circuit breakers must be greater than the rated inverter/charger current required from the
PRO-Verter .
In the HPS, the PRO-Verter 5000 inverter can require up to 200 A from the batteries, and the charger
has a rated output of 110 A. Ensure the battery bank connected to the System is sufficient to
support the inverter’s full inverter output and be charged effectively and safely when the PRO-Verter
5000 is in charge mode.
Connecting an insufficient number of Expander Paks (energy storage modules, or ESMs) to a PRO-
Verter will result in a situation where the batteries are charged or discharged too quickly:
• Charging LiFePO
4
Expander Paks too quickly may result in an artificially high battery voltage
reading and signal the PRO-Verter to turn off the generator before the batteries are actually
charged sufficiently.
• Discharging LiFePO
4
Expander Paks too quickly may cause the battery temperature to rise to
a point that the battery management system (BMS) disconnects the batteries from the whole
system.
Refer to the “Minimum Battery Capacity Recommendations” on the PRO-Verter I-Plate to ensure
trouble-free operation.
System Cycling
During normal operation, the generator runs only to charge the ESMs and support the load while
doing so; the batteries and generator will cycle 1–2 times daily.