PS150/CH150 12 V Charging Regulators
13
terminals are intended for connection to solar panels, or 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 converters output current capability. For example, the
CHARGE –
CHARGE
input terminals provide a current limit of 1.1 Adc on the charging
source. Whereas the
SOLAR – G
input terminals have a fixed 3.6 Adc typical
current limit, providing faster battery charging for a charge source that can
deliver up to 3.6 Adc 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 datalogger 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. 9)
). 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.
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 Adc to help protect
AC/AC transformers and AC/DC converters. The 3.6 Adc 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.
