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75
December 2020
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Solar Stik
®
, Inc.
SYSTEM SETUP AND OPERATION GUIDE FOR THE SOLAR STIK USAF G-BOSS MEDIUM AND HEAVY HYBRID POWER SYSTEM
PRELIMINARY DRAFT
SOC Disparity Among System Batteries
When cycling multiple batteries in a bank, it is possible to see the states of charge (SOC) lose parity
between them due to the following reasons:
• High-cycling
– fast charge and discharge rates with an inadequate battery bank (more than 2
cycles per day) will cause some batteries to work harder than others, creating disparity in their
individual SOCs.
• Short-cycling
– the PRO-Verter’s AGS is set to control the generator by either TIMED or
MANUAL programming rather than the AUTO (Volts or SOC) mode. If the operator or the TIME/
MANUAL AGS function turns the generator off before 100% SOC is reached, then it is likely that
not all of the batteries on the bus achieved the same SOC. Repetitive cycles in this manner will
cause the batteries’ SOC to drift apart over time.
• Solar loading
– Expander Paks exposed to direct sun will be hotter and will discharge more
rapidly than Expander Paks that are shaded and cooler.
Battery SOC disparities may cause erratic System behavior including:
• Premature termination of the AGS functions, or generator “short-cycling” (frequent start / stop)
• Battery Circuit breaker tripping
• System crashes
Expander Paks will maintain parity close to 100% SOC on a regular basis if the PRO-Verter AGS is
in AUTO mode using VOLTS to start/stop the generator.
Restoring SOC Parity
The only method of restoring parity between multiple batteries on a DC bus with varying SOCs
is to manually perform a dedicated charge cycle using a reduced charge rate and the highest
allowable charging voltage applied over a period of time. Once the batteries have all reached their
peak voltage, the charging amperage should taper off to single digits, and the operator can have
confidence that the batteries are actually all at 100% SOC. Normal cycling can then commence.
Method to Restore Battery SOC Parity
1. Press SETUP on the PRO-Verter user interface (pass code may be required).
2. Scroll to 03 Charger Setup, press SELECT,
3. Scroll to 03E MAX Charge, press SELECT,
4. Reduce the charge rate to 40%, press SELECT.
5. Press CTRL and scroll to 03 Gen Control, press SELECT.
6. Scroll to Set Gen Control ON, press SELECT.
7. The “Remote Generator Start and Operation” sequence will begin (total process may take 3
minutes).
8. Charge the Expander Paks until the PRO-Verter user interface home screen reports 29.0 V and
the charging current has decreased to and stabilized at 5 to 10 A.
9. Set Gen Control to AUTO.
This slow charge protocol will equalize Expander Pak SOCs, eliminate the erratic System behavior
and restore normal cycling of the HPS.
