Solarflex SA. User Manual. Product: SXp145L 145Watt Solbian Solar Panel. Solbian SXp Series Information. The polycrystalline solar cells used in the SXp series are electrically connected using ultra-thin copper wires that form a very fine mesh on the cell surface, resulting in thousands of contact points. This alternative to the standard bus-bar method allows a higher module power and increases the energy yield. This technology is optimally suited to flexible modules, due to its intrinsic insensitivity to micro cracks, that are the most common cause of energy loss in solar modules. Another advantage is a reduced sensitiveness to shading, a quite important issue in marine and mobility applications. The new connection technology, together with the use of high efficiency polycrystalline silicon cells, makes SXp panels especially powerful and reliable. Features: Thin wires dense mesh, Particularly resistant to shocks, Less sensitive to shading. The SXp series solar panels use polycrystalline cells with an efficiency greater than 18%. The sophisticated connection technology makes these cells particularly resistant to shocks and less sensitive to: shading, mechanical stress and atmospheric agents. High performance at a great price. Recommended applications: Pleasure boats, Camper, Shipbuilding, Buildings. Standard Cable Length is 0.5m with MC4 Connectors. Solarflex SA 2017. Page 1.
Solbian SXp145L Power: 145 Watts Length: 1515mm Width: 683mm Height: 3mm Weight: 2.67kg's Panel (Vmp): 18 Volts Max. current to 12 Volt battery: 12 Amps Estimated Yield/ Charging to your Battery Bank: up to 48 Amp hours per day depending on conditions, and potentially up to 58 amps in very good conditions. 145Watt Solbian Solar Panel Information. Thank you for choosing the Solbian 145Watt Solar panel for your recreational power requirements. The following information is applicable to the operation and maintenance of your 80Watt Panel. The panel is suitable for usage with any 12v products, provided that you are aware of the Amps per Hour input required for the appliance to operate. Usage for 1 x panel. Recommended Solar Battery Charge Regulator: 20 Amps. Operating Voltage per hour average: 20 volts. Power input average Amps Per hour: 8 Amps per Hour. For best results it is recommended to calculate the amount of input power that is required by the battery to achieve a minimum of 20% power remaining within the deep cycle battery. Fully charged deep cycle batteries are typically rated at 95AmpHours to 105 Amp Hours. Assume a 3 day stopover with a 105AmpHour deep cycle battery supplying sufficient power for your needs. That would indicate that the battery is consuming 35 Amps per day. By adding a single 145 Watt solar panel and supplying 8Amps per hour to your battery in sunlight hours via the solar panel you can add up to 60 amps per day to the battery, extending the length of the stay if necessary. A good quality multimeter can accurately measure the amps being delivered from the panel as well as the voltage of the batteries P=V*I. Power = Voltage x current. 125Watts / 18 volts = 8.33 Amps. Positioning the Panel. In order to obtain the best possible output from the Panel it is recommended to position the panel in such a way that the Panel is obtaining sunlight from directly overhead as possible. This can be achieved by re-positioning the panel for optimum exposure and at an angle which can best absorb the suns energy. Tips for wiring your solar panel. It is highly recommended to leave the panel covered up whilst you are wiring any new cables or components to your solar panel. Make sure that all connectors are inserted together as far as they can go. Bad connections and poor quality cable will affect efficiency. For best results it is recommended to utilise UV resistant and waterproof connectors. Ensure that Positive (Red) cable and connectors are only connected to other positive cables The negative (black) cable should only be connected to other negative cables. Extension Cables for the Panel. Extension cables can be added to the Panel should it be necessary to be positioned further away from the Charge Controller or Appliance. Should it be necessary to employ an extension cable it is highly recommended to use the best quality electrical wiring as well as suitable connectors to avoid any loss or leakage of power through the cable system. Connecting the Battery to the Charge Controller. The Charge Controller maintains a balance in the system by cutting of the power supplied to the battery to prevent overcharging. It will also prevent a reverse flow of power from the battery to the panel. The illustration below shows a typical charge controller. Solarflex SA 2017. Page 2.
The Panel is connected directly to the charge controller panel input on the left. The battery cable can be connected to the battery input, positive and negative in the centre. The load can be connected directly to the charge controller on the right, or alternatively to the battery itself. Overcharging the battery may result in damage to the battery. Longer battery life can be achieved by disconnecting the fridge overnight during cooler temperatures. Most fridges consume between 35Ah to 45Ah per day. Juta 20Amp Charge Controller. Connections: Left = Panel // Centre = Battery // Right = Load. Please read the Juta Connection directions for further instructions. NB. Please note that the Charge Controllers require the battery to be connected for correct voltage regulation between all devices. The flow of voltage can be disrupted without a battery connected in the circuit. Permanent Extension Cable connection with a BMM or Anderson Connector. It is possible to attach an extension cable to the panel and leave it connected, ready to be connected to the charge controller. The Panel connector and the Extension cable are connected via the Male and Female connectors. Solarflex SA 2017. Page 3.
Connecting to the battery. A battery cable can be installed on the charge controller battery output positive and negative. The ends are then available to be connected to the battery positive and negative terminals. Normally users have their own batteries and as there are different types of terminal connectors the final connection to the battery is up to the user to install, being careful to maintain the positive cable to the positive terminal. (Many users make use of a permanently attached Brad Harrison type of connector connected to the battery a cable; this is a universal type of connector. One drawback is that it needs a proper crimping tool for the connection to the connector on the cable side and as the wire is quite this this can be problematic.) I normally add a cable tie to the 2 x cables coming from the charge controller for extra strain relief to protect the 2 x cables screwed in to the charge controller. The charge controller also has a Load Output option the load can be coupled directly to the charge controller but many users have their load directly connected to the battery itself. Please note that the charge controller itself will not operate unless there is a battery connected to the system. Please connect the battery cables before connecting the solar panel to the charge controller. Should an additional panel be deployed it would be necessary for a higher amperage Charge Controller to be installed. Connecting more than 1 Panel for Extra Input power. It is possible to connect more than 1 x solar panel in a Daisy Chain Connection to the Battery to ensure that more Amperage power is supplied to the Battery by utilising more than 1 panel. 2 or more panels can be connected in this fashion. Please note that a higher amperage Charge Controller would be required when connecting more than 2 panels, typically a 10 amp controller will suffice for 1 panel, although a 20Amp Charge Controller would be required if connecting 2 x 125 Watt Panels. A typical Y connector can connect 2 or more Solar Panels to an extension cable connected directly to the Charge Controller. Sample of a Typical Y Splitter Cable with 1 x Female BMM connector and 2 x BMM Male connectors (Please note certain cables will have differing connectors according to your solar panel and cable connectors supplied.) Solarflex SA 2017. Page 4.
When connecting a second panel to an existing panel which is in operation outdoors in sunlight it is recommended to deploy in the following manner: Leave the panel covered up so that there is no electricity being produced by the module as you make the new wire connections. Disconnect the original panel from the cable connecting the panel to the battery. Connect the original panel cable connector into one of the Y-Splitter connectors. Close the second panel and connect the panel cable to the second splitter connector. Connect the other end of the Y-Splitter connector cable to the cable leading to your battery connection cable. Uncover the solar panels so that they are exposed to the sun. NB: for two or more Solbian Solar Panels in a parallel Connection set up:- Solbian recommends that in the event of more than 1 panel being used each individual solar panel should have its own charge controller to prevent any reverse flow of electricity which could potentially harm the solar panel. This however is sometimes not very practical. If only 1 charge controller is utilised in the connection circuit it is best practice to install a blocking diode on each solar panels positive cable if connecting 2 or more panels in parallel. For further information please read the Solbian Installation guide which can be downloaded on the Solarflex SA Website. Ready for deployment. Connect the extension cable to the panel. The extension cable is connected to the Charge Controller Panel Input Pos and Neg. The Battery cable is connected to the Battery Pos and neg. Open the solar panel and the Charge Controller LED indicators will indicate the amount of charge remaining in the battery. As long as there is sun, the panel will replace amps to the battery. Normally the loads such as a fridge or lights are running directly from the battery or they can be connected to the load output on the Charge Controller itself. Optional: Battery Harness Cable. By deploying a permanently connected Battery Harness Cable the cable can be attached to the Battery Cable coming from the Charge Controller via the BMM Connector this overrides the necessity of always attaching a cable from the Charge Controller to the battery itself, a neater option which does not require unscrewing the cable each time a battery is connected to the system. Cable Type = 2.5mmsq wiring. Solarflex SA 2017. Page 5.
NB> Maintenance of the Panel. The above is a guideline; please contact us for best practice connection in the event that any clarification is required. We cannot be held responsible for any incorrect wiring procedures in the event of any mishaps. Please note that the 145Watt Thinfilm is quite a long solar panel and it is quite flexible, please take care in noting that the panel should be maintained in a flat position please do not allow the panel to be rolled up or excessively bent, it may lead to the circuits in the solar panel laminate being damaged. It would be an idea to maintain the solar panel in a firm cardboard box or install a firm cardboard backing if a solar panel bag is used, in an effort to keep the panel as rigid as possible. Please be aware that the solar panel is very lightweight and does not have any securing eyelets. In the event of high winds there is the danger that the wind would blow the panel away and damage cables etc. It would be best to deploy a tie down system that would prevent any wind from causing any damage in this fashion. Please contact your authorised retailer for further information. Or alternatively please mail: steve@solarflex.co.za Thank you for choosing Solarflex SA Solar Panels for your recreational power requirements. Solarflex SA 2017. Page 6.