Campbell SP10 User manual

SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R
Solar Panels
Revision: 2/06
Copyright © 1987-2006
Campbell Scientific, Inc.

Warranty and Assistance
The SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R SOLAR PANELS are warranted by
CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship under normal use and service for twelve (12) months from date
of shipment unless specified otherwise. Batteries have no warranty.
CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC.'s obligation under this warranty is limited to
repairing or replacing (at CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC.'s option) defective
products. The customer shall assume all costs of removing, reinstalling, and
shipping defective products to CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. CAMPBELL
SCIENTIFIC, INC. will return such products by surface carrier prepaid. This
warranty shall not apply to any CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. products
which have been subjected to modification, misuse, neglect, accidents of
nature, or shipping damage. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties,
expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose. CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. is not liable for special,
indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
Products may not be returned without prior authorization. The following
contact information is for US and International customers residing in countries
served by Campbell Scientific, Inc. directly. Affiliate companies handle
repairs for customers within their territories. Please visit
www.campbellsci.com to determine which Campbell Scientific company
serves your country. To obtain a Returned Materials Authorization (RMA),
contact CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC., phone [phone]. After an
applications engineer determines the nature of the problem, an RMA number
will be issued. Please write this number clearly on the outside of the shipping
container. CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC's shipping address is:
CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC.
RMA#_____
815 West 1800 North
Logan, Utah 84321-1784
CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. does not accept collect calls.

i
SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Table of
Contents
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1. General .........................................................................1
2. Specifications ..............................................................1
3. Installation....................................................................2
3.1 Mounting ..................................................................................................2
3.2 Orientation ................................................................................................4
4. Maintenance .................................................................5
5. Power Considerations.................................................5
5.1 Solar Power and Lead Acid Batteries .......................................................5
5.2 Voltage Regulator.....................................................................................6
Appendix
A. Solar Panel Connector............................................ A-1
Figures
1. Solar Panel Mounting .................................................................................3
2. Regulated Solar Panel and External Battery...............................................3
3. Angle Settings on Mounting Bracket .........................................................4
4. Solar Panel Orientation...............................................................................5
A-1. Connector Wiring .............................................................................. A-1
Tables
1. Solar Panel Tilt Angle ................................................................................4
2. Configurations for Desired Angles.............................................................5

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1
SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Solar
Panels
1. General
Solar panels provide a photovoltaic power source for charging lead acid
batteries.
The SP10 10-watt and SP20 20-watt solar panels are intended to recharge the
Gel Cell lead acid batteries incorporated in the PS100, CR3000, CR5000, CR7,
and CR9000(X), as well as the BP12 and BP24 battery packs. A CH100 is
also required when recharging a BP12 or BP24.
The SP10 and SP20 have two leads stripped and tinned to insert into the
terminals labeled CHARGE on the PS100, CH100, or CR9000(X). The two
wires attach to the green connector on the side of a CR3000 or CR5000
datalogger. With a CR7, the two wires from the solar panel are inserted into
the terminals marked SOLAR PANEL located underneath the 700X Control
Module. An external Gel Cell or AGM lead acid battery can be connected to
the CR7 at the terminals marked EXTERNAL BATTERY next to the SOLAR
PANEL terminals.
The SP10 or SP20 must have a connector (Part No. 788) to plug into the retired
21XL Micrologger. See Appendix A for details.
The SP10R 10-watt and SP20R 20-watt regulated solar panels have two
stripped and tinned leads for connection to a user-supplied flooded lead acid
battery such as a deep-cycle marine or RV battery.
2. Specifications
SP10/SP10R SP20/SP20R
Typical peak power (Pp) 10 W 20 W
Voltage @ peak power (Vpp)
(voltage from solar panel before
regulator)
17.5 V 17.1 V
Current @ peak power (Ipp) 0.57 A 1.17 A
Guaranteed minimum peak power 9 W 18 W
Approximate effect of temperature on
power
-0.37%/°C -0.38%/°C
Length, cm 42.0 50.1
Width, cm 26.9 42.2
Depth, cm 2.3 5.0
Weight, kg 1.50 2.95

SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Solar Panels
2
The above solar panel characteristics assume a 1 kilowatt per
square meter illumination and a solar panel temperature of 25°C.
Individual panels may vary up to 10%. The output panel voltage
increases as the panel temperature decreases.
Compatible batteries:
SP10/SP20 SP10R/SP20R
12 V Gel Cell or AGM lead acid
batteries such as the batteries used
with the PS100, BP12, BP24,
CR3000, CR5000, CR7, and
CR9000(X).
User-supplied 12 V flooded batteries
such as a deep cycle marine or RV
battery.
3. Installation
3.1 Mounting
The panel should be mounted facing south if located in the Northern
Hemisphere, or facing north in the Southern Hemisphere. The solar panel
mounts to the mast or leg of a tripod, or any 1 5/8" schedule 40 pipe, see
Figure 1. The panel should be mounted to the pipe using the U-bolts and 5/16
NC (course) nuts provided with the solar panel. The nuts fastening the bracket
to the pipe should be as tight as possible without bending the bracket.
If the SP10 or SP20 solar panel is being used, route the solar panel cable to the
datalogger power supply and charging circuitry. If the SP10R or SP20R is being
used, attach the leads of the solar panel directly to the external battery with a user
supplied connector. Figure 2 shows an example of a regulated solar panel
connected to an external battery to run a radiotelemetry system.
NOTE

SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Solar Panels
3
SOLAR PANEL ON LEG
(ALTERNATE POSITION)
SOLAR PANEL ON MAST
015 PYRANOMETER
MOUNTING ARM
GILL RADIATION SHIELD
DATALOGGER ENCLOSURE
FIGURE 1. Solar Panel Mounting
RF MODEM
RADIO MSX10R
DATALOGGER
12 V BATTERY
FIGURE 2. Regulated Solar Panel and External Battery
Solar Panel

SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Solar Panels
4
3.2 Orientation
The solar panel should be oriented to receive maximum insolation (incident
solar radiation) over the course of a year. Suggested tilt angles of the solar
panel are given in Table 1.
After determining the tilt angle, loosen the 5/16" nuts on each side of the solar
panel, adjust the panel, and tighten the two nuts to secure the position. See
Figure 4.
TABLE 1. Solar Panel Tilt Angle*
Site Latitude (N or S) Tilt Angle
0 −10°10°
11 −20°Latitude +5°
21 −45 Latitude +10°
46 −65 Latitude +15°
> 65 80°
*From "Design Aids for Small PV Power Systems", Solorex Corp.
FIGURE 3. Angle Settings on Mounting Bracket

SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Solar Panels
5
TABLE 2. Configurations for Desired Angles
Hole Locations Angle
Holes P and A Aligned with Holes 1 and Y 90
Holes P and A Aligned with Holes 1 and Z 80
Holes P and B Aligned with Holes 1 and Y 70
Holes P and B Aligned with Holes 1 and Z 60
Holes P and C Aligned with Holes 1 and Y 50
Holes P and C Aligned with Holes 1 and Z 40
Holes P and C Aligned with Holes 2 and Y 30
Holes P and C Aligned with Holes 2 and Z 20
4. Maintenance
An occasional cleaning of the glass improves the solar panel's efficiency.
If a problem with the solar panel is suspected, the panel may be checked by
measuring the voltage output. Check the voltage with a voltmeter connected
between the two leads of the solar panel. There must be solar radiation
incident on the panel and there must be a load connected to the solar panel.
The load can be the datalogger, other equipment, or a 75 ohm resistor capable
of dissipating solar panel power between the two leads. No voltage output
implies a bad solar panel, regulator, or cable. The magnitude of the voltage
output depends on the incident solar radiation.
5. Power Considerations
5.1 Solar Power and Lead Acid Batteries
The solar panel converts light energy to electricity, or specifically direct
current. The direct current produced is used as a charging source for lead acid
batteries.
The solar panel operates in both direct and diffuse light (cloudy days), but not
at night.

SP10, SP10R, SP20, and SP20R Solar Panels
6
FIGURE 4. Solar Panel Orientation
The minimum battery size and solar panel output required depends on 1) the
average current drain of the system, 2) the maximum time the battery must supply
power to the system without being charged, and 3) the location of the site. When
some batteries are discharged below a specified voltage, the battery becomes
damaged and cannot be recharged.
The battery supplies power directly to the operating system, the solar panel
supplies power to recharge the battery. Therefore, on the average, the solar panel
must provide at least as much power to the battery as is being used by the system.
The battery must have enough capacity to power the system during times of no
charging (night) or low charging (stormy winter days).
5.2 Voltage Regulator
The solar panel must be regulated either with a Campbell Scientific regulator or an
attached regulator. The regulator has two basic functions: 1) blocks any current
flow from the battery to the solar panel, and 2) limits the source current to the
battery.
The SP10 and SP20 must be connected to a Campbell Scientific voltage regulator.
Campbell Scientific voltage regulators include the PS100, CH100, and the voltage
regulator integrated in the base of our CR3000, CR5000, CR7, and CR9000(X)
dataloggers.
The SP10R and SP20R have an on-board voltage regulator that connects directly
to a user-supplied flooded lead-acid battery such as a deep-cycle marine or RV
battery.

A-1
Appendix A. Solar Panel Connector
The SP10 and SP20 solar panels are shipped with the two lead wires stripped
and tinned. Item #788 connector must be attached to use an SP10 or SP20
with the 21XL.
With the connector, the cable can be inserted directly into the 21XL Charging
Port on the side of the Micrologger.
If it is necessary to solder the connector on the cable, please refer to the
diagram below.
FIGURE A-1. Connector Wiring

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Campbell Scientific Companies
Campbell Scientific, Inc. (CSI)
815 West 1800 North
Logan, Utah 84321
UNITED STATES
www.campbellsci.com
[e-mail]
Campbell Scientific Africa Pty. Ltd. (CSAf)
PO Box 2450
Somerset West 7129
SOUTH AFRICA
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[email protected]
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PO Box 444
Thuringowa Central
QLD 4812 AUSTRALIA
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[email protected]m.au
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Rua Luisa Crapsi Orsi, 15 Butantã
CEP: 005543-000 São Paulo SP BRAZIL
www.campbellsci.com.br
[e-mail]
Campbell Scientific Canada Corp. (CSC)
11564 - 149th Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5M 1W7
CANADA
www.campbellsci.ca
[e-mail]
Campbell Scientific Ltd. (CSL)
Campbell Park
80 Hathern Road
Shepshed, Loughborough LE12 9GX
UNITED KINGDOM
www.campbellsci.co.uk
[email protected]k
Campbell Scientific Ltd. (France)
Miniparc du Verger - Bat. H
1, rue de Terre Neuve - Les Ulis
91967 COURTABOEUF CEDEX
FRANCE
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[e-mail]
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Psg. Font 14, local 8
08013 Barcelona
SPAIN
www.campbellsci.es
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Please visit www.campbellsci.com to obtain contact information for your local US or International representative.