QRPworks SolMate User manual

QRPworks SolMate Manual rev 1.1Page 1 of 11
QRPworks
SolMate™
Solar Charge Controller
User Manual

QRPworks SolMate Manual rev 1.1Page 2 of 11
Table of Contents
Overview ........................................................................................... 3
Applicability....................................................................................... 3
Connections ....................................................................................... 4
Output ............................................................................................... 5
Displays ............................................................................................. 7
Theory of Operation of the SolMate Charge Controller ....................... 9
SolMate Specifications ..................................................................... 10

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Overview
This manual describes how to use the QRPworks SolMate solar charge
controller.
SolMate is a flexible solar charge controller that can charge a variety of
battery technologies.
SolMate features include:
The ability to charge your battery at the same time the battery is
being used to run your rig.
Display of seven measurements during the charging process.
Short circuit, reverse polarity, and thermal overload protection
High efficiency Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
technology used to extract the maximum power from your solar
panel.
Applicability
SolMate can charge the following batteries:
14 volt, 4 cell LiFePo batteries that have a built in Battery
Management System (BMS…balanced charger and protection
circuit), such as those from Bioenno Power.
12 volt SLA batteries (gel cells)
11.1 volt, 3 cell Li-Ion batteries that have a built in in Battery
Management System (BMS…balanced charger and protection
circuit (such as the Tenergy batteries used in the Elecraft KX2)
SolMate is not intended for and should not be used with batteries that
do not have a built in Battery Management System and require a
balanced charger.

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Connections
.
Connect a solar panel DC output to the INPUT +/- screws
terminal connections on the left side of SolMate (as pictured).
oThe maximum input voltage is 23 volts.
Use the appropriate SolMate battery-specific cable for the
battery type to be charged to avoid charging a battery with the
incorrect voltage. Each cable is identified by a label on it.
Cable types available are:
o14 volt 4 cell LiFePo / SLA
o11.1 volt 3 cell Li-Ion
SolMate comes with a cable of your choice. Additional cables
are available if you want to charge multiple battery types.
Caution: Make sure you use the proper cable for the battery to
be charged. Using the incorrect cable could result in damage to
the battery, battery fire or explosion.
SolMate is not designed to charge batteries that do not have a
built-in Battery Management System (BMS). Batteries with a

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BMS have built-in balanced charging and protection. Batteries
that do not have a BMS require an external balanced charger
that charge each cell separately. Typically, these can be found
in hobby shops.
Output
Use the appropriate SolMate output cable for the battery type to be
charged. The cables have programming resistors that select the output
voltage as marked on the label. Never use the 14 volt cable to charge a
3 cell Li-Ion 11.1 battery pack or fire will be a likely result.
The cables are polarized to avoid accidental misuse. Female 2.1mm
charging connectors are used for batteries such as the Bioenno Power
LiFePo batteries (or equivalent packs).
The 11.1v charging cable is for use with 3 cell Li-Ion packs as supplied
by Elecraft and Tenergy (and others) which have a MALE connector on
the battery pack. These batteries have a built in charging and protection
circuits, which are required, as SolMate is not a balanced charger (does
not charge each cell) as you might see with some hobby battery
systems.
One cable type of your choosing is supplied with SolMate.
The SolMate charging cable is a Yconfiguration for 4 cell LiFePo
batteries that will simultaneously connect to the female barrel connector
(2.1mm) on most Bioenno Power and similar battery packs as well as to
any radio using a 2.1mm female power connector.
The battery connector on the cable can be used to charge a 12 volt SLA
battery. Do not connect the charge controller to the rig’s 2.1mm female
power input connector without the battery also being connected.
The Li-Ion 11.1v SolMate Ycharging cable will charge the Elecraft KX2
battery (or equivalent) and connect to the rig at the same time. The

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battery must be external to the rig for simultaneous charging and the
radio’s power source. Do not connect the charge controller to the rig’s
2.1mm female power input connector without the battery also being
connected.
Remember, this charge controller is a battery charging device, not
a power supply.

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Displays
The LCD Display scrolls through the following seven measurements
items every 25 seconds. The function title is displayed, followed by its
value.
Display
Function
Battery Voltage
Solar Panel Input Voltage
Output current in Amps
Output power in Watts
Peak Power in Watts
Cumulative output Amp-
Hours
SolMate PC board
temperature in degrees F

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In addition, you may also see the following on the display:
Full –indicating the battery is fully charged. Note that you will
also this if no battery is connected, as no current is being drawn
from SolMate
O.L - Input Over voltage
Hot - Thermal Shutdown above 160 F (Flashing)
SOC –ignore
USb –ignore

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Theory of Operation
At the heart of SolMate is a very efficient DC-DC Power converter which
transfers up to 90% of the panel’s energy to the battery. The power
converter is controlled by a microprocessor which performs the
Maximum Power Point Tracking, collects and tabulates data, and drives
the LCD display.
The SolMate controller works from below 1 Watt to 25 Watts of output
(35 Watt STC rated solar panel). No adjustments are needed as the
board is fully automatic and will adapt to any panel within its
specification limits. Our customized Maximum Power Point Tracking
(MPPT) routine adjusts the power transfer over 2500 times per second
to yield maximum performance even in partial shading of the solar
panels from shadows (clouds, trees, utility poles etc.).
Rapid sunlight changes on a partly sunny day are not a problem either.
The microprocessor monitors input and output parameters while always
seeking the maximum power possible. There are two control loops
working together to get every last watt of power from the solar panel.
The result is up to two times the Power than a PWM charge controller
would deliver with the same solar panel.
SolMate uses a sophisticated spread spectrum modulation technique to
reduce EMI to a virtually undetectable level across the ham bands.
PWM charge controllers are notorious for their high levels of EMI,
making them unsuitable in amateur radio applications.

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SolMate Specifications
Solar Panel Input
Solar Panel Range = 5 to 25 Watts STC Rating. Larger panels
can be used, but SolMate will use 25 watts max.
Input Voltage Range = 10 to 22 volts
Optimum input voltage = 14 to 18 volts
Input Over-voltage = 23 volts
Solar MPPT range = 10 to 22 volts
Ideal for 36 cell solar panels with a 16 to 17 MPPT voltage and
21.5 open circuit voltage
Output
Output Voltage: 14.4 volts max (battery type dependent)
Output Current:
o11.1 volt Li-Ion: 1.35 amps max
o14.4 volt LiFePo: 1.25 amps max
Operating Temperature Range
-4 to 120F (Internal Thermal Limit at 160F)
LCD display will be sluggish below 32F
Converter Efficiency
85% typical at 15 Watts
Switching Frequency 130 KHz nominal with Spread Spectrum
Modulation to reduce EMI further
Accuracy
Voltage accuracy 1% Typical
Current Accuracy 5% at 1 amp typical
Amp hour accuracy 5% typical
Protection
Soft thermal fold back at 150F
Thermal shutdown at 160F
Output short circuit
Input reverse polarity
Digital Processing

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32 MHz Microprocessor for fast MPPT control
Internal 24 bit Processing