We Care Solar Suitcase WCS200 User manual

We Care Solar •Solar Suitcase WCS200 •May 2015 Page 1
INSIDE THIS MANUAL
1. About the Solar Suitcase
2. Organization of the Main Control Board
3. Understanding the Solar Suitcase:
• Batteries, panels and lights
• Charge Controller
• Usage and charging
3. Start up sequence
4. Optimize performance
5. Warranty
We Care Solar Suitcase®
User Manual
Version WCS200
May 2015

We Care Solar •Solar Suitcase WCS200 •May 2015 Page 2
Solar Suitcase: Base Model
The Solar Suitcase Includes:
220 Watt Solar Panels
2Bright, Rugged LED Lamps
112 Volt Sealed Lead Acid Battery
1Homerun Cable for Panels
Accessories:
2Rechargeable LED headlamps
(with micro USB charging wire)
1AA/AAA Battery Charger
1Universal Cell Phone Charger
1USB Adapter
1Fetal Doppler
1Roof Mounting Hardware
1Wall Mounting Hardware
Solar Suitcase with internal Plastic-backed Panels
Optional Accessories:
Satellite Box (for extra lights)
External battery
Additional lights
Additional solar panels
Lithium Ferrous Phosphate Battery
(12 volt,153 W-hr)
Fetal Doppler

We Care Solar •Solar Suitcase WCS200 •May 2015 Page 3
Solar Suitcase: Expanded System
The Solar Suitcase Includes:
1Glass-aluminium framed
Solar Panel (60-200 watts)
2Bright, Rugged LED Lamps
112 Volt Sealed Battery
1Homerun Cable for Panels
Accessories:
2Rechargeable LED headlamps
(with micro USB charging wire)
1AA Battery Charger
1Universal Cell Phone Charger
1USB Adapter
1Fetal Doppler
1Roof Mounting Hardware
1Wall Mounting Hardware
Solar Suitcase with Aluminium Framed Panel
Optional Accessories:
Satellite Box (for extra lights)
External battery (18-100 amp hour)
Additional lights
Additional solar panels
Lithium Ferrous Phosphate battery
(12 volt,153 W-hr)

We Care Solar •Solar Suitcase WCS200 •May 2015 Page 4
Organization of the Main Control Board
The Solar Suitcase connects Solar Panels to a Charge Controller, which optimizes the
charging of the battery. The Charge Controller also regulates the use of the energy stored
in the battery to power lights and other appliances.
9
10B 11
1
7a
23
4
6
7b
12
8
8
10A
5
Main Power Switch/ Circuit Breaker
Charge Controller
Light Sockets
Light Switches/ Circuit Breaker
Appliance switch
12V DC Appliance Sockets
Internal Battery Socket
Internal Battery Cable
Battery Terminals/ Slip-on connectors
External Battery Socket
Solar Socket
Solar Plug on Homerun Cable
2 Expansion Sockets
Terminal Screws (on Charge Controller)
1
6
2
7a
3
7b
4
8
5
9
10a
11
12
10b

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The Solar Suitcase includes either a
sealed lead acid battery (SLA; 12 volt 14
amp-hour) or a Lithium Ferrous Phosphate
battery (LFP; 12 volt, 14 ah) that stores
electricity for night time use.
Either battery can be fully charged and
discharged hundreds of times before it
needs replacement. SLA batteries will
provide more years of service if discharge is
limited to 50%. For optimal longevity, the
SLA battery should charge to FULL at
least once a week.
LFP batteries should provide more years
of service than an SLA battery. They can
be fully discharged with no shortening
of service life. LFP batteries can also be
stored for months without harm to the
battery.
Battery Replacement. If you notice the
battery is full at the beginning of the
evening, but runs out of charge quickly (for
example, the battery cannot provide enough
power for one LED light through the night),
it is time to replace your battery.
The solar panels turn sunlight into electricity.
The electricity is used to charge the main
battery in the Solar Suitcase. The solar
panel for the Solar Suitcase is sized so that
the battery can fully charge every day.
The Solar Suitcase can power the two LED
lights that come pre-connected. The LED
lights must plug into the Light Sockets and
be secured with the threaded ring that is
around the plug.
Battery
Lights
Understanding the Solar Suitcase
Plastic-backed (G-10)
Everbright Panels
Aluminium Glass
(Conventional) Panels
Solar Panels
THIS SOLAR SUITCASE IS 12 VOLT DC
The LED lights can only be used with the
Solar Suitcase.

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Understanding the Solar Suitcase
The Charge Controller optimizes the solar charge into the battery and protects the battery
from over-charging or being over-discharged when lights and appliances are on.
Solar Charging Indicator
FULL - Solid green light means battery is
between 50% and 100% charged. When
the green LED blinks, it indicates that
the solar panels are producing surpluss
electricity. This is a good time to charge
cellphones and other appliances as there
is more electricity available than the main
battery needs.
HALF-FULL - Indicates the battery is 50%
full or less. This is the time to reduce loads.
For example, if two lights are on, turn one
of them off unless it is required for helping
patients.
LOW - Red LED blinks when the battery
is very low and the systems will turn off the
electricity soon. At this point, it is advised
to turn off all unnecessary loads and to get
headlamps ready as the lights will soon turn
off.
The three colored lights allow the user to assess
the level of charge in the battery.
Battery Status Lights
Battery Type Selector
Never set the selector to “3-FLOODED”when
using a sealed battery as this will damage the
battery.
CHARGING - When the green LED
is lit, it means that the solar panels
are properly wired and that the Solar
Suitcase is receiving charge from the
solar panels.
13
13
14
14
15
15
The selector must be on “2-SEALED”for all
sealed lead acid, AGM batteries and LFP
batteries like the kind that comes with the Solar
Suitcase.
If you are using a GEL battery then the selector
must be on “1-GEL”.
The Charge Controller
Note: when the system has gone into
Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD), turn
off all switches. This will improve
re-charging the following day.

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Usage and Charging
During daytime hours when it is sunny, the Solar Suitcase can charge cell phones and
other appliances using the Appliance Sockets. Flip the Appliance Switch ON to charge
appliances. The Appliance Sockets are similar to 12V DC car cigarette lighter sockets.
Appliances that work with these kinds of sockets will also work with the Solar Suitcase.
The Fetal Doppler uses two
rechargeable AA batteries.
Torechargethem:rst,
place the rechargeable
batteries into the charger.
Second, plug the battery
charger into an Appliance
Socket. The charger has
a display that will indicate
when the batteries are full.
Charging Cell Phones and
Headlamps Charging AA Batteries
Only use rechargeable batteries with
the battery charger provided. Do not
place disposable batteries in the
battery charger.
AA Batteries
Understanding the Solar Suitcase
Note: be sure to put
the “+” side of the
battery on the “+”
side of the charger.
Double USB
Universal Phone Charger Micro-USB
The Solar Suitcase can charge most cell
phones by placing the USB adapter into the
Appliance Socket and attaching a phone
charging wire. The Solar Suitcase includes both
a single charging wire (USB to Micro-USB) and
a multi-tipped charging wire. The multi-tipped
charging wire can only charge one phone at
a time. You can also charge phones that have a
12V DC car charger.
The rechargeable headlamps can be charged
the same way, using the micro USB cable.
The Solar Suitcase can charge small laptop
computers that have a 12V DC car charger.
Only charge computers during the day when the
Battery Status Light is FULL.
Charging Computers

We Care Solar •Solar Suitcase WCS200 •May 2015 Page 8
Once the solar panel and battery connections are secure, you
can turn on the system. Use the Main Power Switch to turn
ON the system. The Status Lightswillashinsequenceand
the Charge Controller will turn on. After 3 seconds, the Solar
Charging Indicator will glow . The Solar Suitcase is now
ready to use.
Start Up Sequence
Make sure that the Homerun cable plug (yellow and blue) is
fully inserted and rotated so that it is locked in. The silver tab
will face forward and click into position.
1
Plug the end of the Battery Cable into the Battery
Socket. The Solar Suitcase arrives with a Battery
Wire already on the battery. If the Battery Wire has
come loose from the battery terminals then:
Attach the ( ) RED terminal on the battery to the
( ) RED wire.
Attach the ( ) BLACK terminal on the battery to the
( ) BLACK wire.
3Battery: Insert the battery plug into the Battery Socket
Turn on the system
4
2Solar Panels: Place the panels in the sun and
connect the solar panels to the Homerun cable
Placethesolarpanelsinasunnylocationthatwon’tbeshadedbetween9amand4
pm. The panels should be permanently mounted on a rooftop with no shade between
thehoursof9amand4pm.Thepanelsshouldhaveaminimumof100slope so that
the rain will rinse the panels off.
Connect the Homerun cable

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Optimize Performance
1
2
Make sure the Main Switch stays on
This Main Power Switch should remain ON at all times. The only
time to turn the Main Power Switch OFF is when you are replacing
the main battery. However, during an approaching lightning storm,
the Main Power Switch should be turned OFF unless it is needed
to treat patients.
Panel position and maintenance
Placethesolarpanelsinasunnylocationthatwon’tbe
shadedbetween9amand4pm*.Thepanelsshouldhavea
minimum of 100slope so that the rain will rinse the panels off.
Clean your panels if you can do so safely
Keep the solar panels clean for best results. Dirt and dust will reduce the amount
of electricity they will produce. Note: rainfall will clean the panels for you. If dust
accumulates, only clean the panels if it is safe to go up on the roof. To clean the panels,
just rinse with water. Do NOT scrub as you might scratch the panel. The plastic-backed
panels are especially vulnerable to scratching. If the main battery is getting fully charged
each sunny day, then dirt on the panels is not a problem.
3
No shade problem Shade problem
*Notethattreescangrowandcauseshadeinthefuture

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Optimize Performance
4Know your battery status
A. Battery is full - On a sunny day, this is a good time to charge appliances.
Afullbatteryisindicatedbyagreenorashinggreenlight.
B. Battery is less than half full - At night, or whenever the battery status light
is yellow, it is time to conserve energy. Use lights only when necessary. Only charge
appliances in an emergency.
When the battery is less than half full, it is indicated by a yellow status light.
C. Battery is empty - When the Charge Controller is in Low Voltage Disconnect
(LVD), the battery status light will be solid red. All loads will automatically shut off. Turn
off the light switches and the red appliance switch so that the battery can fully recharge.
The battery will charge during the next sunny day.

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5Watchyourbattery’scharge
With proper care the battery should last for two years or longer. If the battery does not
seemtobeholdingcharge(forexample,thelightsdon’tstayonthroughthenight),it
should be replaced with another 12volt AGM battery (sealed lead acid). A contact phone
number for help locating new batteries will be on your battery.
6Check connection for lights and battery
A. If lights do not work, check the cord connectors for lights. Make sure that the lights are
securely plugged into the Main Control Board. If lights still do not work, check light cord
for damage.
B. Check the slip-on connectors on the Main Battery (connects battery to the Solar
Suitcase) to verify that they are fully inserted and are snug.
Slip-on Connectors Unplugged
Partially Inserted
Fully Inserted

We Care Solar •Solar Suitcase WCS200 •May 2015 Page 12
• What to do when the solar suitcase is not working well:
• Reviewpointsonhowtooptimizeperformance-seepage9-11
• Ifyouareunabletoxtheproblemwiththisinformation,
call:
• If you are unable to reach anybody locally, you may want to also call or write directly to
We Care Solar:
We Care Solar
www.wecaresolar.org
[phone]
[e-mail]
Warranty Details
Warranty
WCS provides a limited warranty for 2 years on the base system. The base system in-
cludes: case, chassis, controller, lights, solar panels (if purchased by WCS). All warranty
claims are dependent on proper installation and usage.
No accessories are covered under the warranty. Accessories include: phone charging
cords, USB adapter, battery charger, headlamp, and fetal Doppler.
Name and contact information
for local installer or NGO