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Solar PowerFor Your RV

Richard Cullen

760-597-1642www.blueskyenergyinc.com

© Blue Sky Energy, Inc. 2013

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Blue Sky Energy

Founded as RVPP in 1993– Blue Sky Energy – Nov. 2003

Headquarters – Vista, CA

Pioneered MPPT technology– Hold 2 US Patents on MPPT technology– Introduced original Solar Boost 2000 in 1998

First commercially viable reliable MPPT solar charge controller– Presently produce a variety of products for 12/24/48V systems

All Blue Sky Energy charge controllers are MADE IN USA and include a 5-year warranty (controllers mfg. January 2010 or later)

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Some System Basics…

Batteries don’t make electricity, they are simply a “storage tank”– Electrical energy is stored as chemical energy

Batteries store electricity in units called Amp-Hours (AH)– AH is the product of CURRENT (in amps) -times- TIME (in hours)– 10AH of consumption could be;

5A for 2hr, 0.1A for 100hrs, or 100A for 1/10hrLoads ⇒ Remove AH from the batteryCharging sources ⇒ Replace AH back into the battery

Load AH consumption examples;– Typical coach standby - 0.5A x 24hrs = 12AH– 2 overhead lights for 4 hours 2.5A x 4hrs = 10 AH– 2 hour movie w/satellite - 8A x 2hrs = 16AH– Microwave TV dinner via inverter - 130A x 0.1hrs (6 min) = 13AH– Inverter left on while mostly doing nothing - 1.5A x 24hrs = 36AH

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Lead-Acid BatteriesA 12V battery is six 2V cells wired in series– May be a 12V battery, all 6 cells in the same case– Or, may be two 6V batteries in series, 3 cells in each case– May be flooded, or sealed Gel or AGM

Batteries in series ⇒ Voltage adds, AH do not

Batteries in parallel ⇒ AH add, Voltage does not

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Lead-Acid BatteriesBattery voltage vs. state of charge– Voltage shown is valid w/battery open

circuit for 24 hours– Will be lower if battery is being discharged

or higher if battery is being charged– Under light load you can subtract ≈ 0.3V for reasonable accuracy

Proper battery size is important…– A bigger battery is not always better

A battery too large for the charging source will die from sulphation – Minimum battery size;

Large enough to limit DOD to ≤50% on a regular basis, never >80%– Light loads like coach background needs & lighting can discharge more– Heavy loads like a large inverter perform better with less discharge

– Maximum battery size;Should have at least ≈ 3.5A of charge current per 100AH of battery

– 1.5A of net charge current per 100AH is the absolute minimum

REMAINING LIQUID ELECTROLYTE BATTERY CAPACITY

12V OPEN CIRCUIT

VOLTAGE

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

100% ≥12.73 V ≥1.277 75% 12.43 V 1.226 50% 12.10 V 1.172 25% 11.74 V 1.111 0% 11.38 V 1.050

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PV Modules

PV Modules are energy converters, turning light into electricity– In full sun 1m2 of PV modules will produce ≈130 - 160W

Typical 12V PV module– Constructed with 36 cells in series– Typical VMP ≈ 17V, VOC ≈ 22V

60 Cell “Grid Tie” modules– Typical VMP ≈ 25V, VOC ≈ 30V– Cost less in $/Watt compared to 36 cell module– May require more expensive charge control solution

Typical full sun amp-hours delivered daily– Estimate daily AH by; 5hrs x (PMAX ÷ 17V)PV MODULE WATTS TYPICAL MAXIMUM AMP-HOURS PER DAY

50W 15 AMP-HOURS100W 30 AMP-HOURS135W 40 AMP-HOURS540W 160 AMP-HOURS

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How Much Solar PowerDo You Need?

Determine your solar charging goals and estimated power use– Continuous dry camping

Refill what you use each day, or at least each weekVery light loads and no inverter, perhaps 75 – 150WSmall inverter w/light use (small TV, laptop, etc.), perhaps 150 – 300WLarge inverter may require large system, perhaps 300 – 500W+Solar system should produce at least 3.5A per 100AH of battery

– Non-continuous or long weekend dry campingRefill only a portion of what you use each dayIf you can last 3 days on 225AH (≈70AH/day), one 100W module producing about 30AH per day can extend this to perhaps 5 – 6 days

– Storage or maintenance only50 – 75W typically sufficient

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Sun Charger 30

30A 12V PWM charge controller– Low cost entry level controller – Supports 450W of 36 cell modules

Full featured design– Built in multi-function low power LED digital display

Battery voltage, PV charge current, PV charge amp-hoursAutomatic night time dimming

– 3-Stage charge control - plus automatic/manual Equalization– Battery temperature sensor input– Fully adjustable digital setpoints

Optional LVD load control & lighting control available– 50mA drive signal controls external power relay– p/n SC30-LVD

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What Is MPPT & How Does It Work?

Conventional On/Off or PWM type controllers connect the PV modules directly to the battery when the battery is discharged– Artificially limits PV power by not operating PV modules at their

Maximum Power Voltage (VMP)

MPPT system operates the PV’s at VMP harvesting more power and delivering this extra power as increased charge current– MPPT control system continuously

tracks VMP as VMP & operatingconditions change

– Typical current increase 10 – 20%VMP & available power increase asPV temperature decreases

May exceed 30% in freezing temperatures & discharged battery

May go to 0% in hot climates

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Solar Boost 2000E

12V 25A MPPT controller– Successor to original SB2000– Includes digital display– Highly efficient power conversion

Processes 340W

2 stage PWM charge control– Adjustable charge voltage setpoint– 25A current limit prevents nuisance fuse blow or overload– Equalization function

Options– Battery temperature sensor– Conduit ready wall mount box

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NEW -Solar Boost 3000i

30A/22A 12V MPPT charge controller– Processes 400W from 36 cell modules

or 290W from 60 cell “grid tie” modules

Full featured design– Built in multi-function low power LED digital display

Automatic night time dimming– 3-Stage charge control - plus automatic/manual Equalization– Battery temperature sensor input– All digital setpoints user adjustable– IPN Network interface

User configurable auxiliary output, may operate as;– 2A Auxiliary battery charger for Motorhome engine battery

Displays engine battery voltage– 20A Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD) Load controller– 20A lighting controller with LVD and PWM dimming

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Solar Boost 3024iL

40A/30A 12/24V MPPT charge controller– Optional digital display– Processes 800W, 540W or 400W for

24V, 12V, or 12/24V systems respectively– Can charge 12V battery from higher voltage 60 cell or 72 cell PV modules– IPN Network interface

Multi-stage charge control– Automatic or manual equalization

User configurable auxiliary output– 2A auxiliary battery charger for engine battery

ETL Listed to UL 1741, CSA requirements– CE labeled for sales in the EU– Meets FCC part 15 EMI emissions requirements

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Fully enclosed conduit ready chassis

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Solar Boost 2512i-HV& 2512iX-HV

20A/25A 12V MPPT charge controller– Available in two versions

Low cost SB2512i-HVFull featured SB2512iX-HV

– Successor to original SB2512i & SB2512iXHigher 50V input voltage rating (-HV) supports 60 cell modules

– Includes corrosion proof ABS mounting box– Processes 340W of 36 cell or 270W of 60 cell modules

SB2512i-HV– Lower cost version– Fully automatic 3-stage MPPT charge controller– Features omitted from SB2512iX-HV include:

Multi-controller IPN network interface (still supports displays & UCM)Battery temp sensor inputAuxiliary outputEqualization

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Solar Boost 1524iX

20A/15A 12/24V MPPT charge controller– Processes 400W, 270W or 200W for

24V, 12V, or 12/24V systems respectively– Can charge 12V battery from higher

voltage 60 cell or 72 cell PV modules

Multi-stage charge control– Automatic or manual equalization

User configurable auxiliary output– 2A auxiliary battery charger for engine battery

Battery temperature sensor input

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IPN-Remote

Low cost IPN remote display– Monitors one or more IPN controllers

Charge status LEDBattery voltageOutput charge current

– Multiple units can be placed on network

– Very low current LED display for excellent readabilityAutomatic night time dimming

– Display onlyNo setup or control capability

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IPN-ProRemote

Full featured IPN display & Battery Monitor– Simple, easy to understand text display

Auto or manual display backlightEasy to use multi-level menu structure

– Displays serves one or more IPN charge controllers at the same timeShows charge mode, sum of input/output currents, total charge AH

Provides access to advanced setup parameters and wider setpoint ranges

– Provides complete battery system monitoringDisplays net battery current from all charging sources and loadsComputes battery AH from full & remaining battery levelHighly accurate remaining battery level “fuel gage”Stop guessing – Know how much power you're producing,how much you're using & how much is left

Eliminates need for separate battery monitoring device– Vastly simplified setup & use compared to standalone battery monitors

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Universal Communication Module(UCM)

Provides remote internet access forcharge control & battery monitoring– Internal multi-page web site server

provides complete monitoring & setup– No subscription or 3RD part required– Supports all IPN compatible charge controllers & IPN-ProRemote

Periodic FTP upload of performance data to remote server

Compiles & stores up to 128 days of performance data logging– Downloadable as Microsoft® Excel® compatible file