Solar Power
For Your RV
Richard Cullen
760-597-1642
www.blueskyenergyinc.com
© Blue Sky Energy, Inc. 2013
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Blue Sky Energy
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Founded as RVPP in 1993
– Blue Sky Energy – Nov. 2003
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Headquarters – Vista, CA
Pioneered MPPT technology
– Hold 2 US Patents on MPPT technology
– Introduced original Solar Boost 2000 in 1998
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First commercially viable reliable MPPT solar charge controller
– Presently produce a variety of products for 12/24/48V systems
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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…
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Batteries don’t make electricity, they are simply a “storage tank”
– Electrical energy is stored as chemical energy
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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;
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5A for 2hr, 0.1A for 100hrs, or 100A for 1/10hr
Loads ⇒ Remove AH from the battery
Charging sources ⇒ Replace AH back into the battery
Load AH consumption examples;
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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 Batteries
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A 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
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Batteries in series ⇒ Voltage adds, AH do not
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Batteries in parallel ⇒ AH add, Voltage does not
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Lead-Acid Batteries
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Battery voltage vs. state of charge
REMAINING
BATTERY
CAPACITY
LIQUID ELECTROLYTE
12V OPEN SPECIFIC
CIRCUIT
GRAVITY
VOLTAGE
≥12.73 V
≥1.277
12.43 V
1.226
12.10 V
1.172
11.74 V
1.111
11.38 V
1.050
– Voltage shown is valid w/battery open
100%
circuit for 24 hours
75%
50%
– Will be lower if battery is being discharged
25%
0%
or higher if battery is being charged
– Under light load you can subtract ≈ 0.3V for reasonable accuracy
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Proper battery size is important…
– A bigger battery is not always better
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A battery too large for the charging source will die from sulphation
– Minimum battery size;
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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;
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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
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PV Modules
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PV Modules are energy converters, turning light into electricity
– In full sun 1m2 of PV modules will produce ≈130 - 160W
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Typical 12V PV module
– Constructed with 36 cells in series
– Typical VMP ≈ 17V, VOC ≈ 22V
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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
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Typical full sun amp-hours delivered daily
– Estimate daily AH by; 5hrs x (PMAX ÷ 17V)
PV MODULE WATTS
50W
100W
135W
540W
TYPICAL MAXIMUM AMP-HOURS PER DAY
15 AMP-HOURS
30 AMP-HOURS
40 AMP-HOURS
160 AMP-HOURS
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How Much Solar Power
Do You Need?
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Determine your solar charging goals and estimated power use
– Continuous dry camping
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Refill what you use each day, or at least each week
Very light loads and no inverter, perhaps 75 – 150W
Small inverter w/light use (small TV, laptop, etc.), perhaps 150 – 300W
Large 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 camping
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Refill only a portion of what you use each day
If 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 only
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50 – 75W typically sufficient
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Sun Charger 30
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30A 12V PWM charge controller
– Low cost entry level controller
– Supports 450W of 36 cell modules
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Full featured design
– Built in multi-function low power LED digital display
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Battery voltage, PV charge current, PV charge amp-hours
Automatic night time dimming
– 3-Stage charge control - plus automatic/manual Equalization
– Battery temperature sensor input
– Fully adjustable digital setpoints
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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?
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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)
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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 & operating
conditions change
– Typical current increase 10 – 20%
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VMP & available power increase as
PV temperature decreases
May exceed 30% in freezing
temperatures & discharged battery
May go to 0% in hot climates
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Solar Boost 2000E
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12V 25A MPPT controller
– Successor to original SB2000
– Includes digital display
– Highly efficient power conversion
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Processes 340W
2 stage PWM charge control
– Adjustable charge voltage setpoint
– 25A current limit prevents nuisance fuse blow or overload
– Equalization function
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Options
– Battery temperature sensor
– Conduit ready wall mount box
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NEW Solar Boost 3000i
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30A/22A 12V MPPT charge controller
– Processes 400W from 36 cell modules
or 290W from 60 cell “grid tie” modules
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Full featured design
– Built in multi-function low power LED digital display
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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
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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
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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
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Multi-stage charge control
– Automatic or manual equalization
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User configurable auxiliary output
– 2A auxiliary battery charger for engine battery
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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
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20A/25A 12V MPPT charge controller
– Available in two versions
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Low cost SB2512i-HV
Full featured SB2512iX-HV
– Successor to original SB2512i & SB2512iX
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Higher 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
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SB2512i-HV
– Lower cost version
– Fully automatic 3-stage MPPT charge controller
– Features omitted from SB2512iX-HV include:
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Multi-controller IPN network interface (still supports displays & UCM)
Battery temp sensor input
Auxiliary output
Equalization
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Solar Boost 1524iX
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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
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Multi-stage charge control
– Automatic or manual equalization
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User configurable auxiliary output
– 2A auxiliary battery charger for engine battery
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Battery temperature sensor input
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IPN-Remote
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Low cost IPN remote display
– Monitors one or more IPN controllers
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Charge status LED
Battery voltage
Output charge current
– Multiple units can be placed on network
– Very low current LED display for excellent readability
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Automatic night time dimming
– Display only
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No setup or control capability
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IPN-ProRemote
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Full featured IPN display & Battery Monitor
– Simple, easy to understand text display
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Auto or manual display backlight
Easy to use multi-level menu structure
– Displays serves one or more IPN charge controllers at the same time
Shows charge mode, sum of input/output currents, total charge AH
‹ Provides access to advanced setup parameters and wider setpoint ranges
– Provides complete battery system monitoring
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Displays net battery current from all charging sources and loads
Computes battery AH from full & remaining battery level
Highly 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)
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Provides remote internet access for
charge 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
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Periodic FTP upload of performance data to remote server
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Compiles & stores up to 128 days of performance data logging
– Downloadable as Microsoft® Excel® compatible file
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