User Guide
7
LED comes on when the regulator has shorted the solar panel. The LED can be
used to check operation of the panel and as an indication of the state of charge of
the battery.
As an initial test of operation of the panel, connect the regulator as shown, but do
not connect the battery; leave the battery lead from the regulator disconnected.
When the panel is exposed to sunlight the LED on the regulator should flash on
and off indicating the panel is giving out a voltage with the correct polarity.
With the regulator connected to the battery and the panel exposed to sunlight the
LED should start to flash on and off as the battery comes near to being fully
charged.
The regulator supplied consumes about 5 mA of power all the time.
3.2 Connecting the SP5 or SP10 to the Rechargeable CR200X,
CR3000 and CR6 Dataloggers and the CH200, PS200, CH150
and PS150 series Power Supplies
Solar panels can be connected directly to the charging circuits of the rechargeable
CR200X, CR3000 and CR6 dataloggers, and the CH200, PS200, CH150 and
PS150 series power supplies as indicated below.
The red LED built into the appropriate charging circuit comes on when enough
light falls on the panel. Please see the CH200/PS200 and CR6 manuals regarding
their LED indicators. The CR200X does not have an LED.
The LED only indicates that a voltage is being generated by the
panel; it does
not
necessarily indicate that the batteries are being
adequately charged.
3.2.1 Dataloggers with built in chargers: the CR200X, CR3000 and CR6
Any of the smaller solar panels can be connected directly to the built in charging
circuit of the dataloggers. See below if using the SP30 panel with these
dataloggers.
Connect the wires from the panel to the charging circuit connector on
the right-
hand side
of the rechargeable CR3000 base.
Do not connect to the 12V Power
Input plug on the top of the datalogger.
Polarity of the leads to the connector is
not critical.
3.2.2 CH200, PS200, CH150 and PS150 series Chargers
Connect the wires to the solar charging circuit connectors on the power supplies –
observing the polarity. See below if using the SP30 with these power supplies.
3.3 Using the SP30 with systems containing smaller lead acid
batteries
The SP30 can be used with smaller (7 Ah) lead-acid batteries in many
circumstances – for example in less favourable climatic conditions, and in high
latitude installations, where solar radiation can be low. It can also be used in some
high current applications, but it should be noted that the reserve capacity of the
internal battery may be a limiting factor. Current limits in the charger circuit will
NOTE
NOTE