Operator`s manual

Manual

Power Supply

Regularly grease the terminals and contacts to avoid corrosion.•

4.3 Solar Panel

4.3.1 General

The solar panel is a photovoltaic (PV) power source used for charging the sealed lead-acid battery of the Met

Station. It therefore constitutes the primary energy source of the system, although it does not directly power the

datalogger and sensors. The MSX10 solar panel itself does not include a regulator. Instead, the charging process is

controlled by the regulator included in the PS12-LA power supply. The solar panel operates in both direct and diffuse

light, but obviously not at night.

The solar panel concerns a polycrystalline module type MSX10 with a maximum output of 10 W. Detailed specifica-

tions are presented in the Campbell Scientific Instruction Manual on MSX10 Solar Panels.

4.3.2 Installation

Each buoy station is equipped with two 10W solar panels. To receive maximum insolation, the panel should be

mounted facing south in the Northern Hemisphere, and facing north in the Southern Hemisphere. It should be

attached to the mast of the instrument tower using the provided nuts and bracket, with a tilt angle of 80%. Make sure

that no part of the panel is shaded or covered by trees, constructions, or other objects, as this will reduce the output

or may even permanently damage the unit. Please note that even if a single cell is shaded, the output of a crystalline

module will fall considerably. Figure 15 shows the mounting of the panel on the tripod.

Once the MSX10 is mounted properly, route the solar panel cable through the tower to the instrument container

to the CH12R charger/regulator, and insert the two pre-stripped and tinned leads into the terminal labeled ‘CHG’ on

the unit. See figure 13 for the input terminals of the power supply. Polarity does not matter.

4.3.3 Use

Once properly installed and connected to the PS12-LA power supply, the MSX10 Solar Panel does not require any

attention except for some periodic minor maintenance. There are no user actions required in operating the solar

panel.

Tripod Mast

Panel Support

Solar Panel

Tilt Angle

MSX10 Solar Panel