Transcript
Frequently Asked Questions
Solar Prioritizer
DT 17 Jan 2013
1.
What is a Solar Prioritizer? The Prioritizer (some call it Solar Management Unit) is as device which can be used to convert any common Inverter to Solar. The Prioritizer automatically charges the batteries using solar energy in the day. It is also useful in places of power cut where the battery does not get charged from mains ac power.
2.
What is the working principle of the Solar Prioritizer? The mains ac input power of the inverter is taken through the Prioritizer. When sufficient solar power is available, the input power to the inverter is disconnected and the inverter is made to work in battery in the backup mode. At the same time the solar panel will be charging the battery. Thus the Loads will effectively work from the solar power. When the solar power reduces, the inverter is connected back to the ac mains making it work as normal Inverter.
3.
What is the efficiency of the solar charger? The Prioritizer has a very high efficiency charger inside. This can be noted by the fact that it uses very small heat sink to cool the devices. It has ‘Zero Drop switching technology’ using MOSFETS devices. Even at 30Amps charging current, the loss is as low as 2.5W for a 12V system and about 8W in a 24V system. This makes its charger efficiency greater than 98%.
4.
Will the battery get overcharged? No. The charger is a BOOST cum FLOAT charger using PWM techniques controlled using a fast 16 bit micro-controller. It can accurately sense the battery voltage, Panel voltage and panel current. The battery is first taken to boost level and then taken to float level. This ensures correct and full charging of the battery.
5.
What is the importance of Current and Voltage sensing? When sunlight is poor, solar panel will still develop DC Voltage. But good charging current will come only in strong sunlight. The Prioritizer senses both the Solar Current and Voltage to calculate the Solar power coming from the Panel. By doing so, the Prioritizer avoids unnecessary changeover and discharge of the battery. If the system were to checks only the Voltage, then changeover can happen wrongly and the electricity bill will increase instead of reducing.
6.
How much Solar Panel should I connect? Normally the Panel size should be chosen to be equal to or greater than the total power used in the day. This ensures that the daytime load is fully taken over by Solar
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Frequently Asked Questions
Solar Prioritizer
DT 17 Jan 2013
7.
What if my load is more than the Panel capacity? It may take more time, but still it will change to solar mode after charging the battery. But it may change back to grid few times in the day since the panel cannot take the full load. Reduction in electricity bill will depend on the size of the PV panel installed.
8.
What are the safety protections features in the Prioritizer? The Prioritizer is protected against reverse connection of the Battery and Panel. It also prevents reverse leakage in the night thereby stopping battery drainage in the night.
9.
How do I use the Manual Mode? Manual mode can be used to manually control the Inverter. This mode can be set if the user has no power consumption in the day and wants to use the solar power only in the night. In the day, the Solar will charge the battery but will not go to backup automatically. In the night when the user wants to use the solar energy, he can press the manual button. When he wants to reverse back to the ac mains, press the button once again.
10. How can I set the Manual mode? By default, the Prioritizer works in automatic mode. This is indicated by the Battery charge level LED which will glow steady. To set Manual mode, double click the MANUAL button like computer mouse. Now the Battery charge level LED will flash. Inn MANUAL mode, to change the make the inverter to go to backup, press the button once. Press again to change it back to ac mains. To change back to Automatic mode, again double click the MANUAL button.
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