We Care Solar Suitcase · We Care Solar Solar Suitcase WCS200 August 2015 Page 3 Organization of...

We Care Solar • Solar Suitcase WCS200 • August 2015

INSIDE THIS MANUAL 1. About the Solar Suitcase2. Organization of the Main Control Board 3. Understanding the Solar Suitcase:• Batteries, panels and lights• Charge Controller• Usage and charging

3. Start up sequence4. Optimizing performance 5. Warranty

We Care Solar Suitcase®

User Manual

Version WCS200August 2015


Solar Suitcase

The Solar Suitcase Includes:

2 20 Watt Solar Panels 2 Bright, Rugged LED Lamps1 12 Volt Battery

- Lithium Ferrous Phosphate, or - Sealed Lead Acid

1 Homerun Cable for Panels

Accessories:

2 Rechargeable LED headlamps (with micro USB charging wire)1 AA/AAA Battery Charger 1 Universal Cell Phone Charger 1 USB Adapter1 Fetal Doppler1 Roof Mounting Hardware1 Wall Mounting Hardware

Solar Suitcase with internal Plastic-backed Panels

Optional Accessories:

Satellite Box (for extra lights) Additional Lights External Battery Aluminum Glass Solar Panels (50-200 watts)

Fetal Doppler


Organization of the Main Control BoardThe Solar Suitcase connects Solar Panels to a Charge Controller, which optimizes the charging of the battery. The Charge Controller also regulates the use of the energy stored in the battery to power lights and other appliances.

9

10B 11

1

7a

23

4

67b

12

8

8

10A

5

Main Power Switch/ Circuit Breaker

Charge Controller

Light Sockets

Light Switches/ Circuit Breaker

Appliance switch

12V DC Appliance Sockets

Internal Battery Socket

Internal Battery Cable

Battery Terminals/ Slip-on connectors

External Battery Socket

Solar Socket

Solar Plug on Homerun Cable

2 Expansion Sockets

Terminal Screws (on Charge Controller)

1

6

2

7a

3

7b

4

8

5

9

10a

11

12

10b


The Solar Suitcase includes either a Lithium Ferrous Phosphate battery (LFP; 12 volt, 14 amp-hour) or a Sealed Lead Acid battery (SLA; 12 volt 14 amp-hour) that stores electricity for night time use.

Either battery can be fully charged and discharged hundreds of times before it needs replacement.

LFP batteries provide more years of service than SLA batteries. They can be fully discharged with no shortening of service life. LFP batteries can also be stored for months without harm to the battery.

For optimal longevity of the SLA battery, charge it to FULL at least once a week. Try not to discharge it completely (keep the battery status light in the green to yellow range).

Battery Replacement: If you notice the battery is full at the beginning of the evening, but runs out of charge quickly (for example, the battery cannot provide enough power for one LED light through the night), it is time to replace your battery.

The solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. The electricity is used to charge the main battery in the Solar Suitcase. The solar panel for the Solar Suitcase is sized so that the battery can fully charge every day.

The Solar Suitcase can power the two LED lights that come pre-connected. The LED lights must plug into the Light Sockets and be secured with the threaded ring that is around the plug.

Battery

Lights

Understanding the Solar Suitcase

Plastic-backed (G-10) Everbright Panels

Aluminium Glass (Conventional) Panels

Solar Panels

THIS SOLAR SUITCASE IS 12 VOLT DC The LED lights can only be used with the Solar Suitcase.



The Charge Controller optimizes the solar charge into the battery and protects the battery from over-charging or being over-discharged when lights and appliances are on.

Solar Charging Indicator

BLINKING GREEN - The battery is full. This is a good time to charge mobile phones and other appliances.

SOLID GREEN - Battery is between 50% and 100% charged. You may charge appliances on sunny days.

YELLOW - Battery is 50% full or less. Conserve energy. Turn off unnecessary lights and discontinue charging appliances.

RED BLINKING - Battery is very low and power will soon turn off. Turn off all light switches and appliances. Wait until next sunny day for battery to recharge.

The three colored lights allow the user to assess the level of charge in the battery. These are interpreted differently for LFP and SLA batteries.

Battery Status Lights

Battery Type Selector

CHARGING - When the green charging light is lit, it means that the solar panels are properly wired and that the Solar Suitcase is receiving charge from the solar panels.

13

13

14

14

15

15

The selector must be on “2-SEALED” for all sealed lead acid, AGM batteries and LFP batteries like the kind that comes with the Solar Suitcase.

The Charge Controller

BLINKING GREEN - Battery is full. This is a good time to charge mobile phones and other appliances.

SOLID GREEN - Battery is between 10% and 100% charged. You may charge appliances on sunny days.

YELLOW - Battery is getting very low—10% or less. Conserve energy. Turn off all lights and discontinue charging appliances.

RED BLINKING - Battery is very low and power will soon turn off. Turn off all light switches and appliances. Wait until next sunny day for battery to recharge.

Lithium Ferrous Phosphate Battery

Sealed Lead Acid Battery


Usage and ChargingDuring daytime hours when it is sunny, the Solar Suitcase can charge cell phones and other appliances using the Appliance Sockets. To charge appliances, turn on the red Appliance Switch located above the sockets. The Appliance Sockets are similar to 12V DC car cigarette lighter sockets.

Charging Cell Phones and Headlamps

Charging the Fetal Doppler

Only use rechargeable batteries with the battery charger provided. Do not place disposable batteries in the battery charger.

AA Batteries


Note: Be sure to put the “+” side of the battery on the “+” side of the charger.

USB adapter

Universal Phone Charger Micro-USB

The Solar Suitcase can charge small laptop computers that have a 12V DC car charger. Only charge computers during the day when the Battery Status Light is BLINKING GREEN.

Charging Computers

The Solar Suitcase can charge most cell phones by placing the USB adapter into the Appliance Socket and attaching a phone charging wire. The Solar Suitcase includes both a single charging wire (USB to Micro-USB) and a multi-tipped charging wire (see photo on next page). The multi-tipped charging wire can only charge one phone at a time. You can also charge phones that have a 12V DC car charger.

The rechargeable white headlamps can be charged directly from the Solar Suitcase, using the micro USB cable.

The Fetal Doppler uses two rechargeable AA batteries. A battery charger is included in the Solar Suitcase and instructions are below.

Charging the AA batteries1. Place the rechargeable

batteries into the charger with the positive side of the battery facing the positive side of the charger.

2. Plug the battery charger into an Appliance Socket. The battery charger display will indicate when the batteries are full.


Fetal DopplerHeadlampCell Phone

Charging Mobile Phone and Appliances — Summary


Once the solar panel and battery connections are secure, you can turn on the system. Use the Main Power Switch to turn ON the system. The Status Lightswillflashinsequenceandthe Charge Controller will turn on. After 3 seconds, the Solar Charging Indicator will glow . The Solar Suitcase is now ready to use.

Start Up Sequence

Make sure that the Homerun cable plug (yellow and blue) is fully inserted and rotated so that it is locked in. The silver tab will face forward and click into position.

1

Plug the end of the Battery Cable into the Battery Socket. The Solar Suitcase arrives with a Battery Wire already on the battery. If the Battery Wire has come loose from the battery terminals then: Attach the ( ) RED terminal on the battery to the ( ) RED wire. Attach the ( ) BLACK terminal on the battery to the ( ) BLACK wire.

3 Battery: Insert the battery plug into the Battery Socket

Turn on the system4

2 Solar Panels: Place the panels in the sun and connect the solar panels to the Homerun cablePlacethesolarpanelsinasunnylocationthatwon’tbeshadedbetween9amand4pm. The panels should be permanently mounted on a rooftop with no shade between thehoursof9amand4pm.Thepanelsshouldhaveaminimumof10 slope so that the rain will rinse the panels off.

Connect the Homerun cable


Optimizing Performance

1

2

Make sure the Main Switch stays onThis Main Power Switch should remain ON at all times. The only time to turn the Main Power Switch OFF is when you are replacing the main battery. However, during an approaching lightning storm, the Main Power Switch should be turned OFF unless it is needed to treat patients.

Panel position and maintenancePlacethesolarpanelsinasunnylocationthatwon’tbeshadedbetween9amand4pm*.Thepanelsshouldhaveaminimum of 10 slope so that the rain will rinse the panels off.

Clean your panels if you can do so safelyKeep the solar panels clean for best results. Dirt and dust will reduce the amount of electricity they will produce. Note: rainfall will clean the panels for you. If dust accumulates, only clean the panels if it is safe to go up on the roof. To clean the panels, just rinse with water. Do NOT scrub as you might scratch the panel. The plastic-backed panels are especially vulnerable to scratching. If the main battery is getting fully charged each sunny day, then dirt on the panels is not a problem.

3

No shade problem Shade problem*Notethattreescangrowandcauseshadeinthefuture


Optimizing Performance

4 Know your battery statusA. Blinking or solid green - On a sunny day, this is a good time to charge appliances.

A full battery is indicated by a blinking green light.

B. Battery is getting low - At night, or whenever the battery status light is yellow, it is time to conserve energy. Use lights only when necessary. Only charge appliances in an emergency.

C. Battery is discharged - The Charge Controller is in Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD) and all loads will automatically shut off. Turn off the light switches and the red appliance switch so that the battery can fully recharge. The battery will recharge during the next sunny day.


5 Watchyourbattery’schargeWithpropercare,theLFPbatteryshouldlastforfiveyears;theSLAbatteryshouldlastfor two years or longer. If the battery does not seem to be holding charge (for example, thelightsdon’tstayonthroughthenight),itshouldbereplacedwithanother12voltLFPor SLA battery. A contact phone number for help locating new batteries will be on your battery, or you can contact We Care Solar for assistance.

6 Check connection for lights and batteryA. If the LED overhead lights do not work, check the cord connectors. Make sure that the light cords are securely plugged into the light sockets. If lights still do not work, check light cord for damage.

B. Check the slip-on connectors on the Main Battery (connects battery to the Solar Suitcase) to verify that they are fully inserted and are snug.

Slip-on Connectors Unplugged

Partially Inserted

Fully Inserted


• What to do when the solar suitcase is not working well:

• Reviewpointsonhowtooptimizeperformance-seepage9-11

• Ifyouareunabletofixtheproblemwiththisinformation, call:

• If you are unable to reach anybody locally, you may want to also call or write directly to We Care Solar:

We Care Solarwww.wecaresolar.org

[email protected]

Warranty Details

Warranty

WCS provides a limited warranty for 2 years on the base system. The base system in-cludes: case, chassis, controller, lights, solar panels (if purchased by WCS). All warranty claims are dependent on proper installation and usage.

No accessories are covered under the warranty. Accessories include: phone charging cords, USB adapter, battery charger, headlamp, and fetal Doppler.

Name and contact information for local installer or NGO

We Care Solar Suitcase · We Care Solar Solar Suitcase WCS200 August 2015 Page 3 Organization of...

Documents

Transcript of We Care Solar Suitcase · We Care Solar Solar Suitcase WCS200 August 2015 Page 3 Organization of...