The 10A Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger & Load Control is an easy to use, versatile solar charger that also serves to activate a load. The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger is designed for remote outdoor applications such as warning beacons and traffic management systems. A custom advanced Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charging algorithm is used for optimum utilization of the power available from the solar array. The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger provides load control functions, with steady state or flashing control of up to a 10 Amp load.

The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger can provide up to 30% improvement over standard Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) chargers. The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger’s MPPT technology is most effective when the battery is depleted and during cooler weather, when solar panels deliver their greatest power. This results in quicker discharge recovery and/or allows for a smaller solar panel to be used for a given application.

The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger uses three-stage PWM charging to maximize delivery of the solar panel’s power to the battery with minimal losses. Charging parameters, such as float voltage, may be adjusted by using a simple text based user menu accessible through the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger’s RS-232 serial port. Additionally, if you are purchasing in volume your charging parameters can be preloaded into your Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Chargers, contact us for details. To prevent overcharging the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger’s internal temperature sensor reduces the maximum charging and float voltages by 30 mV/ °C for every degree above 73.4° F (23° C) to protect the battery.

The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger provides a number of manual and automatic load control features. The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger’s two flashing or steady load outputs may be automatically activated by providing a contact closure to the load control terminals when the load control switch is in the “AUTO” position. This same switch will force the load ON or OFF for manual operation. The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger provides a nominal 75% PWM night dimming feature without the use of a separate external light sensor. Additionally a sleep mode is provided by the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger to minimize self consumption in when conditions are dark and the load is inactive. Overload and short circuit protection is offered by the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger to protect the system. The Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger has a user settable low voltage shut down option to protect batteries from being damaged from excessive discharge.

You can interface with the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger’s charge control microprocessor by using a simple user interface via RS-232 serial port. You can display and set the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger’s battery charging parameters and dimming levels using a simple terminal program such as Hyperterm for Windows or ZTerm for Macintosh. One second streaming reports of important parameters are provided by the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger for diagnostics and remote monitoring. The same serial connection allows you to set up Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger system functions. Maximum charge voltage, charge current, load current, low voltage shutdown, flashing and dimming can all be set from the Maximum Power Point Tracking Solar Charger’s user interface.

Sample of User Interface:
HSE> Solar Flasher by High Sierra Electronics Copyright 2007 v1.00
HSE> Commands:
HSE> (D)imming = False
HSE> ma(X)_dimming = 75%
HSE> flashing_(M)ode = True
HSE> (S)leep_mode = False
HSE> max_charging_(A)mps= 10.00 A
HSE> max_charging_(V)olts= 14.10 V
HSE> f(L)oat_volts= 13.20 V
HSE> bat_volts_dis(C)on= 10.80 V
HSE> bat_volts_(R)econ = 12.20 V
HSE> s(O)l_volts_daylight= 12.00 V
HSE> (ESC) to exit.
HSE>sec pwm temp_C sol_A sol_V sol_W bat_A bat_V charger system load oc_V
HSE>30845 922 29.64 6.29 16.07 101.02 6.85 13.30 Bulk Auto Off Day 19.46