Q1:
What is the difference between the BatterySAVER PRO15W and the Pro-Kit 15W?
ICP offers two ways to buy the 18 Watt Panel:
1) The Pro-Kit 18W
is designed for people who are getting a new installation. This kit contains the
PRO18W panel and the 7 Amp Charge Controller.
2) The BatterySAVER SE
18W is a single panel for people who want to ADD A PANEL to an existing solar
system and already have a charge controller or, for individuals who wish to acquire
a charge controller separately.
Q2:
Do I have to disconnect the panels from the battery when I drive or while I am
recharging my battery with my generator?
No, ICP solar panels are
designed to be permanently connected to the battery. There is no need to disconnect
them when charging the batteries by other means such as AC chargers, or your vehicle's
generator or alternator.
Q3:
What types of batteries can I recharge?
You can recharge all types
of 12 Volt batteries including lead-acid automotive batteries, deep cycle (traction
type) batteries, gel-cell batteries, and heavy-duty (stationary type) batteries.
When using the ICP Solar System to run appliances on a regular basis, we recommend
the use of deep cycle marine batteries which are designed to withstand frequent
charging and discharging cycles.
Q4:
How long will it take to charge a dead battery?
The BatterySAVER
PRO15W will supply the battery with 1 Amp per hour in the sun. Therefore, depending
on type of battery and conditions, a battery requiring 30 Amp-hour for full charge
would take approximately 30 hours of full sunshine to recharge. If you double
the panels (30 Watts) you should expect half the time.
Q5:
Can the Solar Panel drain my battery at night?
No, all ICP solar
panels are equipped with a built-in diode, which prevents any reverse current.
Q6:
Can the Solar Panel overcharge my battery?
Yes, that is why it is
important to use the charge controller included in this kit. The charge controller
will protect your battery from overcharge. Remember, the ICP Pro-Kit 18W contains
a charge controller, while the Battery Saver 18W is a single panel with no charge
controller.
Q7:
Do I need a charge controller with the BatterySAVER SE 18W?
Yes.
Chances are the 18W panel will, in time, overcharge your battery. A charge controller
is recommended since it will prevent overcharging of the battery. In addition,
some ICP charge controllers include a "load protection" feature to protect
your battery(ies) from excessive (damageable) discharge and extend the useful
life of the battery(ies).
Q8:
Can I run my 110 Volt appliances with my solar system?
Yes. You can
run your 110 Volts appliances, but you will need an inverter, which will attach
to your battery to change the battery's 12 Volt (DC) energy into 110 Volt (AC).
Q9:
Can I charge more than one battery at a time with this Solar Panel?
If attached to a single battery, the 18W Solar Panel can act as a battery recharger
as its full 1.2 Amp (max) current (power) is applied to that single battery. Depending
on the type, age and condition of the battery, the recharge rate will be approximately
1.2 Amp per hour.
When attached to a bank of 2 or 3, or more batteries,
one must take into account that the Solar Panel will basically only act as a TRICKLE
CHARGER as its power is divided into that number of batteries. The theoretical
rate of trickle charging would then be 1000mAmp (1.2 Amp) divided by the number
of batteries in the bank. Example: 3 Batteries would each get approx. 400mAmp
(1200/3), or 1/3 of an Amp. trickle charge.
Q10:
Can the wiring be extended?
You can extend the wiring of our solar
chargers another 25 feet (for a maximum of 35 feet) using 16-gauge wire, without
any significant loss of power.
Q11:
Can my panel be left outdoors without protective covering?
Yes. The
PRO KIT 18W & BATTERY SAVER SE 18W panels have been weather protected and
can be mounted outdoors. ICP 18 Watt panels are completely weatherproofed and
can withstand ½ inch hailstones, up to180°F heat and
can operate under 3 inches of snow (on sunny days).
Q12:
Can I run an appliance, without a battery, by connecting it directly to my solar
panel?
Yes. However, without a battery to store the power, the voltage
and current supplied by the solar panel may vary and drop as soon as some clouds
pass over, possibly causing your appliance to slow or stop working. Running directly
from the solar panel may be perfect for an application that is designed to only
work on sunny days, like a solar operated fan. In most cases however, users connect
solar panels to 12 Volt batteries, which then provides steady reliable power to
the 12 Volt appliances.
In addition, for the appliance to work directly
from the panel, it must be designed to operate within the maximum voltage and
amperage range of the PRO18W. (1.2 Amp @ 15 Volts max.)
Q13:
Can these panels be connected in conjunction with an inverter or converter?
Yes, since these accessories will not interfere with your solar power system.
Q14:
Can I mount the solar panel directly to a surface or do I need to use some sort
of bracket?
Yes, ICP Solar panels can be installed directly to a
flat surface, using the screws provided. Simply secure the panel using the mounting
holes at each corner. Should the mounting surface be rubberized, we suggest that
you use rubber spacers to create an air gap between the two surfaces (to prevent
heat build-up when exposed to high temperature conditions).
Q15:
How can I hook several batteries together for a 12 Volt system?
If
you wish to have extra 12 Volt capacity, you can create a 12 Volt bank of batteries
by hooking up a pair (or more) of batteries together in PARALLEL. The voltage
remains the same (12 Volt) while the Amp-hrs capacity increases proportionally
to the number of batteries in the bank.
Parallel (12 Volt) Hook-up:
First, connect the batteries together by attaching the POSITIVE battery post
of the first battery to the POSITIVE post of the second battery. Similarly, attach
the NEGATIVE to NEGATIVE. Remember that this hook-up will add the Amp-hrs capacity
of the two batteries. Example: Two 12 Volt 30 Amp-hrs batteries in parallel will
give a total 60 Amp-hrs at 12 Volt.
Q16:
How can I hook several batteries together for a 24 Volt system?
If
you wish to have a 24 Volt system, you can create a 24 Volt bank of batteries
by hooking-up two (2) batteries in SERIES. The voltage will double to 24 volts
while the amp-hrs capacity of the bank of batteries remains at the same level
as one single battery.
Series (24 Volt) Hook-up:
Connect
the batteries together by attaching the POSITIVE battery post of the first battery
to the NEGATIVE battery post of the second battery. The remaining negative post
of the first battery and positive post of the second battery yield a voltage of
24 Volts.
Q17:
How can I make the most efficient use of my 12 Volt solar system?
The best way to take full advantage of 12 Volt energy is to use energy efficient
12 Volt (or 24 Volt) appliances. Switching to fluorescent lighting is another
tip that will allow you to generate the same amount of light while using significantly
less power.
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