KICKASS KAPWM30A PWM 30A Solar Regulator User Manual
- June 9, 2024
- KICKASS
Table of Contents
KICKASS KAPWM30A PWM 30A Solar Regulator
INTRODUCTION
KickAss is focused on bringing the luxury of home to the outdoors. Your one stop shop for 12V products. All of our products are designed to be plug and play, for the ultimate camping experience. Designed by the KickAss team in Australia. The KickAss 12V PWM 30A Solar Regulator has been design to provide a compact plug and play solar power solution, highly efficient power conversion to keep your battery safely charged. Our team of dedicated engineers test every product to make sure they stand up to the tough Australian outback. The KAPWM30A solar regulator uses a solid state design with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). Without the need of cooling fans, the unit is fully sealed, rated at IP65 making it dust and water resistance for outdoor use.
IMPORTANT WARNING AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
DO NOT operate Solar Panel UNLESS YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS MANUAL and the Solar Regulator is installed as instructed. Working in the vicinity of Lead-Acid batteries is dangerous. During normal operation batteries generate explosive gases. It is important that the battery is operated in a well ventilated area and the Solar Regulator is installed as directed. Check the battery manufactures guide for the recommended voltage profile for charging. Failure to ensure the selected voltage does not exceed the recommend profile could damage your battery. Change the selection if necessary before charging the battery.
Risk of injury and damage due to incorrect installation product:
- This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they are supervised or have been properly instructed on how to use the appliance by a person responsible of their safety.
- Children should be supervised to ensure they do not play with the appliance.
- Ensure to use the Solar Panel with a regulator of the correct input rating and suitable charge profile for the battery chemistry type being charged. Suitable battery types include; Lead Acid, Gel, Calcium, AGM or Lithium.
- The battery should be mounted in a well ventilated area, and a safe distance from any ignition source. NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in the vicinity of the battery. This may cause the battery to explode.
- If battery acid comes in contact with skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters eye, immediately flush eye with running cold water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention immediately.
- To reduce risk; take when using any metal tool near the battery to avoid risk of shorting the terminals.
- To reduce the risk of sparks, connect or disconnect the Solar Blanket to the charge regulator BEFORE exposure to sunlight. The Solar Blanket may generate voltage up to the rated open circuit value, at the connection leads while unconnected.
- Ensure a fuse or circuit breaker is installed on connection from battery to regulator.
- Do not disassemble charger, contact KickAss customer support for trouble shooting advice.
- Do not reverse polarity connect the wires to the solar panel or battery.
FEATURES
- Designed with PWM technology.
- Common negative grounding design and 100% solid state.
- Suitable for solar panels with max open circuit voltage of 25V
- 7 Different Battery type charge profiles included:
- Lead crystal
- Calcium
- Gel
- AGM
- Lithium BMS “Wake up” feature to automatically reactive BMS.
- Highly efficient charger that ensures your battery is charged to 100% every time.
- Coloured LED’s that indicate the charging status and battery conditions.
- Big Digital LCD to clearly display battery voltage, charge current, overall charged capacity (Amp hour of charge into battery), battery type, charge percentage, battery temperature and fault codes.
- Plug & Play connection that accepts Anderson plug connection.
- M5 Screw terminals for hardwired option.
- Protection features including: Overvoltage, Short Circuit, Reverse Polarity and Thermal Protection
- Over voltage protection, Short circuit protection, Reverse polarity protection
- Includes external battery temperature sensor.
- IP65 rated, suitable for indoor or outdoor use, surface panel mount
- Rubber dust cover for terminal protection
INSTALLATION
The Solar Controller is mounted as shown below
The unit can be mounted on a flat surface using the 4 corner screw down points. Do this by firstly removing the exiting 4x machine screws and backing plate. With the corner screw down points free, mark the surface for the mounting points and pre drill your screw holes or simply use a self tapping screw and directly mount the unit.
CONNECTION INSTRUCTIONS
There are two options for connecting your solar panels and battery to charger. These include Plug and Plug using Anderson style quick connector or hardwired cable to screw terminal connection. For either option, we recommend installing the regulator as close to the battery as possible.
Option 1: KAPWM30 Regulator with anderson plug connection
Step 1. Remove rubber seals from regulator connection points and insert the appropriate Anderson connection lead from battery into the regulator connection marked as battery output. Ensure a fuse is installed one the positive cable as close to the battery positive terminal a possible. Once Battery is connected to the regulator, the correct battery type charge profile can be selected. See section “Operating Instructions” for Battery type selection and LCD operation
Step 2. With Solar Panel in shade, connect Anderson extension lead from Solar Panel into the regulator connection plug marked as Solar Panel input.
Option 2. Hardwiring using screw terminal option
Step 1. Mount regulator and battery in a suitable position. Ensure to
carefully measure the cable from the regulator to battery. Refer to Cable Size
Cart below.
Note: Do not remove the rubber covers “4”, these are designed to create a
seal and protect the terminations from moisture and dust.
Step 2. Ensure cable sizing is appropriate for length of wire as per
chart below. Wires to connect the battery and solar panel to the regulator
will be required to be crimped with M5 ring terminals.
Step 3. Battery Connection: Terminate the battery positive and negative
cables to the regulator (2), ensuring bolts are securely tightened. Connect
the negative cable to the negative terminal on the battery. Using an inline
40A fuse of circuit breaker, connect the positive wire to the positive
terminal on the battery
Step 4. Solar Panel Connection. With the solar panel unplugged from the
solar connection lead, terminate positive and negative solar cables to
regulator (3), ensuring bolts are securely tightened. With the solar panel out
of the sun, connect all cables to solar panels, ensuring a well sealed
termination.
Note: Alway use the correct solar cable as directed by solar panel manufacture and is a minimum of 4mm².
External Battery Temperature Sensor (1): We recommend installing the external temperature sensor when battery and regulator are installed in separate locations from each other or the temperature range where the battery is installed may range outside of the normal operating range. The sensor is designed to optimize the charging performance subject to the battery temperature detected while also providing over temperature protection. If over temperature occurs, the regulator will automatically stop charging. Please refer to the cable size chart to determine the minimum size cable needed for ensuring the best performance of regulator
Recommend Connect diagram
Note: Please connect solar panels to regulator before exposing to direct sun KAPWM30A Regulator connected with KA Folding Solar Blanket and KickAss 120AH AGM Battery
KAPWM30A Regulator connected with KA Folding Solar Blanket and Power Station
OPERATION
When unit first connected to the battery, the display will power on and enter a self test mode. The screen will display the follow information
BATTERY TYPE SELECTION
IMPORTANT! Please select the correct battery type as damage can occur if incorrect settings are used The default battery type is set for AGM. Press the “BATTERY TYPE” button and hold for 3 seconds to enter the battery type selection mode. The available selections will be shown on the LCD as indicated below. Once the correct battery type is selected the regulator will automatically memorize your battery type setting. These include:
LCD Display – Normal function
When the solar input is active and the charging process begins, the LCD will
show the charging status. This can be displayed as battery voltage, charging
amps, charged capacity (Amp hours) and battery temperature (if external
temperature sensor connected)
CHARGING STAGE
The KAPWM30A 12V Regulator has a 6 stage charge algorithm
*Diagnose – Only for Lithium battery type, subjected to the Lithium
battery initial voltage which will determine if Soft start or Bulk stage is
appropriate; if the Lithium battery is protected by the BMS, the regulator
will automatically send a voltage signal periodically to the battery terminal
to activate the BMS, and bring it out of low voltage protection.
Soft start – When batteries suffer an over-discharge, the regulator will
softly ramp the battery voltage up to 10V, before entering the Bulk Stage.
Bulk Stage –** Maximum charging current will be delivered to batteries
until the Absorption stage reached. For Lead crystal battery type, the
regulator will deliver a two step level of Bulk charge. The first level rises
the battery voltage up to 14.4V, then will switch into the second level of the
50% of the first bulk charge rate, until the Lead crystal battery voltage
reaches
Absorption Stage – Constant voltage charging until battery capacity
reaches 85% for Lead Acid type; Li-ion battery, LiFePO4 battery and L TO
battery will be fully charged after absorption stage. See specification table
for Max voltage reached for different battery types.
*Equalization – Only for WET or Calcium battery types, when the battery
is deeply drained below 10V or every 28 day charge cycle, the regulator will
automatically run this stage to bring the internal cells to an equal state and
aim to remove any build up of sulfation from inside the battery. (Equalization
charge will not run when battery type is selected as: Lead crystal, Li-ion,
LiFePO4, LTO, Gel and AGM )
Float Stage or Re-Bulk Stage –** Battery will enter this stage when fully
charged and will be maintained at a safe level. A fully charged Lead Acid
battery (Crystal, GEL, AGM, WET battery) has a voltage of more than 13.8
Volts; if the battery voltage drops to 12.8V during the Float Stage, the
regulator will return to Bulk charge; Li-ion,LiFePO4 and LTO battery have no
float mode; If a Li-ion battery voltage drops to 12.0V after absorption stage,
it will return to Bulk charge; if a LIFePO4 battery voltage drops to 13.4V, or
LTO battery voltage drops to 13.2V after Absorption stage, they will return to
Bulk charge. (Voltage x 2 for 24V use).
LED INDICATION
SAFETY PROTECTION
- Reverse polarity solar and battery connection.
- Over temperature protection with charging current de-rated.
- Transient over voltage protection
- Safety and EMC compliance
- IEC/EN 60335, EN61000-4-2, EN61000-4-3, EN61000-4-4, EN61000-4-5 FCC Class-B EN61000-4-6, EN61000-4-11, EN61000-3-3, CISPR14-1
MAINTENANCE
Occasionally, clean the case using a damp cloth and mild cleaning agent. Check with terminals without loose, rusty; If connecting cable is damaged, replace the cable by qualified person.
SPECIFICATION
Voltages in below table are for 12V use, x 2 for 24V use.
Absorption – Constant voltage charging and battery is over 85% for lead
acid battery; a Li-ion battery, LiFePO4 battery and LTO battery will close
fully charging after absorption stage, the absorption voltage level will reach
12.6V for Li-ion battery, 14.4V for LiFePO4 battery; 14.0V for LTO battery.
14.7V for Lead crystal battery.
*Equalization – Only for WET battery or Calcium battery type, when the
battery is deeply drained below 10V or every 28 days cycle, it will
automatically run this stage to bring the internal cells as an equal state and
fully complement the loss of capacity. (Lead crystal, Liion, LiFePO4, LTO, Gel
and AGM battery do not run Equalization charge)
Float Charge or Re-Bulk charge –** Battery is fully charged and maintained
at a safe level. A fully charged Lead acid battery (Crystal, GEL, AGM, WET
battery) has a voltage of more than 13.8 Volts; if the lead acid battery
voltage drops to 12.8V at float mode, it will return to Bulk charge; Li-
ion,LiFePO4 and LTO battery have no float mode; If a Li-ion battery voltage
drops to 12.0V after absorption stage, it will return to Bulk charge; if a
LIFePO4 battery voltage drops to 13.4V, or LTO battery voltage drops to 13.2V
after Absorption stage, they will return to Bulk charge. (Voltage x 2 for 24V
use)
LED INDICATION
SAFETY PROTECTION
- Spark-free protection.
- Reverse polarity solar and battery connection.
- Against reverse current from battery to solar panel at night.
- Over temperature protection with charging current de-rate.
- Transient overvoltage protection, a varistor or transient voltage suppressor (TVS) at the solar input and battery output against surge voltage.
- Safety and EMC compliance IEC/EN 60335, EN61000-4-2, EN61000-4-3, EN61000-4-4, EN61000-4-5 FCC Class-B EN61000-4-6, EN61000-4-11, EN61000-3-3, CISPR14-1
MAINTENANCE
Occasionally, clean the case using a damp cloth and mild cleaning agent. Check with terminals without loose, rusty; If connecting cable is damaged, replace the cable by qualified person.
SPECIFICATION
Voltages in below table are for 12V use, x 2 for 24V use.
For more information please visit us at: kickassproducts.com.au