GHOST AXDP 10 WATT Solar Panel Instructions

: June 12, 2024
: Ghost

Table of Contents

GHOST AXDP 10 WATT Solar Panel
INSTRUCTIONS
INSTALLING YOUR SOLAR PANEL:
WARRANTY
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

GHOST AXDP 10 WATT Solar Panel

INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING: DO NOT connect solar panel directly to a battery!

NOTE: BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE SOLAR PANEL IT MUST BE LOCATED IN AN OPEN AREA THAT GETS DIRECT FULL SUN FOR AT LEAST 8 HOURS PER DAY.

TIPS FOR SOLAR INSTALLATIONS

Solar panels should be mounted so that foliage growth such as tree leaves, tree branches, or weeds do not cover the solar panel in a shadow at any point during the day, regardless of the time of year.
Solar panels should be cleaned periodically to remove any snow, dirt, grime, mold, or mildew that may accumulate and deteriorate the performance.
If this solar panel will be used with a GHOST CONTROLS® Gate Opener System, the power status LED indicator (shown) on the GHOST CONTROLS® System Control Panel will help you align the panel for optimal charging performance.
The faster the power status light blinks the better the charge. If you have a solid status light your solar performance is good too.
A slow blinking light means too much shade or panel needs to be rotated to gain better charging performance.
Place the panel facing DUE SOUTH in the path of the sun. Many smartphones have a magnetic compass to aid you.
Mount the panel using the curved pipe provided to maintain the proper angle to the sun.

INSTALLING YOUR SOLAR PANEL:

STEP 1: ATTACHING PANEL TO PIPE
Position the curved pipe (D) and place two pipe clamps (C) over the curved pipe. Thread the 4 M8 bolts (F) through the top and bottom channels of the solar panel a pictured. Secure the M8 bolts (F) with the M8 nuts (E).

GHOST-AXDP-10-WATT-Solar-Panel-fig-2

STEP 2: SECURING PANEL TO POST

Determine the installation site for the solar panel.
Secure the solar panel assembly to a wooden post or fence using two pipe clamps (C) and four lag bolts (B) as shown in the illustration to the right. If your fence post is metal, you will need alternative hardware not provided,
(e.g., U-clamps or sheet metal screws).
- If the solar panel must be placed more than 10 ft. from the control box in order to receive direct sunlight, you can use up to 100 ft. of multi-stranded, GHOST CONTROLS® 16 gauge, direct burial, low-voltage wire (AXLV). NEVER use solid core wire.

IMPORTANT

Please refer to solar map and chart to make sure you have the correct amount of solar requirement for your area.
Minimum battery requirement for solar are two 12V, 7 Amp hour batteries (ABBT2) or a 12V deep cycle marine battery.
To provide secure and moisture resistant splices for solar panels use a direct burial splice kit for ALL splices. These splice kits can be found at hardware and electrical supply stores.
For optimal efficiency, wipe the face of the panel frequently with a soft, damp cloth.
The output of the Solar Panel is variable during the day depending on the intensity of the sun and the angle of the rays striking the panel. To check the output, simply disconnect the solar panel leads from the control board and connect them directly to a DC voltmeter. In bright sunlight the panel output should read at least 18-22 volts DC.

Need to add Solar to your Gate Opener?
Use this solar map and chart to help you decide how much solar power you need

GHOST-AXDP-10-WATT-Solar-Panel-fig-3

STEP 3: ATTACHING WIRE TO CONTROL BOARD
Make sure control board switch is in the OFF position. Feed the free end of the solar panel wires into the control box and attach them to the appropriate terminals on the control board. Connecting the black wire to the solar terminal (–) and the red wire to the solar (+).
Improper installation of these wires will damage the opener’s control board.

NOTE: INSTALLING TWO OR MORE SOLAR PANELS TO THE CONTROL PANEL you should connect the panels in parallel as shown in the diagram below using weather- resistant wire nuts. Do NOT connect the solar panels in series. Please also consider the following details:

Two or more solar panels may be wired in parallel, but the combined power output of solar panels must not exceed 40 watts.
Maximum wire length between the control board and solar panels is no more than 100 feet.

NEVER USE THE SOLAR PANEL AND THE AC TRANSFORMER AT THE SAME TIME!
It will damage the control board and void your warranty.

WARRANTY

GHOST CONTROLS® Solar Panels are warrantied for 18 months with proof of purchase when you register your solar panel on ghostcontrols.com/pages /product-registration. See warranty terms on ghostcontrols.com/pages/warranty. For more information on GHOST CONTROLS® Automatic Gate Openers and Accessories please visit our website at www.ghostcontrols.com.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov