RENOGY RNG-KIT-STCS100D-VOY20-US 100W Solar Suitcase Solar Suitcase User Manual
- June 5, 2024
- Renogy
Table of Contents
- RNG-KIT-STCS100D-VOY20-US 100W Solar Suitcase Solar Suitcase
- Important Safety Instructions
- General Safety Information
- Battery Safety
- General Information
- Key Features
- PWM Technology
- Four Charging Stages
- Included Components
- Optional Components
- Identification of Parts
- Installation
- Operation
- Selecting Battery Type
- NOTE
- AMP/VOLT Button
- LED Display
- LED Behavior
- NOTE BV = Battery Voltage
- LED Error Behavior
- LED Indicators
- System Status Troubleshooting
- Maintenance
- Technical Specifications
- Charge Controller Parameters
- Mechanical Parameters
- Battery Charging Parameters
- Charging Parameters Glossary
- Dimensions
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
RNG-KIT-STCS100D-VOY20-US 100W Solar Suitcase Solar Suitcase
SOLAR SUITCASE
100W
Solar Suitcase w/ Voyager
Version 2.0
Important Safety Instructions
Please save these instructions.
This manual contains important safety, installation, and operating instructions for the charge controller. The following symbols are used throughout the manual to indicate potentially dangerous conditions or important safety information.
WARNING Indicates a potentially dangerous condition. Use extreme caution when performing this task.
CAUTION Indicates a critical procedure for safe and proper operation of the controller
NOTE Indicates a procedure or function that is important to the safe and proper operation of the controller.
General Safety Information
- Read and follow all instructions and precautions mentioned in this user manual before beginning the installation.
- There are no serviceable parts for this controller. Do NOT disassemble or attempt to repair the controller.
- Make sure all connections going into and from the controller are tight.
Battery Safety
- Use only sealed lead-acid, flooded, gel or lithium (LFP) batteries which must be deep cycle.
- Explosive battery gases may be present while charging. Be certain there is enough ventilation to release the gases.
- Be careful when working with large lead acid batteries. Wear eye protection and have fresh water available in case there is contact with the battery acid.
- Carefully read battery manuals before operation.
- Do NOT let the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of the battery touch each other.
- Recycle battery when it is replaced.
- Over-charging and excessive gas precipitation may damage the battery plates and activate material shedding on them. Too high of an equalizing charge or too long of one may cause damage. Please carefully review the specific requirements of the battery used in the system.
- Equalization is carried out only for nonsealed / vented/ flooded / wet cell lead acid batteries.
- Do NOT equalize sealed / VRLA type AGM / Gel cell batteries UNLESS permitted by battery manufacturer.
General Information
The Renogy Solar Suitcase combine highly efficient monocrystalline solar panels with a 20A Voyager charge controller to create an easy-to-use, `plug and play’ system.
This system is specifically designed for mobile off-grid applications, where space and weight limitations are abundant. The Solar Suitcase models support 12V deep cycle battery varieties such as sealed-lead acid, gel, and flooded. With built-in tilting stands, these panels can be adjusted at different angles to maximize the power output throughout the seasons.
The alligator clips included in this package make it easy to connect the panel to a battery in seconds. If one ever needs to connect a battery with a different type of end terminal, the alligator clips are attached via MC4 Connectors.
Key Features
- Easy to read LCD displaying solar charge information
- 7 Battery Type Compatible Lithium-ion, LiFePO4, LTO, Gel, AGM, Flooded, and Calcium
- 4 Stage charging: Bulk, Boost. Float, and Equalization
- Temperature compensation and correcting the charging and discharging parameters automatically, improving battery lifetime.
- Protection against: overcharging, over-discharging, overload, short-circuit, and reverse polarity.
- Negative ground controller.
- Tilting stand for maximum solar generating potential.
- Convenient storage case for easy transportation.
PWM Technology
The Voyager utilizes Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology for battery charging. Battery charging is a current based process so controlling the current will control the battery voltage. For the most accurate return of capacity, and for the prevention of excessive gassing pressure, the battery is required to be controlled by specified voltage regulation set points for Absorption, Float, and Equalization charging stages. The charge controller uses automatic duty cycle conversion, creating pulses of current to charge the battery. The duty cycle is proportional to the difference between the sensed battery voltage and the specified voltage regulation set point. Once the battery reached the specified voltage range, pulse current charging mode allows the battery to react and allows for an acceptable rate of charge for the battery level.
Four Charging Stages
Bulk Charge: This algorithm is used for day to day charging. It uses 100% of available solar power to recharge the battery and is equivalent to constant current.
Boost Charge: When the battery has charged to the Boost voltage set- point, it undergoes an absorption stage which is equivalent to constant voltage regulation to prevent heating and excessive gassing in the battery. The default time for this is 120 minutes for the Voyager.
Float Charge: After Boost Charge, the controller will reduce the battery voltage to a float voltage set point. Once the battery is fully charged, there will be no more chemical reactions and all the charge current would turn into heat or gas. Because of this, the charge controller will reduce the voltage charge to smaller quantity, while lightly The Voyager charge controller has a 4-stage battery charging algorithm for a rapid, efficient, and safe battery charging. They include: Bulk Charge, Boost Charge, Float Charge, and Equalization. charging the battery. The purpose for this is to offset the power consumption while maintaining a full battery storage capacity. In the event that a load drawn from the battery exceeds the charge current, the controller will no longer be able to maintain the battery to a Float set point and the controller will end the float charge stage and refer back to bulk charging.
Equalization: Is carried out every 28 days of the month. It is intentional overcharging of the battery for a controlled period of time. Certain types of batteries benefit from periodic equalizing charge, which can stir the electrolyte, balance battery voltage and complete chemical reaction. Equalizing charge increases the battery voltage, higher than the standard complement voltage, which gasifies the battery electrolyte.
WARNING Once equalization is active in the battery charging, it will not
exit this stage unless there is adequate charging current from the solar
panel. There should be NO load
on the batteries when in equalization charging stage.
WARNING Over-charging and excessive gas precipitation may damage the battery plates and activate material shedding on them. Too high of equalizing charge or for too long may cause damage. Please carefully review the specific requirements of the battery used in the system.
WARNING Equalization may increase battery voltage to a level damaging to
sensitive DC loads. Ensure that all load allowable input voltages are greater
than the equalizing
charging set point volta.
Included Components
MC4 to Alligator Clips w/ Fuse Used for connecting charge controller to battery. The entire cable from the charge controller to the alligator clips measures 9.9 feet with an inline fuse of 10A
Optional Components
Optional components that require a separate purchase:
Remote Temperature Sensor Measures the temperature at the battery and uses this data for very accurate temperature compensation. The sensor is supplied with a 9.9 feet cable length that connects to the charge controller.
Identification of Parts
Key Parts
- 20A Voyager Charge Controller
- Junction Box
- MC4 Connectors
- Tilt Stands
- Battery Alligator Clips
- In-line fuse (10A)
- Latch
- Handle
- Case (Not pictured)
Key Parts
- Backlit LCD
- AMP/VOLT Button
- BATTERY TYPE Button
- LED Bar
- Remote Temperature Sensor Port
- Battery Terminals
- Solar Terminals
Installation
1. Unlatch and unfold unit then connect MC4 Connectors
2. Connect Battery Alligator Clips to 12V Battery
3. Unscrew butterfly nut tilt to desired angle and lock butterfly nut
To maximize the output, adjust the angle of the suitcase regularly to track the sun’s movement throughout the season
Operation
When the controller powers on, the Voyager will run a self-quality check mode and automatically display the figures on LCD before going into auto work.
|
Self-test starts, digital meter segments test
---|---
|
Software version test
|
Rated voltage Test
|
Rated Current Test
|
External battery temperature sensor test (if connected)
Selecting Battery Type
WARNING Incorrect battery type setting may damage your battery. Please check your battery manufacturer’s specifications to when selecting battery type.
The Voyager provides 7 battery types for selection: Lithium-ion, LiFePO4, LTO, Gel, AGM, Flooded, and Calcium Battery.
Press and hold the BATTERY TYPE Button for 3 seconds to go into battery selection mode. Press the BATTERY TYPE Button until the desired battery is displayed. After a few seconds, the highlighted battery type will automatically be selected.
NOTE
Lithium ion batteries shown in the LCD indicate different types shown below: Lithium Cobalt Oxide LiCoO2 (LCO) battery Lithium Manganese Oxide LiMn2O4 (LMQ) battery Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide LiNiMnCoO2 (NMC) battery Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide LiNiCoAlo2 (NCA) battery LiFePO4 battery indicates Lithium-iron Phosphate or LFP Battery LTO Battery indicates Lithium Titanate Oxidized, Li4Ti5O12 Battery
AMP/VOLT Button
Pressing the AMP/VOLT Button will sequence through the following display
parameters: Battery Voltage, Charging Current, Charged Capacity (Amp-hour),
and Battery Temperature (if external temperature sensor connected)
Normal Sequencing Display
NOTE The following is an alternative display voltage for when the battery is Fully charged
LED Display
LED Behavior
LED Indicators
| | |
LED Color| RED| BLUE| RED| ORANGE| GREEN
Bulk charging
( BV < 11.5V )| ON| Blitz| ON| OFF| OFF
Bulk charging
( 11.5V < BV < 12.5V )| ON| ON| ON| OFF| OFF
Bulk charging
( BV > 12.5V )| ON| ON| Aus| ON| OFF
Absorption charging| ON| ON| Aus| Aus| ON
Float charging| ON| OFF| Aus| Aus| ON
Solar weak
( Dawn or Dusk )| FLASH| OFF|
According to BV
| OFF
In the night| Aus| OFF| OFF
NOTE BV = Battery Voltage
LED Error Behavior
LED Indicators
| | | | Error Code| Screen
LED Color| RED| BLUE| RED| ORANGE| GREEN| GREEN| |
Solar good, BV < 3V| ON| OFF| FLASH| OFF| OFF| OFF| ‘b01’| FLASH
Solar good
battery reversed| ON| OFF| FLASH| OFF| OFF| OFF| ‘b02’| FLASH
Solar good,
battery over-voltage| ON| OFF| FLASH| FLASH| FLASH| OFF| ‘b03’| FLASH
Solar off,
battery over-voltage| OFF| OFF| FLASH| FLASH| FLASH| OFF| ‘b03’| FLASH
Solar good,
battery over 65℃| ON| OFF| FLASH| FLASH| FLASH| OFF| ‘b04’| FLASH
Battery good,
solar reversed| FLASH| OFF|
According to BV
| OFF| ‘PO1’| FLASH
Battery good,
solar overvoltage| FLASH| OFF| OFF| ‘PO2’| FLASH
Over Temperature
Protection| | ‘otP’| FLASH
System Status Troubleshooting
Description | Troubleshoot |
---|---|
Battery over voltage | Use a multi-meter to check the voltage of the battery. |
Make sure the battery voltage is not exceeding the rated specification of the
charge controller.
Disconnect battery.
Charge controller does not
charge during daytime when
the sun is shining on the
solar panels.| Confirm that there is a tight and correct connection from the
battery bank to the charge controller and the solar panels to the charge
controller. Use a multi-meter to check if the polarity of the solar modules
has been reversed on the charge controller’s solar terminals.
Everything is connected
correctly, but the LCD on the
controller does not turn on| Check the rated battery voltage. The LCD will not
display on the charge controller unless there is at least 9V coming from the
battery bank.
Maintenance
For best controller performance, it is recommended to preform maintenance tasks occasionally.
- Check wiring going into the charge controller. Make sure there is no wire damage or wear.
- Tighten all terminals and inspect any loose, broken, or burnt connections 3. Confirm LCD and LED readings are consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can the kit charge two or more 12V batteries connected in parallel? A. Yes,
it’s possible if the batteries have the same type and capacity and are wired
in parallel as a single 12V battery bank.
Q. Is there any risk that the solar kit will overcharge my battery? A. One of
the functions of the solar charge controller is to ensure that your battery is
not overcharged; therefore there is no risk of overcharge.
Q. Can I extend the battery leads? A. Yes, it’s possible please choose the
same size of cable for extension. However, there longer the extension, the
greater the line loss. A bigger gauge will be required for longer runs.
Q. Do I need to clean the solar panels? A. Yes, it is recommended to clean
glass surface for better performance. Dust and dirt should first be swept off
the panel surface using a soft brush. When the sweeping is complete, use a wet
cloth to wipe the panel surface to remove the remaining dirt and grime.
Q. Can rain damage the solar kit? A. The solar panels and charge controller
are both fully waterproof (IP66, IP65).
Technical Specifications
Solar Panel Parameters
Description – 100 W Parameters
Maximum Power – 100 W
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) – 24.3 V
Short Circuit Current (Isc) – 2 x 2.73 A
Maximum Power Voltage (Vmp) – 20.3 V
Maximum Power Current (Imp) – 2 x 2.47 A
Cell Type – Monocrystalline
Operating Temperature – −40°F to +185°F
Folded Size – 24.8x 20.0 x 2.8 inches
Net Weight – 21.2 lb
Charge Controller Parameters
Electrical Parameters
Model Rating – 20A
Normal Battery Voltage – 12V
Maximum Solar Voltage(OCV) – 26V
Maximum Battery Voltage – 17V
Rated Charging Current – 20A
Battery Start Charging Voltage – 3
Electrical Protection and Feature
- Spark-free protection. Reverse polarity solar and battery connection
- Reverse current from battery to solar panel protection at night
- Over temperature protection with derating charging current
- Transient overvoltage protection, at the solar input and battery output protects against surge voltage
Grounding – Common Negative
EMC Conformity – FCC Part-15 class B compliant; EN55022:2010;
Self-consumption – < 8mA
Mechanical Parameters
Dimensions – L6.38 x W3.82 x H1.34 inches
Weight – 0.88 lbs.
Mounting – Vertical Wall Mounting
Ingress Protection Rating – IP65
Maximum Terminals Wire Size – 10AWG ( 5 mm2 )
Terminals Screw Torque – 13 lbf·in
Operating Temperature – -40 ℉ to +140 ℉
Meter Operating Temperature – -4 ℉ to +140 ℉
Storage Temperature Range – –40 ℉ to +185 ℉
Temp. Comp. Coefficient – -24mV / °C
Temp. Comp. Range – -4°F ~ 122°F
Operating Humidity – 100% ( No condensation )
Battery Charging Parameters
Charging Stages
Soft-Charge – Output battery voltage is 3V-10VDC, Current = half of the solar panel current
Bulk – 10VDC to 14VDC Current = Rated Charge Current
Absorption @ 25°C – Constant voltage until current drops to 0.75/1.0 amps and holds for 30s.Minimum 2 hours charging time and maximum 4 hours’ time out If charging current < 0.2A, stage will end.
Li-ion LiFePO4 LTO GEL AGM WET CALCIUM 12.6V 14.4V 14.0V 14.1V 14.4V 14.7 V 14.9 V
Equalization – Only Wet (Flooded) or Calcium Batteries will equalize, 2
hours maximum
Wet (Flooded) = if discharge below 11.5V OR every 28 days charging period.
Calcium = every charging cycle (Wet (Flooded) 15.5V) (Calcium 15.5V)
Float – Li-ion LiFePO4 LTO GEL AGM WET CALCIUM N/A N/A N/A 13.6V 13.6V 13.6V 13.6V
Under Voltage Recharging – Li-ion LiFePO4 LTO GEL AGM WET CALCIUM 12.0V 13.4V 13.4V 12.8V 12.8V 12.8V 12.8V
Charging Parameters Glossary
Equalization Voltage –equalization voltage is a corrective over-charge of the battery. The user should consult their battery manufacturer regarding specific battery equalization capacity. This parameter sets the equalization voltage to set the battery at when it reaches the equalization state.
Boost Voltage –users should check with their battery manufacturer for proper charging parameters. In this stage, users set the boost voltage where the battery will reach a voltage level and remain there until the battery undergoes an absorption stage
Float Voltage –once the charge controller recognizes the set float voltage, it will commence floating. The battery is supposed to be fully charged in his state, and the charge current is reduced to maintain battery stability levels.
State of Charge 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0
12 V Battery
12.7 12.5 12.42 12.32 12.20 12.06 11.9 11.75 11.58 11.31 10.5
Volts per Cell
2.12 2.08 2.07 2.05 2.03 2.01 1.98 1.96 1.93 1.89 1.75
17
509 mm [20.0 in] 53 mm[2.1in] 97 mm [3.8in]
Dimensions
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References
- Renogy® Official- offer all off grid solar system products
- Renogy® Official- offer all off grid solar system products
- Solar Power Kits & Equipment for Sale | Renogy Australia
- Renogy® Canada solar off-grid items, Canadian solar panels
- Renogy bietet alle Produkte für netzunabhängige Solarsysteme anRenogy DE
- Renogy France | Produits Solaires
- Top off-grid solar kits, lithium batteries supplies | Renogy UK
- RENOGY如果新能源 | 让每个人拥有独立清洁的能源
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