DOMETIC GP-PWM-10-SQ 10AMP PWM Solar Controller User Manual

10AMP PWM Solar Controller

GP-PWM-10-SQ

User Manual

© 2021 Go Power!

Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information gpelectric.com

Go Power! | Dometic
201-710 Redbrick Stree

1. INSTALLATION OVERVIEW

1.1 INTRODUCTION
A Solar Controller (or Charge Controller / Regulator) is an essential component of your photovoltaic solar system. The Controller maintains the life of the battery by protecting it from overcharging. When your battery has reached a 100% state of charge, the Controller prevents overcharging by limiting the current flowing into the batteries from your solar array.
The GP-PWM-10-SQ is rated for a continuous solar current input of 10 amps, uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology and a unique four stage charging system that includes an optional equalize setting to charge and protect your battery bank.

1.2 SPECIFICATIONS

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW

2. WARNINGS

3. CHOOSING A LOCATION

The GP-PWM-10-SQ is designed to be mounted against a wall, out of the way but easily visible.
The GP-PWM-10-SQ should be:

• Mounted as close to the battery as possible
• Mounted on a vertical surface to optimize cooling of the unit
• Indoors, protected from the weather

Solar should connect directly to the controller. Positive and negative battery connections must connect directly from the controller to the batteries. Use of a positive or negative distribution bus is allowed between the controller and battery as long as it is properly sized, electrically safe and an adequate wire size is maintained. Note: In a RV, the most common controller location is above the refrigerator.

The wire from the solar array most commonly enters the RV through the fridge vent on the roof..

4. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Select wire type and gauge. If this GP-PWM-10-SQ was purchased as part of a Go Power! Solar Power Kit, appropriate wire type, gauge and length is provided. Please continue to Section 5, “Operating Instructions.” If the GP-PWM-10-SQ was purchased
separately, follow the instructions included here. Wire type is recommended to be a stranded aluminum UV resistant wire. Wire fatigue and the likelihood of a loose connection are greatly reduced in stranded wire compared to solid wire. Wire gauge should be able to sustain rated current as well as minimizing voltage drop.

Suggested Minimum Wire Gauge

(Cable length 25 ft. max. from solar array to battery bank)

80 Watt Solar Module: #12 Wire Gauge
95 Watt Solar Module: #10 Wire Gauge
170 Watt Solar Module: #10 Wire Gauge
190 Watt Solar Module: #10 Wire Gauge

For other applications, please refer to standard wire guide.

Warning: Identify the polarity (pos. and neg.) on the cable used for the battery and solar module. Use colored wires or mark the wire ends with tags. Although the GP-PWM-10-SQ is protected, a reverse polarity contact may damage the unit

2. Wiring the GP-PWM-10-SQ. Wire the GP-PWM-10-SQ according to the wiring schematic in Section 8. Run wires from the solar array and the batteries to the location of the GP-PWM-10-SQ. Keep the solar array covered with an opaque material until all wiring is completed. Torque all terminal screws to 16 inch pounds (1.8N.m). Connect the battery wiring to the controller first and then connect the battery wiring to the battery

Use appropriate circuit protection on any conductor attached to a battery.

With battery power attached, the controller should power up and display information. Connect the solar wiring to the controller and remove the opaque material from the solar array. The negative solar array and battery wiring must be connected directly to the controller for proper operation. Do not connect the negative solar array or negative battery controller wiring to the chassis of the vehicle.

3. Mounting the GP-PWM-10-SQ. Mount the GP-PWM-10-SQ to the wall using the included two mounting screws. After 30 days of operation, re-torque all terminal screws to ensure the wires are properly secured to the controller. Congratulations, your GPPWM- 10-SQ should now be operational. If the battery power is low and the solar array is producing power, your battery should begin to charge.

You must set the battery type on the GP-PWM-10-SQ before you begin to use the controller. See section 5.2

5.1 POWER UP
Please check your battery manufacturer’s specifications to select correct battery type. The unit provides 4 battery types for selections:
Gel, AGM, WET (conventional lead acid), and Calcium.

5.2 SETTING THE BATTERY CHARGING PROFILE
Press BATTERY TYPE button and hold for 3 seconds to go into your battery type selection mode, the battery types you select will be shown on the LCD meter. The controller will automatically memorize your battery type setting.
Incorrect battery type setting may damage your battery.
When the controller powers on, the unit will run self-test mode and automatically show below items on LCD before going into charging process. Refer to the Battery Charge Profile Chart on for details on each profile.

After going into charging process, the LCD displays the charging states as below. Press VOLT / AMP button in sequence, the LCD will display in turn with Battery Voltage, Charging Current, Charged capacity (Amp-hour) and Battery Temperature (if external temperature sensor connected).

5.3 BATTERY CHARGING PROFILE CHART

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

WET CELL BATTERY CHARGING ALGORITHM

Auto Equalize: The GP-PWM-10-SQ has an automatic equalize feature that will charge and recondition your batteries once a month at a higher voltage to ensure that any excess sulfation is removed. This feature is recommended for Flooded batteries only. Check with your battery manufacturer.

This feature is only available for wet cell or flooded batteries

Soft Charge- When batteries suffer an over-discharge, the controller will softly ramp the battery voltage up to 10V.

Bulk Charge- Maximum current charging until batteries rise to Absorption level Absorption Charge-Constant voltage charging and battery is over 85%

**Equalization Charge*** – Only for WET battery (Flooded lead acid) or Calcium battery type, when the battery is deeply drained below 10V, it will automatically run this stage to bring the internal cells as an equal states and fully complement the loss of capacity. (Gel and AGM battery do not run Equalization charge)

Float Charge- Battery is fully charged and maintained at a safe level. A fully charged battery has a voltage of more than 13.6 Volts.

5.4 FAULT CODES

5.5 Lithium Battery Reset
This solar controller has a lithium reset feature that allows a BMS protected over discharged battery to be manually recovered without having to disconnect the battery. In order for this to work there must be solar power available to power the solar controller. The reset is performed by holding both the VOLT/AMP button and the BATTERY TYPE button for 1S.

6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Visit gpelectric.com to read the Frequently Asked Questions section on our website.

7. TROUBLESHOOTING

7.1 PROBLEMS WITH DISPLAY

Display Reading: Blank
Time of Day: Daytime/Nighttime

Possible Causes:
Battery or fuse connection and/or solar array connection (Daytime only) or battery or fuse connection (Nighttime only).

How to tell:

1. Check the voltage at the controller battery terminals with a voltmeter and compare with a voltage reading at the battery terminals.

2. If there is no voltage reading at the controller battery terminals, the problem is in the wiring between the battery and the controller.
   If the battery voltage is lower than 6 volts the controller will not function.

3. For the solar array, repeat steps 1 and 2 substituting all battery terminals with solar array terminals.

Remedy:
Check all connections from the controller to the battery including checking for correct wire polarity. Check that all connections are clean, tight, and secure. Ensure the battery voltage is above 6 volts.

7.2 PROBLEMS WITH VOLTAGE
Voltage Reading: Inaccurate
Time of Day: Daytime/Nighttime

Possible Causes:
Excessive voltage drop from batteries to controller due to loose connections, small wire gauge or both.

How to tell:

1. Check the voltage at the controller battery terminals with a voltmeter and compare with the voltage reading at the battery terminals.
2. If there is a voltage discrepancy of more than 0.5 V, there is an excessive voltage drop.

Remedy:
Check all connections from the controller to the battery including checking for correct wire polarity. Check that all connections are clean, tight, and secure. Shorten the distance from the controller to battery or obtain larger gauge wire. It is also possible to double up the existing gauge wire (i.e. two wire runs) to simulate a larger gauge wire.

7.3 PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT
Current Reading: 0 A
Time of Day: Daytime, clear sunny skies

Possible Cause:
Current is being limited below 1 Amp as per normal operation or poor connection between solar array and controller.

How to tell:

1. The State of Charge (SOC) screen is close to 100% and the Sun and Battery icon are present with an arrow between.
2. With the solar array in sunlight, check the voltage at the controller solar array terminals with a voltmeter.
3.  If there is no reading at the controller solar array terminals, the problem is somewhere in the wiring from the solar array to the controller.

Remedy:
Check all connections from the controller to the array including checking for correct wire polarity. Check that all connections are clean, tight, and secure. Continue with the solutions below for additional help on low current readings.

Current Reading: Less than expected
Time of Day: Daytime, clear sunny skies

Possible Causes:

1. Current is being limited below 1 Amp as per normal operation.
2. Incorrect series/parallel configuration and/or wiring connections and/or wire gauge.
3. Dirty or shaded module or lack of sun.
4. Blown diode in solar module when two or more modules are connected in parallel.

How to tell:

1. Battery State of Charge screen is close to 100% and the Sun and Battery icon are present with an arrow in between.
2. Check that the modules and batteries are configured correctly. Check all wiring connections.
3. Modules look dirty, overhead object is shading modules or it is an overcast day in which a shadow cannot be cast.

Avoid any shading no matter how small. An object as small as a broomstick held across the solar module may cause the power output to be reduced. Overcast days may also cut the power output of the module

4. Disconnect one or both array wires from the controller. Take a voltage reading between the positive and negative array wire. A single 12 volt module should have an open circuit voltage between 17 and 22 volts. If you have more than one solar module, you will need to conduct this test between the positive and negative terminals of each module junction box with either the positive or the negative wires disconnected from the terminal.

Remedy:

1. Reconnect in correct configuration. Tighten all connections. Check wire gauge and length of wire run. Refer to Suggested Minimum Wire Gauge in Section 4.
2. Clean modules, clear obstruction or wait for conditions to clear.
3. If the open circuit voltage of a non-connected 12 volt module is lower than the manufacturer’s specifications, the module may be faulty. Check for blown diodes in the solar module junction box, which may be shorting the power output of module.

8. WIRING DIAGRAM

The GP-PWM-10-SQ is based on a 10 amp max input from the solar modules. Use the wiring diagram to connect your battery to the battery terminals on the solar controller. First, connect the battery to the controller and then connect the solar panel to the controller.

The controller will not work unless there is a battery connected to the battery terminals.

9. WARRANTY

Go Power! warrants the GP-PWM-10-SQ for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment from its factory. This warranty is valid against defects in materials and workmanship for the one (5) year warranty period. It is not valid against defects resulting from, but not limited to:

• Misuse and/or abuse, neglect or accident
• Exceeding the unit’s design limits
• Improper installation, including, but not limited to, improper environmental protection and improper hook-up
• Acts of God, including lightning, floods, earthquakes, fire, and high winds
• Damage in handling, including damage encountered during shipment

This warranty shall be considered void if the warranted product is in any way opened or altered. The warranty will be void if any eyelet, rivets, or other fasteners used to seal the unit are removed or altered, or if the unit’s serial number is in any way removed, altered, replaced, defaced, or rendered illegible.

9.1 REPAIR AND RETURN INFORMATION
Visit www.gpelectric.com to read the “frequently asked questions” section of our website to troubleshoot the problem. If trouble persists:

1. Fill out our online Contact Us form or Live Chat with us
2. Email techsupport@gpelectric.com
3. Return defective product to place of purchase

2021 Go Power!
Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information gpelectric.com
Go Power! | Dometic
201-710 Redbrick Street Victoria, BC, V8T 5J3
Tel: 1.866.247.6527

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