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Solar Panels
 

Selecting a System


Determine the installation location, the load you wish to supply, and its duty cycle (what percentage of the time you wish to apply the load) following the three simple steps below:

    1.   Use the map below to select the equivalent sun hours in your area.

    2.   Determine the load requirements for your application in Amp-hours / day.
          For wireless applications, determine the power of your device in amps (Cooper Crouse-Hinds wireless radio power consumption
          can be determined using the steps found on the following website:
          http://www.crouse-hinds.com/wirelessIO/Calculator/Files/CCHSolarCalc.xls

    • Determine the duty cycle (i.e. 100% for continuous vs. 50% for 12 hours per day) of your load.

    • Adjust for a 1.2 Service Factor to account load requirement variability.

    3.   Select the solar kit capable of meeting or exceeding the load requirements (in Amp-hours / day) for your
          application. Please consult factory for higher load requirements.

Amp-Hours / Day Calculation:


Load requirement (Amp-hours / day) = (amps of device x duty cycle x Service Factor) x 24 hours / day
Example:
16.5 mA, continuous, temperature = 10ºC (50ºF)
Load requirement = (16.5 mA x 100% x 1.2) x 24 hours / day = 475 mA-hr / day
Load requirement = 0.475 Amp-hours / day
 
For more information about each kit: Solar Panels Brochure
 
 

Figure 1. Insolation Map


 
” Photographs courtesy of BP Solar.
**Please consult Cooper Crouse-Hinds for insolation maps of additional continents.”