Brunton 5W/12V SolarFlat 2W/6V SolarFlat 5W/24V, General Testing Protocol Limited Warranty

Brunton Solar Panel Instructions

SolarFlat 2W/6V	SolarFlat 5W/24V
Battery “Maintainer”	Battery “Trickle Charger”

Specifications & Included Items:		Specifications & Included Items:
Power Rating:	Up to 2 Watts	Power Rating:	Up to 5 Watts
Max Current:	150 mAmps @ 14 Volts	Max Current:	150 mAmps @ 36 Volts
Includes:	Solar Panel, 12ft wire, Battery	Includes:	Solar Panel, 12ft wire, Battery
	Clamp, Bare Wire Inter-		Clamp, Bare Wire Inter-
	connector and LED test light		connector and LED test light

Installation:		Installation:
Mounting:		Mounting:
For optimal performance, choose a high sunlight		For optimal performance, choose a high sunlight
area and place securely with solar panel side		area and place securely with solar panel side
facing directly towards the sun.		facing directly towards the sun.
*Note: Do not screw holes directly through front of		*Note: Do not screw holes directly through front of
frame. This will cause damage to solar product.		frame. This will cause damage to solar product.
Connecting Using Battery Clamps:		Connecting Using Battery Clamps:
1.	Connect the Battery Clamp connector to the	1.	Connect the Battery Clamp connector to the
	SolarFlat extension cord.		SolarFlat extension cord.
2.	Connect the battery clamps correctly by	2.	Connect the battery clamps correctly by
	matching the red clamp, which is Positive (+), to		matching the red clamp, which is Positive (+), to
	the Positive (+) terminal on your battery.		the Positive (+) terminal on your battery.
3.	Connect the black clamp, which is Negative (-),	3.	Connect the black clamp, which is Negative (-),
	to the Negative (-) terminal on your battery.		to the Negative (-) terminal on your battery.
*Follow this carefully to not cause any bodily harm.		*Follow this carefully to not cause any bodily harm.
Connecting Using Bare Wire Adaptor		Connecting Using Bare Wire Adaptor
1.	Connect the Bare Wire connector to the	1.	Connect the Bare Wire connector to the
	SolarFlat extension chord.		SolarFlat extension chord.
2.	Securely connect bare wire cables to adjoining	2.	Securely connect bare wire cables to adjoining
	positive and negative cables.		positive and negative cables.
*Note that negative bare wire cable is the cable		*Note that negative bare wire cable is the cable
	without writing on black sheath of wire.		without writing on black sheath of wire.

Notes:	Notes:
• SolarFlat LED Test Light can be connected to	• SolarFlat LED Test Light can be connected to
extension cord to indicate that solar panel is	extension cord to indicate that solar panel is
functioning properly.	functioning properly.
• SolarFlat includes blocking diode to prevent	• SolarFlat includes blocking diode to prevent
reverse current.	reverse current.
FAQs:	FAQs:
1. Can I use the panel outdoors?	1. Can I use the panel outdoors?
A. Yes, this panel has been weatherproofed.	A. Yes, this panel has been weatherproofed,
2. What type of batteries can my SolarFlat 2 charge?	including UV protection and for weather
	effects of -35° F to 175 ° F.
A. All 6V batteries like ones used in deer
	2. Will panel drain battery at night?
feeders and cameras.
	A. No, this panel includes a battery diode to
3. Can I overcharge my battery?
	prevent battery drain and reverse current.
A. The SolarFlat 2 has a built in blocking diode
	3. What type of batteries can my SolarFlat 5 charge?
that prevents battery discharge and
	A. Any deep cycle 24V battery.
overcharging.
4. Will the SolarFlat 2 keep my battery fully charged?	4. How long will it take to charge a battery?
A. The Maintainer charges your battery with the	A. Under ideal conditions, this panel will
power of the sun. It compensates for key	generate up to 36V and 150 mAmps of
offdrain and long periods of non-use and on	current. A 5W panel is not designed to
board electronics. It is designed to maintain	charge batteries, but only trickle charge
batteries.	batteries thereby insuring quick starts.
5. How long does it take to charge a dead battery?	5. Can I run appliances off this panel?
A. The unit is designed to maintain batteries	A. Yes, however, the current will vary depending
only. If the battery is dead, we recommend a	on the sunlight. Charging a battery is
larger output solar charger such as the 5W or	therefore the recommended installation and
15W Brunton SolarFlats.	running protocol
6. Can I extend the wire?	6. Do I need a Solar Controller?
A. The 12’ wire can be extended up to 24’	A. No, a charge controller is only recommended
without loss of power of voltage damage.	for panels greater than 15W.
	7. How far can I extend the wire?
	A. Current length should accommodate 95% of
	installations, however, wires can be extended
	up to a maximum of 30ft. with 16 gauge wire.

Connecting	General Solar
Multiple Panels	Information
• Using the included bare wire connector	A. How do solar cells generate electricity?
adaptor, join positive wires to positive wires	Solar panels, also known as Photovoltaics, or
and negative wires to negative wires to	PV for short, can be thought of as a direct
ensure voltage. Make sure all connections	current (DC) generator powered by the sun.
are tight using wire nut connectors.	When light photons of sufficient energy strike
	a solar cell, they knock electrons free in the
Insulating materials may prove helpful.
	structure forcing them through an external
• For anything above 15W, use a Solar	circuit (Battery or direct DC load), and then
	returning them to the other side of the solar
Controller Charger to prevent battery	cell to start the process all over again.
overcharge.	B. Will solar work in my location?
	Yes, solar is universal and will work virtually
	anywhere, however, some locations are
	better than others. Irradiance is a measure of
	the sun’s power available at the surface of the
	earth, and it averages about 1000 Watts per
	square meter. Obviously, different parts of
	the world receive more sunlight than others,
	so they will have more “full sun hours” per
	day, resulting in more power from solar
	panels.
	C. These panels are made of amorphous
	type solar panels. What is the difference
	between amorphous and polycrystalline
	cells?
	Amorphous solar panels contain no cells per
	say, but are created through a deposition
	process which actually forms the silicon
	material directly on the glass substrate. To
	understand this a bit clearer, think of it as
	spraying the silicon onto the glass in very thin
	layers. This film which gives amorphous
	panels the “thin-film” nickname, is laser
	patterned, which interconnects instead of
	physically connecting tabs which eliminates a
	mechanical connection that can break down
	and fail. The amount of silicon used in this
	process produces a film which is often up to
	100 times thinner than that of a polycrystalline
	cell. Furthermore, amorphous type solar cells
	are better at generating electricity in all
	lighting conditions.

General Testing Protocol	Limited Warranty
(For Solar Charge Controller)	THESE PRODUCTS ARE
Always test outdoors under optimal sunlight
	WARRANTED FROM DEFECTS
conditions.
A. Testing SolarFlats for Voltage	IN WORKMANSHIP AND
	FUNCTIONALLITY FOR A
Connect Voltmeter to each individual panel
	PERIOD INDICATED ON THE
separately and observe open voltage. Open
Voltage can range from 16 Volts to 24 Volts.	PACKAGING. THIS
Once all panels are tested for voltage,	WARRANTY DOE NOT APPLIY
proceed to step B.
B. Test Connection to Charge Controller for	IN THE EVENT OF MISUSE OR
	ABUSE OF THE PRODUCT, OR
Voltage.
Reconnect SolarFlats, can connect to Charge	AS A RESULT OF
	UNAUTHOURIZED REPAIRS OR
Controller as per Charge Controller
instructions. Measure open circuit voltage at	ALTERATIONS. POWER
the battery side of the Charge Controller.
	OUTPUT IS WARRANTED UP
Open circuit should read 5-10% lower than
without Charge Controller, resulting in	TO 80% OF STATED OUTPUT
measurement between 15V and 23.5V.
	AND MUST BE TESTED UNDER
C. Connect Charge Controller to Battery.
	FULL SUNLIGHT CONDITIONS.
First, disconnect solar panels and connect	TO ADDRESS WARRANTY
Charge Controller to battery. Always connect	ISSUES, PLEASE CONTACT
Charge Controller to battery first and remove
last. Observe polarity – positive to positive	BRUNTON, INC. CUSTOMER
and negative to negative.	SERVICE:
D. Reconnect Solar Panels to Charge
Controller.	2255 BRUNTON COURT
If battery voltage is 14.2 or higher, the	RIVERTON, WY, USA, 82501
GREEN light should be on. If battery voltage	PHONE: 307.857.4700
is between 13 and 14.2, the YELLOW light
should be on. If battery voltage is 13 or	WWW.BRUNTON.COM
lower, the Yellow light should be on.
If all testing results with voltages within the
above indicated ranges, solar system is in
acceptable range. If voltage reading indicates
lower ranges, repeat above connections and
retest.