The FlexPower Solar Supply provides autonomous power for continuous wireless
sensing and monitoring applications in a compact, plug-and-play power solution. The
battery pack recharges in direct sunlight and supplies power to the SureCross
devices autonomously without sunlight.
• FlexPower Solar Supply with rechargeable battery pack provides reliable
power (nominal 5.0 V dc) for applications with higher power demands than a
standard DX81 or DX81P6 can supply
• Solar Supply includes the panel, charge controller, rechargeable battery pack,
and mounting hardware (ac wall charger sold separately)
• Weather resistant environmental enclosure
For additional information, updated documentation, and accessories, refer to Banner
Engineering's website, www.bannerengineering.com/surecross.
Model
BWA-SOLAR-0015.0 V dcBWA-BATT-003 Replacement battery and controller pack
Nominal Output VoltageReplacement Battery Pack
Replacing the Rechargeable Battery Pack
When the rechargeable batteries need to be replaced, order model number BWABATT-003. This replacement part includes the batteries, controller, and wiring.
CAUTION: Properly dispose of your used battery
according to local regulations by taking it to a hazardous
waste collection site, an e-waste disposal center, or any
other facility qualified to accept NiMH batteries. As with
all batteries, these are a fire, explosion, and severe burn
hazard. Do not burn or expose them to high temperatures. Do
not crush, disassemble, or expose the contents to water.
To replace the battery pack, follow these steps.
1. Remove the sign-post top cap.
2. Gently remove the battery and controller assembly by pulling the strap (1).
3. Unplug the core pack from the sign post top cap (2).
4. Plug the new core pack in and insert the core pack into the tube.
5. Mount the cap securely and tighten.
6. Charge the replacement solar core pack for 8 to 16 hours using the ac wall charger (sold separately as an accessory).
This solar core pack ships from the factory with a partial charge, but charging ensures your battery pack has enough
power to operate efficiently regardless of weather conditions and sun availability.
Before you install the Solar Supply, charge the solar core battery pack for 8 to 16 hours using the optional ac wall charger.
Though this solar core pack ships from the factory with a partial charge, this recharge ensures your battery pack has
enough power to operate effectively after installation regardless of initial weather conditions and sun availability.
1Sign-post top cap
2Solar panel
3Connector from battery pack to the optional charger or to
the solar panel.
4Splitter cable that goes to the SureCross devices (not
included)
5Pipe assembly
6Mounting clamps
To assemble your solar power device, follow these installation instructions:
1. Connect the pipe clamps as shown, positioning the clamps about 10 inches apart.
2. Insert the solar panel assembly into the sign-post top cap and align the mounting holes.
3. Insert the supplied set screws into the sign-post top cap and through the solar panel mounting plate. Tighten.
4. Connect the two cables protruding from the pipe assembly.
One cable ends in a gray connector; connect this to the cable coming from the solar panel. The second cable is black
with a Euro-style connector; this plugs into the SureCross device or devices that the solar assembly is powering.
5. Mount to a flat surface.
Solar Application Information
Insolation and Autonomy
In every solar/battery powered application there are two important parameters that help determine how much usable
energy can be harnessed from the available sunlight:
• Insolation is the amount of solar radiation falling on an area per unit time. Insolation can be characterized as an
equivalent number of hours of direct sunlight per day required to maintain a desired load.
• Autonomy is a measure of how long the assembly will supply power without sunlight. Autonomy depends on the
load and battery capacity, but it is also affected by battery temperature. A fully charged battery in our assembly
will supply 350 mW with 10 days of autonomy. Ten days of 100% autonomy means that the battery is able to carry
the load through 10 days of darkness or 20 days with half the required sunlight.
The SureCross FlexPower Solar Supply supports many applications including wireless network range extension, remote
sensing, and wireless 4 to 20 mA transmitter operation and monitoring. These typical 350 mW applications require an
average winter insolation of 1 kW-hr/m2 per day. This is equivalent to an average of 80 minutes of sunlight shining directly
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SureCross FlexPower Solar Supply Assembly
on the solar panel per day during the least sunny time of the year. Locations that will provide this amount of sunlight
include most locations between the Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle. For average daily sunlight estimates please refer to
an insolation map of your installation location or consult with a Banner Sales Application Engineer.
Load Shedding
Without sunlight, the supply is powered exclusively from the battery. When the battery is mostly depleted, the controller
disconnects the load, or sheds the load. This load shedding lasts until the solar panel recharges the battery to a sufficient
operating level, which can require up to five minutes of full sunlight.
Solutions for Additional Power
Some applications require more power than one SureCross FlexPower Solar Supply can deliver. If load shedding is
unacceptable and a standalone solar assembly does not meet your power requirements, consider adding a DX81P6 Battery
Supply Module battery backup or consider using more than one solar assembly connected in parallel. See page six for
example configurations.
• Battery Backup. The DX81P6 can supply backup power to a 350 mW load for up to 30 days of autonomy after solar
autonomy is exhausted.
• Parallel Assemblies. SureCross FlexPower Solar Supplies are modular and can be connected in parallel.
Along with the benefit of additional power, parallel assemblies also offer redundancy and flexibility.
When used in parallel, multiple SureCross FlexPower Solar Supplies recharge independently for added system flexibility
when direct sunlight is unavailable. Multiple panels can be positioned in different directions to maximize recharging at
different times of available sunlight. Partial shade from trees or buildings is a common problem in solar applications
because partial shade prevents individual solar panels from generating power to recharge the battery. When multiple
assemblies are used, partial shade results in a partial system recharge instead of a zero system recharge.
Temperature and Location Considerations
The SureCross FlexPower Solar Supply can be expected to drive a 350 mW load with 10 days of autonomy at battery
temperatures between –10 °C to 45 °C (14 °F to 113 °F). Because lower temperatures decrease battery capacity,
applications in very cold climates require extra consideration. The SureCross FlexPower Solar Supply will stop recharging
the battery at temperatures greater than 45 °C because of battery limitations. All these factors contribute to decreasing
system autonomy and may require additional power regardless of insolation.
Be aware that because much of the earth has typical insolation values that are 2 to 6 times higher than 1kW-hr/m2 per
day, it may be possible to get more power from your SureCross FlexPower Solar Supply. In some high insolation locations,
it is possible for two SureCross FlexPower Solar Supply Assemblies to supply up to 2 W continuously with four days of
autonomy.
If you have any questions or need help determining the best solution for your solar application, please contact a Banner
Applications Engineer to help you find the right solution.
Example Solar Powered Systems
For installations without wired power, the solar powered assembly
may be used to power data radios, FlexPower Gateways, or
FlexPower Nodes connected to sensors that require more power
than a single battery unit can supply.