Rechargeable Solar Panel - 6VDC Output Voltage - 5-Watts Solar Working Power - 2 x 2,600mAh Internal Li-Ion Rechargeable Batteries - IP66 Rated

Description

BatteryEliminatorKits.com is proud to offer this 5-Watt, 6VDC output voltage rechargeable solar panel which can withstand the rigors of the outdoor environment and is rated for exposure to the elements such as water, moisture, dirt, sunshine and temperature extremes and has an IP66 outdoor rating. If you have an outdoor electronic device that is powered by 4 conventional batteries (4 x AAA, 4 x AA, 4 x C or 4 x D), and the electronic device is not near an AC outlet, or you are tired of constantly replacing dead batteries, then this rechargeable solar panel is the perfect solution! No more wondering if the batteries are dead or almost dead. No more down time because dead batteries go unnoticed. This rechargeable solar panel charges up during the daytime sunshine and stores up energy in its built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries allowing your outdoor electronic device to remain powered not only during daytime periods of cloudiness, but throughout the night! This rechargeable solar panel has a standard 1/4"-20 female tripod screw mount on the back of the housing and will support a variety of mounting options with either the included tree mount screw bracket and swivel head or our optional mounting accessories. This powerful and compact rechargeable solar panel measures 6.91” wide x 6.91” tall x 1.38” thick making it a great choice for applications where you want the solar panel to be as inconspicuous as possible yet powerful enough to keep your electronic device powered throughout the day. The solar panel can also be charged with the built-in USB-C female socket charging port which is great for making sure the internal Li-Ion rechargeable batteries are fully charged after the solar panel has been stored or out of service for extended periods of time or when adding or changing out the internal Li-Ion rechargeable batteries. The panel comes with 2 x 2,600mAh, 3.7VDC, 18650 Li-Ion batteries pre-installed and can fit up to 4 more (6 total). The solar panel comes with a waterproof 6.5-ft power cable. One end of the power cable has a proprietary connector that screws into the power output port of the solar panel, and the other end has a waterproof 5.5mm x 2.1mm male barrel plug with an M12-1.75 screw nut which works with our outdoor Battery Eliminator Kits and Outdoor Power Extension and Power Splitter Cables.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Solar panels are devices that convert sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Solar panels are made up of multiple solar cells, which are typically made of silicon or other semiconductor materials. When sunlight strikes the solar cells, electrons are excited, creating a DC voltage capable of supplying current. This DC voltage can be conditioned and regulated with a voltage regulator to directly power various types of electronic devices. A solar panel system can be equipped with rechargeable batteries so that any excess power charges these batteries for use later when there is no longer any sunlight or when the sunlight is too weak to directly power the electronic device. A rechargeable solar panel contains the necessary electronics to control the charging of the batteries in addition to conditioning and regulating the voltage to the level appropriate to power an electronic device.

Turning the Solar Panel “ON” and “OFF” and Checking “STATUS”

The solar panel has a push “ON”/push “OFF” power & status button on the back of the housing. The power & status button has 3 states (“ON”, “OFF” and “STATUS”) as described in the following discussion.

· Power Button is Pushed to click to the “ON” State – If the power button is firmly pushed until it clicks, and then some of the round LEDs (1-4) illuminate steady green for 8 seconds and then turn off, but the first round LED next to the square LED begins flashing green, then the unit has been turned “ON”, and there is output voltage present at the output power connector.

· Power Button is Pushed to click to the “OFF” State – If the power button is firmly pushed until it clicks, and none of the round LEDs illuminate, then the unit has been turned “OFF”, and there is no output voltage present at the output power connector.

· The Power Button is Lightly Pushed but No Click (“STATUS” State) – If the power button is lightly pushed and released so that the button does not click, then the 4 x round LEDs will illuminate steady green to indicate the state of charge of the batteries if the unit is turned “ON” or “OFF”.

o If Unit Was Turned “ON” (First Round LED Next to Square LED Flashing Green) - Some of the round LEDs (1-4) will illuminate steady green for 8 seconds indicating the state of charge of the batteries. The unit will remain “ON”, and there will still be output voltage present at the output power connector (first round LED next to the square LED will go back to flashing green).

o If Unit Was Turned “OFF - Some of the round LEDs (1-4) will illuminate steady green for 8 seconds indicating the state of charge of the batteries. The unit will remain “OFF”, and there will still not be any output voltage present at the output power connector and all 4 of the round LEDs will turn off.

If you plan on transporting the solar panel or storing it for short periods of time, it’s best to keep the solar panel turned “OFF” to prevent the batteries from discharging. If you plan on storing the solar panel for long periods of time, then we recommend removing the batteries from the solar panel. Simply remove the 8 screws from the back panel. It might be necessary to first remove the 8 rubber screw covers (if installed) to expose the screw heads. If you are installing the solar panel in a permanent installation, then it’s best to keep the solar panel turned “ON”, so it can charge up during periods of sunshine and so it will be constantly supplying power to your electronic device for uninterrupted service.

Mounting & Positioning the Solar Panel

Find a good location, near the electronic device you want to power, and mount the included tree mount screw bracket and swivel head to a tree, a wooden post or wall. A hollow wall anchor is included which can be used if needed. The location should receive a decent amount of direct sunlight throughout the day, so the solar panel can charge up as much as possible during the daytime. Aim and tilt the solar panel by adjusting the swivel head, so the sunlight hits the solar panel as square as possible keeping in mind the path the sun takes throughout the day. The path and height of the sun will vary depending on your geographic location and the season, so make sure to keep this in mind when determining the best position for the solar panel. If you are unsure of the path the sun takes at your location, watch its path throughout the day. It might be necessary to clear a path that’s free of obstacles such as branches, trees, leaves, buildings, houses, etc. It's important to have as clear of a view of the sky as possible to optimize the amount of direct sunlight the solar panel receives throughout the day. The more sunlight the solar panel receives throughout the day, the more its batteries are charged up and the longer the solar panel can power your electronic device. Maximizing the solar panel’s exposure to direct sunlight on clear sunny days is critical because overcast and rainy days are a certainty, so having as much reserve battery charge as possible is necessary in providing uninterrupted power during prolonged periods of cloudiness and rain. The solar panel will still charge during periods of cloudiness and rain, but not as rapidly as when exposed to direct sunlight.

Replacing or Adding More Rechargeable LI-Ion Batteries

This rechargeable solar panel comes standard with 2 x 2,600mAh, 3.7VDC, 18650 Li-Ion batteries and can be expanded to as many as 6. Simply remove the 8 screws from the back of the solar panel and remove the rear cover for access to the battery compartment. It might be necessary to first remove the 8 small round black rubber screw covers (if installed) to expose the screw heads. To assure battery compatibility, we strongly recommend purchasing our 2,600mAh, 3.7VDC, 18650 rechargeable Li-Ion batteries. We recommend that all of the batteries be of the same capacity. Take care to insert the batteries with the correct polarity to prevent damage to the batteries and/or the solar panel. When re-attaching the rear cover, make sure the black gasket is still properly installed around the perimeter of the housing to maintain the waterproofness of the solar panel. Once the rear cover is re-installed, we recommend re-installing the small round black rubber screw covers over the screw heads. These rubber screw covers help maintain the water proofness of the solar panel. Of course, these rubber screw covers will need to be removed if you want to gain access to the screw heads again to remove the rear cover.

Reading the LEDs

There are 5 x LEDs on the rear cover of the solar panel – 1 x square LED and 4 x round LEDs. The following is a summary of how to read these LEDs

1 x Square LED (Solar Panel Charging Status)

· Steady Green - If the square LED is steady green, then the solar panel is being exposed to light, and the batteries are being charged.

· Steady Red - If the square LED is steady red, then the solar panel is connected to an external 5VDC power source via the USB-C input charging port, and the batteries are being charged.

· Steady Green & Steady Red - If the square LED is steady green and steady red, then the solar panel is connected to an external 5VDC power source via the USB-C input charging port, and the solar panel is being exposed to light, and the batteries are being charged by both of these sources

· Flashing Green - If the square LED is flashing green, then the solar panel is being exposed to light, but no batteries are installed.

· Flashing Red - If the square LED is flashing red, then the solar panel is connected to an external 5VDC power source via the USB-C input charging port, but no batteries are installed.

· Flashing Green and Flashing Red - If the square LED is flashing green and flashing red, then the solar panel is connected to an external 5VDC power source via the USB-C input charging port, and the solar panel is being exposed to light, but no batteries are installed.

4 x Round LEDs (State of Charge of Batteries)

· Power & Status Button is Pushed to click to the “ON” State – If the button is firmly pushed until it clicks, and then some of the round LEDs (1-4) illuminate steady green for 8 seconds and then the first round LED next to the square LED begins flashing green, then the unit has been turned “ON”, and there is output voltage present at the output power connector.

· Power & Status Button is Pushed to click to the “OFF” State – If the button is firmly pushed until it clicks, and none of the round LEDs illuminate, then the unit has been turned “OFF”, and there is no output voltage present at the output power connector.

· Power & Status Button is Lightly Pushed but No Click to the “STATUS” State – If the button is lightly pushed and released so that the button does not click, then the 4 x round LEDs will indicate the state of charge of the batteries if the unit is turned “ON” or “OFF”.

o If Unit Was Turned “ON” (First Round LED Next to Square LED Flashing Green) - Some of the round LEDs (1-4) will illuminate steady green for 8 seconds indicating the state of charge of the batteries. The unit will remain “ON”, and there will still be output voltage present at the output power connector (first round LED next to the square LED will go back to flashing green).

o If Unit Was Turned “OFF - Some of the round LEDs (1-4) will illuminate steady green for 8 seconds indicating the state of charge of the batteries. The unit will remain “OFF”, and there will still not be any output voltage present at the output power connector and all 4 of the round LEDs will turn off.

Optional Accessories

Optional accessories include additional rechargeable lithium-Iin batteries to increase the energy storage capacity of the solar panel, outdoor rated power extension cables for powering remote devices, outdoor rated power splitter cables for powering multiple devices, and various types of hardware for mounting the solar panel to trees, posts, fences, walls, and even the ground. We also have outdoor rated battery eliminator kits & accessories for powering devices that are normally powered by AAA, AA, C, D and 9V batteries. Simply replace the regular batteries in the device with the appropriate active and passive dummy cell batteries and plug in the output of the rechargeable solar panel to the Active Dummy Cell Battery and never worry about having to replace dead batteries again! An example application of using our outdoor battery eliminator kits with this rechargeable solar panel, suppose you want to eliminate 4 x AA batteries in an outdoor electronic product such as an outdoor trail camera, an outdoor thermometer, a motion activated sprinkler or some type of timer for outdoor lighting or an automatic sprinkler. You will need 1 x Outdoor AA Active Dummy Cell Battery, 3 x AA Passive Dummy Cell Batteries and a suitable DC power source such as this Rechargeable Solar Panel with an output voltage of 6VDC. Since each regular AA battery supplies 1.5VDC, 4 x AA batteries will supply 4VDC, so this rechargeable solar panel with an output voltage of 6VDC is within the acceptable voltage range of electronic devices that use 4 x batteries.

Important Notes:

· This rechargeable solar panel kit includes 8 x small, round rubber plugs. Please install these rubber plugs over the screws on the back of the solar panel. These rubber plugs help to maintain the water proofness of the solar panel. These plugs come uninstalled, so you can gain access to the battery compartment in order to add additional 18650 li-ion rechargeable batteries or to change them out with new ones.

· Please make sure the mating connector used with this solar panel has M12-1.75 screw threads. M12 specifies the diameter of the threads as 12mm (refer to illustrations), and 1.75 specifies the pitch of the screw threads as 1.75mm and is the distance between threads in mm (refer to illustrations). If the mating connector does not have the same thread diameter and the same thread pitch, then the screw nut will not work, and the rubber o-ring will not be properly compressed which is necessary to create a weatherproof seal. The connector on this cable will mate with regular (non-weatherproof) 5.5mm x 2.1mm DC barrel connectors female sockets, but the connection will not be weatherproof (water and dirt resistant). We have outdoor rated power extension and power splitter cables that have connectors that will properly mate with the connector on this solar panel. We also carry outdoor active dummy cell batteries and outdoor battery eliminator kits that have the proper mating connectors and are intended for use with this solar panel.

· This rechargeable solar panel has an output voltage of 6VVDC and is capable of powering outdoor electronic devices that are normally powered by 4 conventional batteries (4 x AAA, 4 x AA, 4 x C or 4 x D). In order to eliminate these batteries and power the electronic device with this rechargeable solar panel, you will need to purchase the appropriate outdoor battery eliminator kit or components. As an example, suppose you have an outdoor electronic device that runs on 4 x AA alkaline batteries, you will need to purchase 1 x AA Outdoor Active Dummy Cell Battery and 3 x AA Passive Dummy Cell Batteries. These 4 dummy cell batteries will replace the 4 conventional batteries. The AA Outdoor Active Dummy Cell Battery has a thin flat cable (FFC) that can run through the battery compartment cover on the electronic device while still maintaining the waterproofness of the battery compartment cover. The dummy cell batteries are installed with the same polarity as conventional batteries, and it does not matter which space the AA Outdoor Active Dummy Cell Battery is placed in so long as the proper polarity is observed. The 5.5mm x 2.1mm male barrel plug with M12-1.75 screw threads at the end of the rechargeable solar panel’s power cable forms a water-tight connection with the 5.5mm x 2.1mm female barrel socket with M12-1.75 screw treads at the end of the FFC cable on the AA Outdoor Active Dummy Cell Battery.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PLEASE DON"T HESITATE TO CALL OR E-MAIL US AT [email protected]

Features

· Rechargeable Solar Panel is Great for Powering Remote Outdoor Electronic Devices

· Internal Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries Charge During the Daytime to Provide 24-Hour Reliable Power to Your Outdoor Electronic Devices

· 6VDC Output Voltage Can Supply Up to 2.4-Amps of Output Current

· 5W Solar Working Power

· 24.3% Solar Conversion Efficiency

· Compact Size - 6.91” Wide x 6.91” Tall x 1.38” Thick

· Includes Tree Mount Screw Bracket and Swivel Head

· Included Swivel Head Allows for Adjusting Elevation and Azimuth Angles, so Solar Panel Can be Optimally Aimed at Sun

· Standard 1/4"-20 Female Tripod Screw Mount on Back of Housing Supports a Variety of Mounting Options

· Solar Panel is Made of Monocrystalline Silicon and Covered with Tempered Glass Which Doesn't Fade or Turn Brown Over Time

· 30-36 Hour Charge Time in Full Sunlight, or 15-18 Hours via USB-C Input Charging Port

· Housing, Cable, and Connector are Weather Resistant - Water, Dust and Temperature Resistant and Able to Withstands the Rigors of the Outdoor Environment (IP66 Rating)

· LED Indicators – Solar Panel “ON”, Solar Panel “OFF”, Output Voltage Present, Battery Charging Status, Battery Charge Status

· ON/OFF/STATUS Push-Button

· 3.3-ft (1m) Power Cable Has IP66 Rated 5.5mm x 2.1mm Male Barrel Plug with M12-1.75 Screw Threads for a Weathertight, Secure and Reliable Connection

· Broad Ambient Operational Temperature Range: -4°F to +140°F (-20°C to +60°C)

· Output Over-Current & Short-Circuit Protection

· Internal Battery Overcharge Protection and Reverse Insertion Polarity Protection

· Comes Standard with 2 x 2,600mAh, 3.7VDC, 18650 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries Pre-Installed Which Can Be Expanded to 6

· Additional or Replacement 2,600mAh, 3.7VDC, 18650 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries Available.

· Works With Our Outdoor Rated Power Extension & Power Splitter Cables

· Works with Our Outdoor Battery Eliminator Kits, Components & Accessories

· Part of an Outdoor Battery Eliminator System That's Perfect for Many Types of Battery Powered Outdoor Electronic Devices such as Automatic & Motion Activated Sprinklers, Outdoor & Landscape Lighting, Trail & Security Cameras, Animal & Pest Deterrents, Motion and Infrared Detectors, Automatic Pet Feeders, Automatic Fish Feeders, Smart Bird Feeders, Weather Stations, Outdoor Thermometers, Water Feature Pumps, Small Pond Pumps, Seasonal Decorations, Electronic Timers, Etc.

Specifications