Owner`s manual

10
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GP-RV-80
GP-RV-95
GP-RV-155
GP-RV-80E
GP-RV-95E
GP-RV-155E
Weekender SW
Weekender HD
Solar Elite
Solar Extreme
Hybrid System: A power system consisting of two or more energy sources (e.g., a PV array and a wind
generator).
Hydrometer: A device used to measure the specic gravity (SG) of the electrolyte in a ooded battery.
A very accurate way to see the true charge of a battery.
Insolation: The solar energy received at a place over a given period. May be expressed as sunhours
per day, watts per square meter per hour, or any number of other units.
Inverter: A device that converts DC electricity to AC.
Isolation Diode: A diode application that prevents one segment of an array from interacting with another
array segment. Usually used in situations where two parts of an array are facing in different directions
therefore one part of an array may experience shading while the other does not. Prevents array energy from
owing backwards through a low voltage string of the array. May also serve the function of blocking diode.
Maximum Power (peak power): The point of a solar array, panel or module output where the product
of Imp and Vmp (Pmax, measured in watts) is maximized. The points used to calculate Pmax are Imp
(current @ max power) and Vmp (voltage @ max power).
Module: A number of solar cells electrically connected, and protected from the environment usually by an
aluminum frame covered with a pane of glass. A module is self-contained and not sub dividable, therefore
providing a single electrical output.
NOCT (Nominal Operating Cell Temperature): the temperature at which PV cells in a module operate
under Standard Operating Conditions (SOC), which are: irradiance of 0.8 kW/m2, 20ºC ambient
temperature, and average wind speed of 1 m/s, with the wind oriented parallel to the plane of the array,
and all sides of the array fully exposed to the wind.
Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc): Refers to a photovoltaic device’s voltage potential when it is disconnected
from the rest of the PV system.
Panel: A group of photovoltaic modules (or single module) mechanically mounted on a single frame.
Parallel Connection: Electrical connection where the positive terminals of a number of devices are
connected together, as are their negative terminals. The output voltage is usually limited to the device
with the lowest voltage and the total current is the sum of the current of all the devices.
Photovoltaic (PV): Capable of producing a voltage when exposed to radiant energy, especially light.
Regulator: See “Charge Controller” denition.
Sealed Batteries: Electrolyte will not spill out and gassing is kept to a minimum. A sealed battery is
maintenance free and may be installed in several orientations.
Series Connection: Electrical connection where the positive terminal of one device is attached to the
negative terminal of the next in a series string; in this connection, the string voltage is the sum of the
device voltages and the string current is limited to the current of the least productive device in the string.
Short-Circuit Current (Isc): Refers to a PV device’s current output when the positive terminal is directly
connected to the negative terminal.
Specic Gravity: In relation to a ooded battery, it is the density of the “electrolyte” compared with the
density of water thereby measuring the battery state of charge.
Standard Operating Conditions (SOC): A set of reference PV device measurement conditions consisting
of irradiance of 0.8 kW/m2, 20ºC ambient temperature, and average wind speed of 1m/s, with the wind
oriented parallel to the plane of the array and all sides of the array fully exposed to the wind.
Standard Test Conditions (STC): A set of reference PV device measurement conditions consisting of
irradiance of 1 kW/m2, AM 1.5 and 25ºC cell temperature.