User's Guide

Installation & User Guide
Required Tools for Installation
• 1 3/8” (33mm) fixed wrench or adjustable wrench of an adequate size for leverage (12-14 inch
/ 30 – 35 cm)
• Extra high density Teflon tape (0.0032” or ~0.08 mm thick)
• PTFE pipe-thread sealant
• Bleed tube ¼” (6.5 mm) ID, oil resistant (Tygon)
• Bleed container with ~1 inch (2 cm) of compatible transformer oil in the bottom.
• Absorbent towels and containers to prevent oil spills during installation.
• Brush to clean the transformer threads prior to installation (nylon is recommended due to its
softer nature to prevent damage to the brass threads and compatibility with insulating oil)
• Compass (or phone app) for Solar Panel alignment
• Flat Head screwdriver or socket wrench with ¼ " (6 mm) socket.
• Any tools and keys to unlock drain valve location
• Cell phone or computer with internet access to QualConnex website
Assembling the QGateway Antenna and Mount
The QGateway is shipped without the LoRa antenna installed and not connected to the magnetic mount. This
enables field configuration to optimize performance. The following sections will detail how to determine the
optimal angle for the magnetic base, assemble and connect the QGateway to the mount and install and orient
the LoRa antenna.
Determining the Magnetic Base Mount Angle and Configuration
The magnetic base mounting bracket is shipped flat. The mount is designed to adjust to 3 collection angles to
maximize solar energy collection based on the geographic location of the QGateway and the surface to which
it is mounted – either a 30°, 45° or 60° angle (using at an angle of 60° can help with snow shed).
It is recommended to optimize your QGateway angle based on winter solar incidence angles to ensure proper
charging during darker months. The optimum tilt angle is determined by adding 15° to the latitude at the
installation location. For example, if the QGateway were installed in Rochester, NY, the 15° would be added to
latitude of 43° giving a rounded optimum angle of 60° from horizontal.
The QGateway mount adjusts for both vertical and horizontal mounting. See Table 1 for configurations.