Use and Care Manual

5
STEP 3: ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
Now that your solar module (or modules) are physically secured and
attached to its support system, the last step of installation is connecting
the elecrical wiring so that your modules can start producing power
safely.
Important note: Ramsond solar panels rated 50 Watts and
below will not come with pre-wired cables or connectors; this means you
will have to open the junction box to connect wiring (not supplied) using
the terminal screws inside the junction box. All panels rated 100 Watts
and above will already have heavy duty cables using MC4 connectors.
All pre-wired panels have been prepared for serial connection;
they can be re-fitted for
parallel connection, which will be covered later
in this manual.
FOR SINGLE PANELS
Single panels are only connected one way, by attaching the positive and
negative terminals inside the junction box to a power collection compo-
nent (such as a battery) or to a charge controller, which may be
connected to a battery. Whichever option you choose is beyond the
scope of this manual, as there are many different products that can be
connected to your panel; all diagrams are shown using a Ramsond
SunShield Charge Controller, which is purchased separately, and a
battery. Charge controllers are recommended for multiple panel use, but
are not necessarily needed for single panels.
To connect a single panel that does not come pre-wired,
slide open the
cover on the junction box. Once open, run a wire through each
rubber wiring guide along the bottom, one for the positive flow
and one for the negative flow. Once there is enough exposed wire
near each terminal screw in the junction box,
secure the end of one
wire to the positive terminal using the screw, then secure the other
wire to the negative terminal using the other screw. Then, pull any
excess wiring through the rubber guides, leaving a small amount of
slack near the secured ends. Once you have connected both the positive
and negative wires in the junction box and run them through the wiring
guides,
close the junction box by snapping the cover back into
place securely. Then, take the other ends of the wires and connect
them to the positive and negative terminals on whichever power
collection component or controller you will use
. Proceed to connect
any additional wiring from whichever component your panel is now
connected to (e.g. to a battery). Once all other instructions for other
components are followed, you may remove the opaque covering from
your solar module and it will begin working. Your single solar panel
system is now complete.
To connect a pre-wired solar panel, you may
simply plug in the
positive and negative cables to your desired power collection
component using the connectors. Whichever component you have will
need to be wired with corresponding MC4 connectors, however, which
is beyond the scope of this manual. Consult an experienced solar power
equipment technician or service provider to do this for you if needed.
FOR MULTIPLE PANELS
Multiple panel systems can be connected several different ways. One
method is
SERIAL CONNECTION (which all Ramsond solar panels rated
100 Watts and above are pre-wired to use) and
PARALLEL CONNEC-
TION. Again, solar modules must always be connected only to
similarly rated modules, regardless of connection type. This is to
avoid overload and damage to the system itself, as well as damage
caused by the system not operating correctly due to unblanced power
output from different types of panels. On the following page, this
manual will outline basic layouts of both
SERIAL and PARALLEL connec-
tion types; more complex connections are possible, but are beyond the
scope of this manual. Please consult an experienced solar system
integrator, technician or service provider if you wish to develop a more
complex connection system.
SINGLE PANEL CONNECTION
IP 65 1000 VDC 4mm
1
2
2
1
2
CHARGE
CONTROLLER
100 WATTS & ABOVEUP TO 50 WATTS