ECET425L Lab 1: SLA Batteries and Lab 2- Solar Panels

ECET425L
Lab 1: SLA
Batteries
Objectives:
·
Learn some basic battery
terminology
·
Be able to calculate battery
run times given the desired DOD or depth of discharge
·
Know how batteries can work in
series and parallel
Parts List:
·
12 volt 5Ah SLA battery
·
Power Resistor
·
SLA-VRLA Documents in Doc
Sharing
·
12v 5Ah SLA Spec sheet in Doc
Sharing
·
G4 LED Array
Introduction:
Sealed Lead Acid
(SLA) batteries or valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) have been used for over
forty years. They are one of the most economical batteries to use. They are
used in mobility (wheelchairs), backup power (alarm systems) and in many solar
applications. The basic principles of batteries can be used for multiple
chemistries.
Step 1: Battery Definitions
Define
the following:
DOD
(Depth of Discharge)
Capacity
Battery
Cycle
Battery
Cycle Life
SOC
(State of Charge)
Puekert
Effect
Cyclic
Battery Applications (wheelchair)
Standby
Battery Applications (alarm)
Step 2: Questions about the SLA Battery
Spec Sheet (45565)
Note: A 5 amp-hour battery does not mean the
battery will output a current of 5 amps for one hour. Standard SLA capacities
are measured at C/20 with C being the amp-hour rating of the battery.
1. At what current will the battery have a capacity of 5 amp hours?
2. At a current of 3 amps what is the run time and the capacity?
3. What is the maximum charging current for the battery?
4. What is the maximum charging voltage for the battery?
5. How many cycles can we get at a 100% DOD?
6. How many cycles can we get at a 50% DOD?
7. How many cycles can we get at a 30% DOD?
8. At a temperature of 0 degrees F what is the capacity at C/10 or .1C?

Step 3: Procedure
1. Measure the battery voltage and from this voltage state the battery
capacity. Use the open circuit voltage
vs. the residual capacity graph on the second page of the spec sheet.
2. Connect the 30 ohm resistor and the G4 LED lamp across the battery
and measure the current through each one.
3. State how long the resistor and the G4 LED would operate at a 100%
DOD and a 50% DOD.
Step 4: Calculations and Series Parallel
Connections
1. A 48VDC, 120VAC 60 hertz inverter would require how many 6 volt
batteries in series to operate it?

2. A typical 4000 watt sine wave inverter would require how much
current from a 12 volt battery at full output power? Assume 100% efficiency.
Remember Power=Voltage*Current
3. If two 12 volt 100 amp-hour batteries are used.
What is the voltage and
capacity if the batteries are in parallel?
What is the voltage and
capacity if the batteries are in series?ECET425L
Lab 2- Solar
Panels
Objectives:
·
Learn some basic solar panel
terminology
·
Be able to distinguish between
different solar panel types and efficiencies
·
Understand how solar panels can
be used in series and parallel
Parts List:
·
12 volt solar panel-PV(photovoltaic)
·
Solar Panel Spec Sheets in Doc Sharing
Introduction:
The first solar
cell was developed over 100 years ago. Solar panels are arrays of solar cells
and are used to capture the sun’s energy or insolation and convert it into
energy. There are many different types of solar panels and we will look at
several different ones.
Step 1: Solar Panel Definitions
Define
the following as pertaining to solar panels:
OCV
or Open Circuit Voltage
SSC
or Short Circuit Current
Maximum
Power Point Voltage
Maximum
Power Point Current
Polycrystalline
Solar Panels
Moncrystalline
Solar Panels
Amorphous
Solar Panels
Organic
Solar Panels
Solar
Panel Concentrator
Off
Grid PV System
Grid
Tied PV System
Charge
Controller
Inverter
Step 2: Questions about the Solar Panel
Spec Sheet
1.
What is the OCV of your 12 volt
solar panel?
2.
What is the SSC of your 12 volt
solar panel?
3.
What is the output power of
your 12 volt solar panel?
4.
Define the STC parameters for
PV panels.
Step 3: Procedure
1.
Measure the OCV of your solar
panel in the sun or with a 100 watt incandescent bulb shining on it.
2.
Measure the SSC of your solar
panel in the sun or with a 100 watt incandescent bulb shining on it.
3.
What is the physical size of
your solar panel in meters?
4.
What is the efficiency of your
solar panel from your calculations? Use
an insolation value of 1000 watt/meter^2
5.
State how many sun hours it
would take for one of your solar panel s to fully charge your 12 volt 5
amp-hour battery?
6.
What is the OCV and SSC with
your two solar panels in parallel?
7.
What is the OCV and SSC with
your two solar panels in series?
Step 4: Calculations and Series Parallel
Connections
1.
Using aBP 4200J 200 Watt Solar
Panel how many panels would be need for a 300 volt DC 1000 watt system?

2.
A typical 10k watt sine wave
inverter would require how much current from a 48 volt battery system at full
output power? Assume 80% efficiency. Remember Power=Voltage*Current
3.
If only 12 volt 250 amp-hour
batteries are used.
What is the configuration
for a 48 volt 1000 amp-hour system? How many in series and how many in
parallel? What is the configuration for
a 72 volt 250 amp hour system?
How long can a 12 volt 4 amp
pump operate from one 250Ah battery with a 50% DOD?