Components of a Gallagher Solar PowerFence™ system
Energizer
Gallagher has a range of battery energizers that are suitable for solar installation
This can be in a portable application e.g. Powerbox B100, or a permanent application eg B700 Solar.
Solar Panel
The size of your solar panel will depend on:
- Energizer size and power setting.
- Geographic location.
- Level of usage: Full Year, Summer, or Spring/Summer/Autumn.
Battery
The key consideration in choosing a battery for a Solar POWER FENCE™ System is the battery type and capacity (amp hours). There must be sufficient capacity to reliably power the energizer during Winter or reduced light conditions. The recommended battery type is a deep cycle (also called leisure or marine) battery.
How to Choose the Correct Solar Panel and Battery
To size the correct solar panel and battery for a Gallagher energizer application, use the Sunshine Contour Maps and Sizing Table.
- Select the Sunshine Contour Map that matches your seasonal use category, i.e. either Map 1 - Full Year Use, Map 2 - Summer Use, Map 3 - Spring/Summer/Autumn Use. (Each map has different Sunshine Contours drawn across it).
- Find your geographic location on the selected map.
- Determine the value of the Sunshine Contour. If your geographic location is not directly on a Sunshine Contour line, take the lower value of the two adjacent lines. This value is your Sunshine Contour number.
- On the sizing table find the proposed energizer (including power setting: H = High, M = Medium, L = Low) in the left hand column. Then find the value of your Sunshine Contour number in the top row.
Where these two values intersect on the table is the correct sizing of the Gallagher solar panel: (W) = Watts; Battery: (Ah) = Amp Hours.
Note: The recommended Gallagher solar panel and battery sizes should be treated as the minimum values required. With unfavourable conditions larger sizes may be necessary.
How to Set the Tilt Angle for the Solar Panel
- The solar panel should be set to face the Equator, i.e. North in Southern Hemisphere / South in Northern Hemisphere.
- The tilt angle of the panel is measured from the horizontal. A minimum of 15° tilt angle is recommended to minimise the build-up of dust and dirt and to allow rain to wash the surface clean.
The angle required depends on the seasonal use and the latitude of the site.
- Full year use: Tilt = Latitude + 15°
- Summer use: Tilt = Latitude - 12°
- Spring/Summer/Autumn use: Tilt = Latitude + 15°
Tilt angle recommendations are shown on both sides of the Sunshine Contour maps.
Handy hint: When set correctly, the panel will create its largest shadow at midday on the shortest day of its use. |
