Table of Content

SBX Solar Charger Module Users Manual V4.1

This manual relates to SBX Firmware V4.1.x
Older versions of this document:


This manual describes the operation modes of the SBX solar charger module used in solar powered radar sensors like PCR2-ODS or TCR-xSS.

Operation Modes

The charger starts to operate by its own. If there is a input voltage drop, the charger will re-initialize. After Hardware Init the application code takes control. Following state chart shows the application states.

Test Image 1

State Description Radar Heater Charger Batt LED Chrg LED
Init Battery initialization Off Off Running Blinking fast Blinking slowly (Charging)
On (Connected)
Off Battery is low Off On when >4W Input and too cold Running 4 Pulses Blinking slowly (Charging)
On (Connected)
On Normal operation On On when >4W Input and too cold Running Blinking slowly (1..99%)
On (100%)
Blinking slowly (Charging)
On (Connected)
Hot Temperature too high On Off Interrupted Blinking slowly (1..99%)
On (100%)
Blinking slowly (Charging)
On (Connected)
Error Battery not connected
Sensor broken
Charger error
Off Off Interrupted Blinking slowly (1..99%)
On (100%)
-

Visualisation

Operation states and errors of the solar charger are indicated by 3 LEDs. Pressing the red button switches on Battery LED and Error LED for some time while the Solar LED is directly controlled by the power input.


Battery LED

Battery LED indication is active after pressing the red button.

   
- Battery is very low or there is an error
Blinking slowly Battery Charge is between 1% and 99%. Radar is enabled.
On Battery is fully charged (100%). Radar is enabled.


Error LED

Error LED indication is active after pressing the red button.

   
- No Error
1 pulse followed by a longer pause Battery not connected
2 pulses followed by a longer pause Battery is too cold for charging. Heater will be activated.
3 pulses followed by a longer pause Battery is too hot. Charging is interrupted to cool down the battery cells
4 pulses followed by a longer pause Battery voltage too low. Initial charging is active.


Charging LED

Charging LED is always active as soon as power source is detected.

   
- No power source
On Power source detected but too less power to start charging.
Blinking slowly Charging active