How to maximize battery & solar panel performance: a complete guide

November 14, 2022

How to maximize battery & solar panel performance: a complete guide

This guide is designed to help you maximize your unit’s autonomy and extend your battery’s life. Through optimal deployment and maintenance of your solar panels and batteries, you can get the most out of your unit.

We’ve rounded up all the steps needed to achieve maximum performance. See the videos or read the detailed guide below!

Sections:

1. Understanding your equipment’s power
2. Pre-deployment check & Deployment
3. Maintenance for efficiency & longevity
4. Troubleshooting
5. Auxiliary outlet charging
6. Storage

1. Understanding your Ver-Mac equipment’s power

1.1. Batteries & solar panels

First, a quick reminder: all our units run on deep-cycle batteries and are equipped with solar panels that maintain the battery voltage of your unit (they do not fully charge the unit). The number of batteries and the type of solar panels (flat vs. tilted) are determined by solar calculations according to the geography and climate where the unit will be used.

See how to determine performance and best position your solar panels below.

1.2. How to ensure your solar panels are performing normally

To make sure that your solar panels are charging your batteries, on a sunny day, check that the solar amperage is higher than the battery amperage. You can find this information on your unit’s controller.

Power information on home screen

Figure 3 - Flat solar panels

To maximize the solar energy being absorbed by the panels, you must, if possible, have them tilted to:

A 45-degree angle facing South if you are in the Northern hemisphere
A 45-degree angle facing North if you are in the Southern hemisphere
A 60-degree angle facing South if you are in Canada and the northern states

1.3. Solar regulator

Our units are equipped with a solar regulator that controls the amount of power that is supplied to the batteries for charging, as well as the power required for the unit to function.

This regulator is also equipped with a Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD) feature that acts as a safeguard to protect your batteries by shutting down the unit if needed. The LVD feature will activate if your battery voltage drops below 10.4 volts, and can only be deactivated when you recharge the batteries past 12.6 volts.

Figure 4 - Solar Regulator

Any time a unit drops below the 12-volt range, and/or the regulator goes into LVD mode, it is recommended to recharge the batteries to avoid damage caused by them draining completely (for charging information, please refer to Section 5. Auxiliary outlet charging).

2. Ver-Mac unit pre-deployment check & deployment

2.1. Charge your batteries

Prior to any deployment, charge your batteries and ensure they are charged above 12.6 volts. You can view this information on the home screen of your V-Touch Controller. You can also use a load tester to confirm if the batteries are in functioning condition. Please look at the instructions from the load tester manufacturer to know how to proceed with the test.

Figure 5 - Voltage on V-Touch Controller

2.2. Deployment: position away from sources of shade

Where you deploy your unit will directly affect its autonomy. This step is extremely important. When deploying, always position your equipment in an area of your work zone that will not be affected by shade (near trees, overpasses, buildings, the unit’s mast,etc.).This will allow solar panels to receive as much direct sunlight as possible. Failing to properly deploy your unit will cause the batteries to drain slowly, as they will not receive enough solar voltage to maintain them.

2.3. Steps to follow when deploying a Ver-Mac unit

When deploying your unit, please follow these steps:

1. Ensure the unit is on solid, levelled ground with jacks properly deployed.
2. Raise sign just above the cradles, angle it towards oncoming traffic, and lock it using the hand break.
3. Release the solar panel’s hand break. Raise & tilt solar panel.
4. Solar panel tilting:

In the summer, it is preferable to leave panels flat for optimal performance. In the winter, panels must be tilted.
In the winter, to maximize the solar energy being absorbed by panels, tilt them to:

A 45-degree angle facing South if you are in the Northern hemisphere
A 45-degree angle facing North if you are in the Southern hemisphere
A 60-degree angle facing South if you are in Canada and the northern states

Lock hand brake when finished

5. Raise the sign to desired height and insert the mast’s safety D pin in place.

Figure 6 - Well deployed Ver-Mac unit

3. Maintenance for efficiency & longevity

Once your unit is deployed, it is important to ensure proper maintenance of the solar panels and batteries for your equipment to run as efficiently as possible.

Remove snow, leaves, dust & sand from your solar panels. Failing to do so will affect the solar amperage and slowly drain the batteries.
Clean battery terminals to avoid corrosion.
Replace damaged wires on batteries.
Test batteries with load tester and replace any defective ones.
Check the water level of your 6V batteries and add distilled water if it ever gets low (never add battery acid) It is recommended to check fluid levels every 3 months in a moderate climate and every 30 days during the summer and in warmer climates. PLEASE NOTE: This does not apply if your unit has SLA batteries.
Regularly check the battery voltage on the sign, or in our JamLogic software. It is recommended to check your unit’s voltage more often in the winter. Here is what needs to be checked:

The solar and the battery should stay at similar levels in the summer
It is normal to see a lower level in the winter

Figure 7 - Voltage screen on V-Touch Controller

Figure 8 - Voltage screen in JamLogic

When checking the voltage, it is normal to see drops for the solar portion, as the solar panels will not capture energy at night. The battery voltage will remain relatively stable if everything is functioning as it should.

3.1. Set up a voltage alert in JamLogic

Our JamLogic software allows you to set up battery alerts.
Before setting up an alert, you will need to create a mailing list. In JamLogic, press Tools, then Mailing Lists Editor.
In the Mailing Lists Editor screen, you will have the ability to create different groups and add user emails. In the example below, the default group has 1 email address. This email will receive the alert once it is triggered. You may add multiple emails to that list. Click Save when ready.

Figure 9 - Mailing Lists Editor

Next, you will need to go to Tools, then Alerts Manager. You will be brought to the Alerts Manager window. In this window, you can press Add and select Battery Trend in the dropdown menu.

Figure 10 - Add button

Figure 11 - Battery Trend Alert

Battery trend is an alert that will analyze the last ten days of your battery’s state of charge and compare it to the previous three days. If the algorithm detects a change in the battery voltage, it will trigger an alert.

Figure 12 - Bad (left) vs good (right) battery trend

Once your alert is set, you must select the devices for which you want an alert. Click on Devices, then double-click on the unit you wish to add the alert on. Press OK, then save when you are finished and the alert icon will appear.

Devices

Figure 13 - Devices

Figure 14 - Device selected

Figure 15 - Battery trend alarms activated

This new feature will give you much more accurate and reliable information on the state of charge of your batteries. It will also allow you to be more proactive if the batteries need to be changed or charged.

4. Troubleshooting Power Issues

If you experience power issues, the solar regulator is the primary resource to identify the issue. The LEDs on the regulator will inform you of the state of the batteries, as well as their charging status.

4.1. See the state of charge

When charging the unit, you can refer to the LEDs on your regulator (see figures below) to see the charging status.

Please note that we now have a next-generation regulator. Your unit may have a first-generation solar regulator, or a next-generation solar regulator. Please refer to the images below to see which one you have and how to proceed with your model.


Figure 16 - Next-generation solar regulator	Figure 17 - First-generation solar regulator

What the LED indicators on your solar regulator mean

Figure 18 - Meaning of LED indicators

4.2. Using a voltmeter

You can also get the voltage readings by using a voltmeter. You will be able to see the battery & solar voltage as well as the output going to the sign.

Our solar regulators are equipped with two 30-amp fuses. The top is a spare while the bottom one is live.

It is important to note that your battery voltage & output readings must be just about identical. If you are getting a low output voltage, the regulator could be defective.

With a first-generation solar regulator, you can get the voltage by attaching the voltmeter to the metal brackets. Please follow the grid below.

Figure 19 - Measuring voltage with a voltmeter on a
first-generation solar regulator

To measure voltage with a next-generation solar regulator, place the voltmeter probes in the empty spaces above the wires. Please follow the grid below.

Figure 20 - Measuring voltage with a voltmeter on a
next-generation solar regulator

5. Auxiliary outlet charging

When your unit has low batteries, you can use the onboard charger to recharge your unit. Most Ver-Mac trailers are equipped with an IOTA charger with an additional IQ4 module. By plugging the charger into a 110V AC outlet, your unit will slowly begin charging.


Figure 20 - Iota DLS-30 (30 amp charger)	Figure 21 - IQ4 smart charger

You can use the following table to view the charging status of your IQ4 smart charger.

Figure 22 - IQ4 LED Indicators

Note: The IQ4 module allows the charger to charge in Bulk and Absorption modes for a 24-hour period only. This time limit is set to prevent overcharging, which could damage your batteries. As a result, when the battery level is too low, the charger may not be able to fully recharge the battery pack in a single 24-hour period. When the 24-hour time limit is up, the IQ4 LED (small green light) stays ON continuously and the IQ4 needs to be reset.

For recommended recharging times, please refer to the charts below.


Figure 23 - Recharging times for 12V batteries	Figure 24 - Recharging times for 6V batteries

Please refer to this state of charge graph to ensure proper unit voltage when unplugging the charger.

Figure 25 - Percentage of
charge and voltage at rest
(approximate values)

Batteries perform best in the first three years. If well maintained, they can last up to five years.

6. Storage

It is important to check the charge of your batteries before and after winter to identify which batteries need to be charged and which ones are defective & must be replaced.

6.1. INDOOR STORAGE

If possible, keep your unit on a charger throughout the winter to prevent the batteries from draining.

1. If you are removing the batteries from the unit for winter storage, charge them to 12.6 volts and store them in your shop/garage (warmer area).
2. If you are not removing the batteries from your unit for the winter, please do the following with your solar regulator:

a. If your unit has a first-generation solar regulator (see image below): disconnect the red connector on your solar regulator to prevent the batteries from draining.

Figure 26 - First-generation solar regulator

b. If your unit has a next-generation solar regulator (see image below): Same steps apply as with the first-generation regulator, except that on point 2.a, you will need to disconnect the red (Batt +) and black (Batt -) connectors leading from J15 connector.

If you do not follow this step, the unit will still use power (mainly the touch screen as it will constantly be in sleep mode).


Figure 27 - Next-generation solar regulator	Figure 28 - Next-generation solar regulator

Note that your battery will discharge at a rate of 0.5 to 1% per day.
This is why it’s recommended to fully recharge it after 2-3 months.

6.2. OUTDOOR STORAGE

Charge unit to 12.6 volts.
Make sure the solar regulator is connected and deploy the sign in your yard (prevents batteries from remaining idle and freezing).
Deploy solar panels at a 45- or 60-degree angle, depending on your equipment, facing South if you are in the Northern hemisphere (if possible).
It is important to maximize solar panel usage during winter as there is less sun.
Clear solar panels of snow or anything obstructing them. Batteries will drain if solar panels are not cleared.
Note that your battery will discharge at a rate of 0.5 to 1% per day. This is why it’s recommended to fully recharge it after 2-3 months.

Following these steps for storage will help keep your batteries safe & operational. It’s also important to recharge your batteries when taking your units out of storage, as they will be lower than 12.6 volts after being stored for many months.

outdoor storage

We hope you have found these tips useful. Please feel free to share your feedback to: support@ver-mac.com

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