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Solar + Battery Installation Guide

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Get Started ⚑ This guide covers the setup and installation process for QuantAQ's Solar+Batter add-on for the MODULAIR and MODULAIR-PM sensors.

Specifications

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LabelDefinition
Battery Capacity
25,600 mAh, 94 Watt Hours
Battery Output
5V, 2A
Battery Type
Lithium Ion
Solar Panels
2 x 10W = 20W

Tools Required

  • Phillips Screwdriver
  • Adjustable Wrench πŸ”§

Mounting Considerations

The solar+battery kit includes 1" and 1.5" U-bolts for mounting both the battery and solar panel brackets to a pole or post, but you can/should use whatever suits your specific mounting needs. The solar+battery kit can be easily mounted to fence posts, poles, tripods, etc. Mounting the solar panels in an orientation that observes the most sunlight is recommended to keep the battery's charged.

Dimensions

Solar Panel Bracket

The mounting area of the solar panel bracket is designed to fit as many possible mounting configurations as possible. Each slot is 10 mm in diameter and range from 21 mm to 29 mm in width from center-to-center. There are also two mounting holes for screws that are each 5 mm in diameter and located 38 mm apart from one another vertically. The two slots in the vertical center of the bracket are each 29 mm by 10 mm and fit U-bolts that can range from 27-85 mm in width. The four vertical slots are each 21 x 10 mm and are placed 75 mm apart horizontally and will fit U-bolts between 25 mm and 67 mm.

The technical drawing for this bracket can be found on the manufacturer’s website here.

Battery Pack Bracket

Dimensions for the battery bracket are in mm. There are three sets of mounting slots for the U-bolts and/or hose clamps to go through. They are centered at 1", 2", and 3.5" apart from one another. They are all 0.55" tall β†’ hose clamps that have a width of 0.5" or less will easily fit.

Figure 2. Battery Bracket Dimensions.
Figure 2. Battery Bracket Dimensions.

What's Included?

The solar+battery kit includes the following:

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Item DescriptionQuantityImage
Battery in Hammond waterproof case
1
Solar Panel Mounting Bracket
1
Battery Box Mounting Bracket
1
4' Extension cable for solar panels
1
20W Solar Panel
1
8-32 screw with nut
4
ETFE panel screw and nut set
5
1.5" U-bolt with mounting plate
2
1" U-bolt with mounting plate
2
Figure 3. All components included in the Solar+Battery kit.
Figure 3. All components included in the Solar+Battery kit.

Getting Started

Step 1. Mount the Panels

The first step is to mount the 20W solar panel to the Solar Panel Bracket. Remove the plastic covering from the face of the solar panel and align them so that five mounting holes align with the holes in the bracket. Use the panel mounting screws (Bag 2) to secure the solar panel to the bracket.

Figure 4. Mount the two, 10W solar panels to the solar panel bracket.
Figure 4. Mount the two, 10W solar panels to the solar panel bracket.

Step 2. Mount the Battery Bracket

Use the four 8-32 screws and nuts (Bag 1) to secure the battery box bracket to the battery box.

Figure 5. Mount the battery box bracket to the battery box using the 8-32 screws and nuts.
Figure 5. Mount the battery box bracket to the battery box using the 8-32 screws and nuts.

Step 3. Attach the Solar Panel Cable

Attach the 4' extension cable and attach the end of the cable to the available power input connection on the left-hand side of the base of the Battery Box. At this point, the Solar Panel is connected to the Battery and are ready to mount.

Step 4. Mount the Battery and Solar Panel

The final step is to mount the Battery Box and Solar Panel to a pole, fence post, or other physical infrastructure. The 1" and 1.5" u-bolts provided in the shipment are one option (esp. in the case of mounting to railings). If these are not compatible for your specific mounting scenario, additional u-bolts or ring clamps should be obtained.

Reference the bracket dimensions above to choose the best mounting hardware for your use case.

Upon mounting, orient the Solar Panel such that their sun exposure is maximized (i.e. South facing if in the Northern Hemisphere). Double check that the solar panel power cable connections are secure and connect the USB-C power cable on the right hand side of the battery box to your MODULAIR or MODULAIR-PM system. Flip the power switch on the node and you should be up and running!