NexSens Solar Panel Photovoltaic Specifications
While reviewing an application, it is imperative to understand the balance between the solar power capabilities and the combined power requirements for the entire system. Although nominal voltage and amperage values are provided, the user must remember that solar panels and batteries perform differently depending on the environmental conditions at the final deployment location. A more accurate and effective power solution can be determined by completing a power calculation (see System Power Budget section) using nominal specifications and the deployment site conditions to avoid power disruptions. Solar power solutions will differ between applications based on the following:
- Data logging and upload frequency
- Number of sensors connected
- Combined sensor(s) current draw
- Geographic location
- Length and season of deployment
Power Solution Specifications
NexSens provides multiple solar power options for powering land-based and buoy-based environmental monitoring systems. Below are the single-panel manufacturer specifications.
| Solar Solution | Maximum Power Point (W)** | Short-circuit Current (A)** | Open-circuit Voltage (V)** | Maximum Voltage (V)** | Maximum Current (A)** |
| CB-75* | 4 | 0.23 | 21.28 | 17.82 | 0.23 |
| CB-150*/ SP10 | 9.24 | 0.540 | 21.22 | 17.98 | 0.514 |
| XB-200*/CB-250*/ CB-450*/SP15 | 14.07 | 0.86 | 20.51 | 17.31 | 0.81 |
| CB-650*/SP32 | 32.6 | 1.93 | 21.28 | 17.82 | 1.83 |
| CB-950* | 46.5 | 2.66 | 21.94 | 18.38 | 2.53 |
| CB-1250* | 71 | 4.08 | 21.94 | 18.38 | 3.88 |
*Buoy solar towers have (3) total panels on the solar tower connected in parallel. Thus, wattage and current calculations should be multiplied by three to gather the nominal specifications for the entire tower.
**All parameters have a tolerance of 5%.
- Maximum Power Point (Pmax) is the maximum wattage at the nominal max voltage and current.
- Open-circuit Voltage (Voc) is the maximum voltage the panel can produce with no load attached.
- Short-circuit Current (Isc) is the current through the panel with no load attached.
- Maximum voltage (Vpmax) is the highest voltage produced at the maximum power point.
- Maximum current (Ipmax) is the highest current produced at the maximum power point.
System Power Budget
NexSens has developed a power budget tool that can quickly estimate the expected power performance of systems using the most common NexSens buoy platforms, data logger configurations, and commonly integrated NexSens and third-party sensors for deployment locations throughout the world.
Monitoring the primary power while the system is in the field is ultimately the end user’s responsibility. NexSens Technology can supply an accurate power budget based on the known characteristics of the monitoring system components and geographical location. However, experimentation for the logging and transmit interval for the system may be required to reduce the overall system current draw. NexSens does not take responsibility for the depletion of battery units, regardless of power budget recommendations, unless faults in manufacturing are discovered.