Power Storage
- J. SOUTHWORTH (FL Emergency Management & National Guard)
The Solar Stik™ Power Pak… Power For Professionals
The Power Pak allows the Solar Stik™ to operate as a ‘stand-alone’ power generator in any application where a portable gasoline generator would be used.
Designed as a highly mobile platform, the Power Pak will provide many years of service under the most demanding conditions.
A Power Pak serves two primary functions:
• It serves as a buffer between multiple power sources and the connected appliances, ensuring a steady flow of power for the application.
• It stores power, making it available to connected appliances only as they need it, increasing the overall efficiency of the entire electrical system.
The Power Pak is constructed into a military-grade Pelican™ case and is available in 12 volts or 24 volts DC models. It functions in a wide variety of applications ranging from the recreational to the military, and can be operated with or without the Solar Stik™.
It is a Pure DC power supply without cheap gadgetry (such as AM/FM radios or clocks) that other manufacturers incorporate into their product as “selling points”.
Solar Charge Controls
All Power Paks employ Solar Boost™ MPPT solar charge controls that provide the Pak with three stage solar charging and a versatile LCD screen. Pro-Series & Mil-Series Power Paks have programmable multi-function LCD screens and user-friendly operation including ‘Remote Monitoring’ capability.
All Power Pak solar charge controls can be used with ANY type of Photo-voltaic power (up to 25 amps input), including flexible solar panel technologies and other rigid panel systems.
The Expander Pak does not have ANY solar charge controls and may only be charged with a regulated power supply (such as a Power Pak, Breeze Wind Generator, PRO-Verter™, or an AC Battery Charger.)
Multiple Power-Model Availability
Innovative in design, DC power is available through the multi-function user terminal. All Power Paks have standard 12 volt Receptacles and 12 volt or 24 volt Post connections.
An inverter is provided with every 12V DC Power Pak for those times when AC power is needed (120V AC or 230V AC available).
(Please NOTE: Inverters are often chosen according to their application. The supplied inverter MAY NOT be suitable for all applications. Please visit the Inverter School Section to learn more about inverters and how to choose the correct one for a particular application. Additional Inverters are available for purchase from the Accessories section.)
Easy Transport & Operation
Transporting the Power Pak is easy. The Power Pak 50 & 500 carry like a brief-case, and the Power Pak 100 & 1000 cases have integrated polyurethane wheels and a telescoping aluminum handle.
All Power Paks are D.O.T. certified and approved as non-hazardous cargo for ground, sea and air transport.
…They are so safe, they can even be checked as airline luggage and flown via commercial airlines.
…They are so tough, they can easily handle repeated drops greater than 6 feet onto solid concrete, and continue to operate!
The case is completely watertight when closed and the User Interface can handle light rain or dew.
Setup is extremely fast… simply open the case, turn on the Master Breaker Switch, and plug in appliances.
Connection of the Power Pak to the Solar Stik™ is “Plug & Play” via the durable thirty foot weatherproof Solar Power leash. A cord reel in matching color is included with each leash.
Operate all day from Solar Stik™ power and all night from the Power Pak’s battery reserve. The Power Pak is designed for optimum use with the Solar Stik™, however, the Power Pak can also be recharged using conventional methods (such as a vehicle battery using jumper cables, or other charging device), allowing for greater mobility and versatility in the field.
External DC Connections
The Power Paks have external weatherproof DC connections for power access when the Pelican™ case can not be opened due to weather.
Field Serviceable
Although no routine maintenance is required, the Power Pak is “field serviceable”. Batteries can be replaced at the end of their service life and the light bulb can be replaced should it ever burn out. A spare bulb is included in every unit, and replacement batteries can be ordered.
Accessories are available for the Power Pak
“The Battery Roundup”
What Is The Best Battery Technology?
The following section highlights the two technologies used in a Solar Stik™ Power Pak. A comprehensive study on batteries can be found in the Battery School section.
Below is a summary of the strengths and limitations of today’s popular rechargeable battery technologies. Although energy density is paramount, other important attributes are service life, load characteristics, maintenance requirements, self-discharge costs and safety. Nickel-Cadmium was the first rechargeable battery in a small format and defines the standard against which other rechargeable battery chemistries are commonly compared. The trend is towards Lithium ion-based systems.
The Solar Stik™ can be used with any ONE of the following technologies. It is NOT possible to use more than one battery-type in a single power storage facility.
Rechargeable Battery Types:
• Nickel-Cadmium - mature but has moderate energy density. Nickel-Cadmium is used where long life, high discharge rate and extended temperature range is important. Main applications are two-way radios, biomedical equipment and power tools. Nickel-Cadmium contains toxic metals.
• Nickel-metal-hydride - has a higher energy density compared to Nickel-Cadmium at the expense of reduced cycle life. There are no toxic metals. Applications include mobile phones and laptop computers. NiMH is viewed as steppingstone to Lithium-ion based systems.
• Lithium-ion – the fastest growing battery technology; offers high-energy-to-weight density. Several types of Lithium ion-based batteries are available, most notably Lithium Cobalt Oxide and Lithium Iron Phosphate based designs.
• Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2) based batteries are most commonly used in consumer electronics applications. They require protection circuits to limit voltage and current for safety reasons. Applications include notebook computers and cell phones.
• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) based batteries are used for portable power tools, medical devices, and other mobile applications where high safety is desired. - AVAILABLE IN POWER PAK
• Lead-acid - most economical for larger power applications where weight is of little concern. Lead-acid is the preferred choice for hospital equipment, wheelchairs, emergency lighting and UPS systems. Lead acid is inexpensive and rugged. It serves a unique niche that would be hard to replace with other systems. - AVAILABLE IN POWER PAK
Power Pak LiFePO4 Battery Advantages:
• Safety – LiFePO4 batteries will not catch fire or explode during rapid charge/discharge; unlike other Li-ion technologies, LiFePO4 batteries are virtually incombustible due to chemical stability of their Iron Phosphate cathode material.
• High energy-to-weight density – Similar to other Lithium-ion batteries, LiFePO4 batteries are particularly well suited for mobile applications where light weight is important.
• Long cycle life (2000 avg.) – can be discharged and recharged many times with very little to no performance degradation.
• Very low self-discharge rate – can be left on the shelf for long times with minimal loss of charge.
• D.O.T. Approved - No transportation restrictions on Power Pak LiFePO4 battery.
• Environmentally-friendly – contains no toxic heavy metals or caustic materials.
• LiFePO4 batteries are tolerant of exposure to high temperatures.
Power Pak LiFePO4 Limitations:
• Higher cost than the mature, Lead-acid technology.
• Energy-per-unit-volume density for a new LiFePO4 battery is somewhat lower than that of LiCoO2 battery, but this difference is compensated for by LiFePO4 having a slower loss of capacity over time compared to LiCoO2 batteries.
Power Pak Lead-Acid Advantages:
• Less expensive and simple to manufacture.
• Mature, reliable and well-understood technology - when used correctly, Lead-acid is durable and provides dependable service.
• The self-discharge is among the lowest of rechargeable battery systems.
• Capable of high discharge rates.
Power Pak Lead-Acid Limitations:
• Low energy density - poor weight-to-energy ratio limits use to stationary and wheeled applications.
• Cannot be stored in a discharged condition.
• Limited Cycle Life (500 avg.)
• Lead content and electrolyte make the battery environmentally unfriendly. Proper disposal is to recycle the battery.
• D.O.T. Approved - No transportation restrictions on Power Pak AGM Lead Acid battery.
• Power Pak AGM battery subject to performance variations based on temperature.
Simple Guidelines for Using a Power Pak Lead-acid Battery
• Always store Lead-acid in a charged condition.
• If possible, avoid repeated deep discharges.
• Use a larger or additional battery supply to reduce the depth of discharge.
• Prevent sulfation by choosing the correct charge and float voltages.
Need More Power? “Expand” Your System!
If the Power Pak is used in an application where more power is required, several methods of “expansion” are available.
The Expander Paks
The Expander Paks can store 500 or 1000 watt hours of energy, and are available in either 12V or 24V DC configurations. They are designed to provide additional redundancy & power storage to Power Paks or appliances that require the use of batteries.
Power Storage (capacity) can be increased by connecting Expander Paks using the “Plug & Play” Interconnector Leash (included) to other Power Paks or other Expander Paks.
For example, a Power Pak 50 and an Expander Pak 50 can be connected together to create a 100 Amp-hour power supply.
Connecting Expander Paks to a Power Pak also provides the following benefits:
1. Reduced depth of discharge as power is taken in & out of the battery bank.
2. Additional operation time between recharges.
There is no limit to how many Expander Paks may be employed in a system.
Adding Batteries to a Power Pak
The Power Pak may also be expanded by connecting extra batteries or other Power Paks to the post-terminals using Omni-cables. By “jumping” extra batteries to the Power Pak, the battery’s capacity is increased, allowing for greater power storage.
