🔋 If you are using the Smart Solar Power System with a MODULAIR-X series device, ensuring the RS communication cable is plugged in is the first step in diagnosing any issues.
If your device is powered by our Smart Solar Power System and your air quality sensor is losing power, it may be for one of several reasons, as outlined in the table below:
Issue | Description |
Lack of sun | If deployed in a low-sun area or if the panel is not oriented properly, you may not be able to fully charge the batteries |
Extreme temperatures | Lithium batteries can only be charged and discharged within their safe operating range |
Installation Error | If cables are not properly secured, current cannot be transmitted |
Broken device | If either the panel or batteries are defective, you may not receive power to your device |
LED Status Codes
An important first step in identifying issues with your solar power system is to check the LED status codes on the underside of the battery.
COLOR | PATTERN | MEANING |
Green | Solid | System On, Not Charging |
| Flashing Slow | Charging |
| Flashing Fast | MPPT/Optimized Charging |
Amber | Solid | System On |
| Flashing Slow | Low Battery Voltage |
| Flashing Fast | Low Battery Protection |
Red | Solid | No Output |
| Flashing Slow | Over Temperature Protection |
| Flashing Fast | Short Circuit / Overload Protection |
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|
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No LEDs | - | Sensor not plugged in / battery dead |
All LEDs | Flashing Fast | Solar power cables plugged in before the sensor, or the battery controller is defective - contact QuantAQ support |
If there are no LEDs on, the battery is likely not powered on because the sensor is not connected. Plugging the battery into the sensor activates the MPPT charge controller and turns the battery on. If no LEDs are showing after multiple days of charging the battery without a load, please contact QuantAQ support.
Below, we discuss each issue and how to diagnose and fix the root cause of the problem.
Lack of Sun
To get the best results from your Smart Solar Panel System, it is important to ensure the panels are installed properly, as small differences in the solar panel tilt angle (degrees from horizontal) or the solar panel azimuth angle (degrees clockwise from north) can have a large impact on the amount of energy produced by the panel. To achieve the best results:
Make sure your panel is installed at the best angle for your geolocation. Use a calculator such as this to determine what the ideal angle is for your location if needed. If installing in the northern hemisphere, this typically means a solar panel tilt angle of 30-45 degrees and ensuring the panel is facing south.
Make sure your panel is not in the shade or blocked by any obstructions. For example, deployment on the side of a building or a backyard with trees nearby is likely to experience intermittent power.
If your device is only on during the sunny part of the day, it is likely that the batteries are not fully charged and are struggling to generate more energy than the device uses. In this case, it can be beneficial to power down the sensor (primary load) and let the battery fully charge before powering the sensor back on. This should allow the battery to have enough of a buffer to survive days where there isn't as much exposure.
Extreme Temperatures
While the optimal operating temperature range for lithium batteries is approximately -20º to 60ºC, the safe operating range for charging and discharging lithium batteries is different. For safety reasons, our batteries have over- and under-temperature protections built in and will only charge between 0 ºC and 45 ºC and will only discharge between -20 ºC and 60 ºC. If you are outside the range of 0 ºC to 45 ºC, you will experience temporary issues charging, discharging, or both.
Installation Error
The most common installation issues are:
The panels are not installed at the ideal angle and orientation. Please see the section above on "Lack of Sun" for more information and a link to the solar calculator.
The sensor is not plugged into the battery. If the M12 power cable between the sensor and battery is not plugged in, the charge controller inside the battery will be turned off, not allowing the battery to charge or discharge.
The solar panel cables were plugged in before the sensor. The sensor must be connected before the solar panel cables for the battery controller to operate properly.
Broken Device
If none of the above seem relevant to your situation, please report an issue so that we can help you fix the issue most expediently. Indicators of a defective device may include:
All LEDs are flashing fast
The sensor has been without power continuously for multiple days
Battery LEDs are off and will not come back when charged up for over two days
Report a Smart Solar Power System Issue to QuantAQ
Please submit a support request using the in-app chat in the lower right-hand side of your window. In your message, please include the following information:
Image(s) of the installation that show the solar panels' orientation
The cardinal direction the panel is set to face
The geolocation of the installation
The flashing pattern of the LEDs on the base of the battery (video preferred)