installation manual
sunboard

Thank you for purchasing Solbian products. Created with innovative technologies and high-quality components, Solbian solar panels will provide you with energy in the most difficult environmental conditions and with the versatility required for the most diverse applications. In order to take full advantage of their characteristics and to keep them in good condition, please read the following instructions carefully.

This manual does not constitute a warranty, implicit or explicit. Solbian accepts no liability for damage resulting from the installation, operation or maintenance of its solar panels. Solbian reserves the right to change its products, technical specifications and installation manual without prior notice.

THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS ARE GENERAL ADVICE ONLY. WE RECOMMEND THAT THE PANELS BE INSTALLED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH IEC 62548 AND 62257 STANDARDS. WE RECOMMEND YOU CONTACT US FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

Recommendations

The following instructions must be read carefully and thoroughly understood before installing, connecting, and using the panels. Contact with electrical components, such as terminals, can result in burns or electrical shocks even if the panel is not yet connected. A solar panel produces electricity as soon as it is exposed to the sun or a light source. Although the electrical values of a single Solbian panel do not constitute a health hazard, connecting several panels in series or parallel increases their voltage and current respectively. A solar system consisting of several panels can therefore generate voltages and currents that can be harmful to health and result in death.

Solbian will not, however, be liable for any accidents or personal injury, including electric shocks, caused by misuse or improper installation.

Important information

This manual contains important safety information that must be read carefully and understood before installing and using Solbian solar panels and their accessories.

What to keep after purchase:

Original packaging: for a few weeks following the operational check.
Purchase receipt: for the entire duration of the product warranty.
Quick guide containing the serial number: for the entire duration of the product warranty.

Warnings and electrical risks

Do not use solar panels of different types on the same system.
Always check the compatibility of the charge controller (if purchased externally) with Solbian products.
Do not modify the electrical connections of the panels. In particular, do not open or remove the sealed junction box that connects the internal structure of the panel with the external electrical connections.
Do not drill or cut the panel, as this may result in the exposure of live components and/or damage to the panel.
Do not subject the electrical cables coming out of the panel to excessive stress or bending.
Do not expose the solar panel to direct light when installing the system, or take this into account, as the solar panel generates current when exposed to light and therefore its terminals are live.
Maintenance, installation and removal of the solar panel must always be carried out on dry surfaces.
Only use tools with an insulating handle.
Do not use solar panels in the presence of explosive or flammable mixtures.
Keep the solar panels inside the packaging until they are installed.
Ensure that the position of the solar panel does not pose a mechanical or electrical risk.
Do not use damaged solar panels (during transport, installation or during use).
Do not apply any protective coating or paint to the panel. Contact the manufacturer for information about cleaning or protecting Solbian panels.

Risks related to mechanical damage

The solar cells contained within Solbian panels are fragile. The technology used allows mechanical protection of the cells, but with certain precautions.

Fig. 1

Blunt or heavy objects falling on the panels can result in fractures in the cells.

Fig. 2

We recommend using appropriate protective equipment during installation and maintenance to prevent accidental impact damage to the solar cells.

Since the panels are mounted on the lifelines, perform installation and maintenance operations only when the vessel is stationary. When working on board, ensure that you are properly secured to the vessel's structure to avoid the risk of falling overboard.

Hot-spot

A panel containing damaged cells or even a panel in good condition in which only one cell, or a few cells, are completely shaded can generate a HOT SPOT, i.e. very high local heating can occur, up to the point of producing melting of the protective materials of the cells with emission of smoke and reaching temperatures of over 200 degrees on small portions of the panel.

Fig. 3

In principle, these phenomena could produce fires, a danger that is always present with the use of electrical equipment, but usually, the damage is limited to small local burns, as in the examples shown in fig.3.

If there is evidence of a HOT SPOT, the panel must be disconnected immediately. This interrupts the flow of current and prevents any temperature rise. An alternative solution is to cover the panel so as not to expose it to sunlight. In the case of several panels connected in series, the only solution is to electrically disconnect the panel.

Mechanical installation

KIT CONTENTS

SUNBOARD KIT S

SUNBOARD KIT S MIRRORED

SUNBOARD KIT M

SUNBOARD KIT M MIRRORED

IMPORTANT NOTICES FOR INSTALLATION

Stanchion anchoring: install the panel as close as possible to the stanchion. The stanchion serves as a fixed anchor point to prevent the kit from sliding along the lifelines.

Dual kit wiring: if you intend to install two kits side-by-side, verify that you have one regular SunBoard kit (connectors on the right side) and one SunBoard kit Mirrored (connectors on the left side).

This configuration ensures that, once both panels are installed, the connection points face each other for a cleaner and more organized wiring setup.

PERIMETER HOLE LAYOUT

ASSEMBLY

Preparing the lower fixing points

Kit S (Fig. 1a)

Cut a piece of static line approximately 10 cm long and thread it through eyelet B2, then tie a stopping knot on the front side of the panel.

Kit M (Fig. 1b)

Cut two pieces of static line approximately 10 cm long and thread them through eyelets L3 and R3, then tie a stopping knot on the front side of the panel.

Please note: These lines will be used later to connect the support rods, as shown in Figs. 8a and 8b.

Preparing the upper fixing points

IMPORTANT!

Install the panel on the lifeline, ensuring that:

the junction boxes are positioned on the upper side.
the front of the panel containing the cells faces outward (away from the boat).

Kit S (Fig. 2a)

To secure the upper side of the panel to the upper lifeline, it is recommended to keep the panel as close to the lifeline as possible. You can do this using static line: cut 3 pieces and, for each point (U1, U2, U3), thread the line through the eyelet, wrapping it and securing it with a knot around the upper lifeline. As an alternative to the static line, you may use shackles (max. diameter 5mm) or outdoor-rated cable ties (5mm width).

Kit M (Fig. 2b)

To secure the upper side of the panel to the upper lifeline, it is recommended to keep the panel as close to the lifeline as possible. You can do this using static line: cut 4 pieces and, for each point (U1, U2, U3, U4), thread the line through the eyelet, wrapping it and securing it with a knot around the upper lifeline. As an alternative to the static line, you may use shackles (max. diameter 5mm) or outdoor-rated cable ties (5mm width).

Kit S and Kit M (Fig. 3a, 3b)

Secure the static line from eyelet L1 of the panel to the stanchion. This prevents the panel from sliding along the lifeline.

Bottom fastening

(Fig. 4)

Open the clip of the tilt arm by completely unscrewing the knob until the screw is removed.

(Fig. 5a, 5b)

Snap the clip onto the lower lifeline, inserting it into the smaller hole of the clip itself until you hear a click.

Kit S (Fig. 6a)

Caution: the knob that adjusts the clip’s clamp on the lifeline must face outward (away from the boat).

Kit M (Fig. 6b)

Caution: the knobs that adjust the clip’s clamp on the lifeline must face inward (toward the inside of the boat).

(Fig. 7)

Screw the knob into the clip, leaving it loose enough to slide along the lifeline.

Kit S (Fig. 8a)

Secure the end of the tilt arm opposite the one equipped with the clip to the static line installed in step 1 (Fig. 1a), and tie a locking knot.

Kit M (Fig. 8b)

Secure the end of the arms opposite the clips to the two static lines installed in step 1 (Fig. 1b), and tie a locking knot.

(Fig. 9)

Final clip tightening: once the end of the tilt arm is secured to the panel, fully tighten the clip’s knob.

Ensure the panel is in the storage position (0°). This is essential so that the shock cord remains under tension once the panel is tilted.

Cut two pieces of shock cord to the appropriate length.

Secure the shock cord starting from the stanchions and connect it to the indicated anchoring points:

Kit S (Fig. 10a)

L3 and R3 eyelets

Kit M (Fig. 10b)

L4 and R4 eyelets

Securing for underway

(Fig. 11a, 11b)

Secure two shock cords from eyelets L2 and R2 (also for kit M) to the lower lifeline. This is the closed position, which is essential to prevent the panel from moving or bouncing while sailing.

TILTING THE PANEL

Unlocking (fig. 12a, 12b)

Untie the two shock cords secured to eyelets L2 and R2, which are used for locking the panel while sailing, as described in step 11 of the assembly section.

Loosening the clip (fig. 13)

Loosen the clip’s knob just enough to allow the clip to slide along the lifeline.

Tilting (fig. 14a, 14b)

Slide the clip (or the two clips for kit M) along the lifeline to tilt the panel to the desired angle.

Final Securing (fig. 15)

Fully tighten the knob to lock the panel in place.

SUNBOARD KIT S

SUNBOARD KIT M

FRONT PROTECTIVE FILM

Depending on the type of surface chosen, some panels are shipped with a front plastic protective film. The presence of this film is evident, as it is a coloured film. It is suggested to remove the film only upon installation, taking care not to excessively bend the panel. In any case, the protective film must be removed as soon as the installation is complete.

WARNING: Leaving the protective film on a panel already exposed to the sun can, after a few days, result in it adhering strongly to the panel surface, therefore making its subsequent removal very difficult.

Electric installation

Each solar panel acts as a direct current generator (a battery) and is therefore provided with a positive contact and a negative contact.

The solar panel generally cannot directly control a charge due to the intermittency of current production, which depends on the light received by the panel. The common use is therefore to charge a battery which then provides the electrical energy for use. A battery can only be charged directly from a solar panel if the voltage of the panel is dimensioned exactly for the chosen battery (e.g. 14 volts for a 12V lead-acid battery). However, this solution presents various problems such as the possibility of the battery overcharging and inefficient management of the energy produced.

Charge controllers are therefore used to optimise the process. Solbian specifically suggests the use of sophisticated charge controllers, with MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithms to obtain the maximum possible energy from the solar panel in all conditions. The size of the electrical cables must be sufficient to limit the voltage drop. In outdoor environments, always use cables for the solar industry or specific for outdoor UV application, resistant to exposure to the sun and weather. The cable size increases in proportion to the length of the cables, the following table shows some indicative examples.

All selected components must guarantee at least the operating range of the photovoltaic panels as indicated in the Solbian technical datasheet.

EXAMPLES OF INSTALLATIONS

A single panel with a controller and a battery. This is the optimal solution.

For multi-panel setups, the optimal configuration requires connecting each module to a dedicated charge controller. These controllers can be wired in parallel to the battery, given that they feature built-in reverse current protection

WARNING: When connecting in parallel, the currents are added together. The cables must therefore be chosen from the appropriate section.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Maintenance of the solar system

Solar panels require very little maintenance, but following a few periodic steps will help ensure maximum efficiency:

Keep the panels clean. Wash the system with freshwater, especially in the marine environment, in order to avoid damage due to the presence of salt.
The surface of the panels can be cleaned with neutral soap and water, scrubbing with caution and without abrasive substances. Alcohol can also be used to remove grease or the like.
Periodically check the structural integrity of the panel and its installation including electrical connections.
Check the efficiency of the system by means of the signalling systems (displays or LEDs) integrated into the charge controllers.

POSSIBLE FAULTS

Cell failure

Cell failure does not usually lead to total panel inefficiency, but rather to a drop in yield.

Failure may be due to excessive bending of the panel during installation or use, or to shock or mechanical stress.

A panel that has broken or malfunctioning cells can be recognised by measuring the current produced at its ends with a 10 A full-scale ammeter. In full sun, the current produced must be of the same order of magnitude as the Isc value provided in the technical data sheet (for example, for the SunBoard panel, a value greater than 5 A). The voltage at the ends of the panel, on the other hand, is a less significant measurement, as it may vary only slightly even in the case of cell failure.

Presence of water inside the junction box

Despite the fact that the junction boxes used have a high degree of waterproofness, it can happen that due to manufacturing defects or shocks water can seep inside. In this case, drying can restore operation.

Always install the protective caps whenever the panel is disconnected for maintenance.

Charge controller malfunction

Controllers, like any electronic equipment, can fail. The display or the signalling LEDs can detect the malfunction.

In any case, first of all, check the good condition of the electrical connections between the panels, the controller and the batteries.

Excerpt from the warranty conditions

Solbian panels are covered by a warranty on manufacturing defects and on the power generated. The following is an excerpt from the full warranty conditions, which are the only ones that apply, and which are published on www.solbian.eu.

5-YEAR WARRANTY ON PRODUCT INTEGRITY

Solbian guarantees the integrity of its products for a period of five years. In the event of a malfunction, within a period of 60 months from the date of delivery of the panel, Solbian will, at its own discretion, repair or replace the panel or refund the total amount paid by the customer. Repair, replacement or refund are the sole and exclusive terms provided for under the "Warranty" and cannot be extended beyond 60 months.

5-YEAR WARRANTY ON THE POWER GENERATED

The power of Solbian solar panels is measured under standard conditions at the end of panel production. This power, expressed in W, decays slowly over time due to various factors, such as dulling of polymers, deterioration of electrical contacts, and other factors.

Solbian guarantees that the power output of its solar panels, if used properly, will be maintained within 90% of the initially declared power over a period of 5 years from purchase. If the customer has evidence of a greater decrease in power, within the five-year limit of the "Power Warranty" the customer may request its activation. Solbian will, at its discretion, either repair or replace the defective panels, or replace the power shortfall by supplying new panels, or financially reimburse the lost power in excess of the 90% warranty limit at the average market price of similar panels. Repair, replacement or reimbursement are the only and exclusive terms provided for by the "Power Warranty" and may not be extended beyond 60 months.

Disposal and recycling

Solbian is a member of the PV CYCLE consortium for the take-back and disposal of damaged or end-of-life solar panels. Please consider Solbian panels as electrical equipment and therefore destined for separate recycling. If disposal is required, please contact our sales offices.

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